How to Maintain Your Kitchen During the Fall

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Background of a maintained kitchen

Fall has officially arrived, which means cooler weather and the holiday season are coming right behind it. All of this means more time spent indoors and in the kitchen cooking.

Given the increased demands you’ll be placing on your kitchen during the fall, now is a good time to perform some basic maintenance to make sure your kitchen and all your appliances are ready to go for the fall and winter.

Here are a few maintenance tips to use in your kitchen this fall that will help you get the best operation out of your appliances all season long:

  • Clean your refrigerator: There are a lot of steps you can take to clean your refrigerator, both inside and out, to get the best and most efficient operation out of the system while keeping it highly sanitary. First, consider removing all items from the fridge, fully wiping down all surfaces and throwing out expired or unusable items before you put everything back in. Next, carefully inspect the refrigerator coils. All of these coils need to be vacuumed on a routine basis, as they serve as traps for dirt, dust, pet hair and other debris, thus making operation less efficient. Finally, check all door gaskets and make sure they’re clean and clear of gunk so the doors close and seal properly, preventing air leaks and food quality issues.
  • Go up under the hood: Range hoods help you to cut down on heat and filter out odors, so it’s important to make sure they’re clean and functioning properly. The metal filters on the hood should be washed in hot, soapy water or in the dishwasher. If you have charcoal or paper filters, replace them on a seasonal basis.
  • Check the oven seal: You’re probably aware of the importance of fridge seals, but don’t forget about your oven seals! The oven door should seal correctly to trap all the heat inside. If the oven is not sealed properly, it will lose a significant portion of the heat it generates, which will warm up your home and cause your oven to waste energy. The heat loss also lengthens the amount of time it takes for you to cook your food, and could compromise the quality of your baking.
  • Deep cleaning: Now is a great time to deep clean all of your appliances and fixtures. Cleaning out your appliances will get you prepared for all the extra cooking you’ll likely be doing over the holidays. Clean as thoroughly as possible, inside and out. This includes your dishwasher—get rid of that food debris and soap scum so you can keep it looking and functioning great.

These tips provide you with an introductory glance at how to maintain your kitchen during the fall. If, however, you find yourself in need of more maintenance tips for your kitchen this fall, contact the team at PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating & Air and we will be happy to provide you with further advice geared toward keeping all your plumbing and appliances in great shape.