How often should you clean your kitchen appliances

2020 has put hygiene practices under the microscope. We’re more conscious of germs than ever before and cleaning has a newfound importance. 

With kitchen cleaning front-of-mind, you might be thinking about other cleaning practices, like how often you should really be cleaning your kitchen appliances? Better yet, are there ways your oven is equipped for self-cleaning, and, more to the point, what is pyrolytic cleaning?

As the keeper of food, most people are pretty diligent about keeping their refrigerator clean, but its our other kitchen appliances that often fall by the wayside.

To answer all your kitchen cleaning needs, we’ve developed a guide for how often your appliances should be cleaned.

How Often Should You Clean Your Oven?

Let’s start with one of the toughest first, because there are actually several different answers depending on the level of cleaning required. For general cleaning or if you’re using the automated EasyClean functionality of your oven, cleaning should happen at least once a month. However, wiping up spills as they occur can save you from needing any elbow grease when cleaning time comes (just be sure to let your oven cool down first!).

Pyrolytic cleaning

NEFF makes oven cleaning easy with Pyrolytic functionality, but this is only intended to be used every 6-12 months. Pyrolytic cleaning can be one of the most convenient way to clean your oven. By heating your oven to nearly 500°C, it turns all residue to ash for easy disposal. You can clean any pyrolytic accessories too, just remove all other attachments like racks and rails from inside the oven, choose which level pyrolytic cleaning you need based on residue, and close the door. Note that the door will lock during the cleaning process.

EasyClean

EasyClean is great for a lightly soiled oven. Start with a room temperature oven (let it cool if you’ve just used it), remove all racks and rails, mix a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid with 400mls of water, pour the mixture into the bottom of the oven, close the door, and turn onto EasyClean. After it has run, give your oven a quick wipe down with a damp cloth and you’re done!

Read a full run-down of EasyClean and Pyrolytic cleaning here and watch videos on both below.

How Often Should You Clean Your Dishwasher?

Cleaning your dishwasher is extremely important to maintain its performance as well as the hygiene of your dishes, which is why NEFF dishwashers are designed with an EasyClean function. Deposits such as grease and limescale can cause your dishwasher to malfunction. In order to avoid such faults and to reduce the development of odours, we recommend cleaning the dishwasher every four to six months (or as often as your display panel lights up to tell you it needs a clean). When cleaning your dishwasher, dishwashing detergent won’t cut it — after all, you use that every day – so NEFF Machine Cleaner should be used in its place or follow the instructions for use on the machine cleaning detergents.

Empty the washer completely of all tableware and remove any food residue from the filter. Before you put your powder in, choose a program at least 65°C or the EasyClean function and let it run its course. Simple!

How often should you clean your rangehood?

Whether you choose to go Wall Mounted, Integrated and Slideout, or with one built into your Worktop, your rangehood is sure to get a workout. This kitchen feature is unfortunately often overlooked, which is a shame because it builds up a lot of grease very quickly and that can be a fire hazard in your kitchen. If the saturation display lights up, this indicates that your filters need urgent cleaning (or they should be cleaned at least every two months)

Follow your manual for detailed instructions, but your stainless steel, painted elements and controls can be carefully cleaned with a soft cloth and hot soapy water and dried immediately. Glass, aluminium and plastic surfaces should be cleaned with glass cleaner and a soft cloth.

How often should you clean your microwave?

Not so fun fact: If you let spills sit in your microwave, you’re not just creating a breeding ground for germs but letting certain smells permeate and taint everything you heat up. Spills should be wiped up immediately before they dry. Use warm, soapy water (not vinegar solutions or oven cleaner) and a soft cloth to clean the inside of your oven and the turntable, at least every couple of weeks.

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About NEFF

NEFF is a German-engineered kitchen appliance brand, with a product range that includes ovens, cooktops, rangehoods, coffee machines and dishwashers designed to make life in the kitchen a daily pleasure. For people who love to cook, NEFF gives you the tools to creative meaningful connections, express your creativity and make memories. Because real life happens in the kitchen.