How to Clean Kitchen Appliances the Right Way

Your kitchen appliances work hard every day — and they deserve a proper clean. Grease buildup, food residue, and bacteria can accumulate quickly on and inside your appliances, affecting both their performance and your family's health. Here's a complete guide to cleaning every major kitchen appliance the right way, with tips to keep them looking and working like new.

🍳 The Oven

The oven is one of the most neglected appliances in the kitchen — and one of the hardest to clean when buildup is left too long.

How to clean it: Remove the oven racks and soak them in hot soapy water. For the interior, steam is your best friend — our Handheld Steam Cleaner loosens baked-on grease and food residue without harsh chemical oven cleaners. Steam the interior walls, then wipe away the loosened grime with a microfiber cloth. For the racks, scrub with a brush after soaking and dry thoroughly before replacing.
How often: Deep clean monthly; wipe down after every use to prevent buildup.

🧈 The Refrigerator

Your fridge stores your food — so keeping it clean is essential for food safety.

How to clean it: Remove all food and shelves. Wash shelves and drawers in warm soapy water. Wipe down the interior walls with a damp microfiber cloth from our Kitchen & Table Cleaning Linens collection. Don't forget the door seals — they trap crumbs and moisture and can harbor mold. Steam clean the seals with your Handheld Steam Cleaner for a thorough sanitize. Wipe down the exterior and top with a clean cloth.
How often: Full clean monthly; wipe up spills immediately.

🌪️ The Microwave

Microwaves get splattered with food every time they're used — and that residue bakes on quickly.

How to clean it: Place a microwave-safe bowl of water inside and run it for 3–5 minutes to create steam that loosens residue. Then wipe down the interior with a microfiber cloth. Alternatively, use your Handheld Steam Cleaner directly on the interior walls for a faster, more thorough clean. Wipe down the exterior and clean the turntable separately.
How often: Weekly, or after any major splatter.

🍵 The Coffee Maker

Coffee makers are breeding grounds for mold and bacteria if not cleaned regularly — especially the water reservoir and carafe.

How to clean it: Run a cycle with equal parts white vinegar and water to descale and sanitize the internal components. Follow with two plain water cycles to rinse. Wash the carafe, filter basket, and any removable parts with warm soapy water. Wipe down the exterior with a damp microfiber cloth.
How often: Descale monthly; wash removable parts weekly.

🍽️ The Stovetop

Stovetops accumulate grease and food spills with every meal — and the longer you wait, the harder they are to clean.

How to clean it: For gas stovetops, remove the grates and soak in hot soapy water. Steam clean the stovetop surface with your Handheld Steam Cleaner to cut through grease without scrubbing. For glass/ceramic stovetops, use a non-scratch scrubber from our Kitchen Cleaning Utensils & Gadgets collection after steaming. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth for a streak-free finish.
How often: Wipe down after every use; deep clean weekly.

🧹 The Dishwasher

Your dishwasher cleans your dishes — but who cleans the dishwasher?

How to clean it: Remove and clean the filter (usually located at the bottom) — rinse under warm water and scrub gently with a brush. Wipe down the door seal and interior walls with a damp cloth. Run an empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner or a cup of white vinegar on the top rack to remove grease and odors.
How often: Clean the filter monthly; run a cleaning cycle monthly.

💡 Pro Tips for Keeping Appliances Clean Longer

- Wipe down appliance exteriors daily with a microfiber cloth to prevent buildup. - Clean up spills immediately — the longer they sit, the harder they are to remove. - Use your steam cleaner regularly for a chemical-free deep clean on all appliance surfaces. - Keep a set of dedicated microfiber cloths from our Kitchen & Table Cleaning Linens collection just for appliances.

Keep Your Kitchen Appliances Spotless with ShineCraft

The right tools make appliance cleaning fast and effective. Browse all ShineCraft collections to find everything you need — from steam cleaners and microfiber cloths to specialized kitchen cleaning gadgets — and keep every appliance in your kitchen looking and performing its best. ✨