The global household appliances market is worth more than $300 billion. Experts project this to grow even further this 2021 to reach an estimated value of $331.57 billion.

A likely reason for that growth is the rise in home improvement projects. For example, a survey found that 78% of US homeowners honed their home improvement skills in 2020. Of these folks, 15% said they would likely renovate their kitchen this 2021.

You don’t have to buy more stuff just to improve your kitchen, though. You can start with something as simple and basic as appliance maintenance. Routine cleaning and minor appliance repair can keep them efficient, safe, and shiny.

To that end, we created this guide listing some of the best tips for long-lasting appliances. Read on to discover the simple things you can do on your own to avoid pricey service calls.

1. Clean Cooking Equipment at the End of the Day

Leaving liquid spills and oil splatters on your appliances for a day won’t hurt them. However, they can attract all sorts of pests, from ants to roaches and rodents. After all, these critters have amazing olfactory senses.

For instance, mice have ten million odor-sensing neurons that can pick up food smells. So, if you don’t clean your cooking equipment, these rodents can feast on those food spills.

Not only do mice and rats have voracious appetites, but they also gnaw away at even the hardest materials. For example, they can chew through wood, plastic, vinyl, rubber, and low-grade aluminum. Many of these are in your appliances, so rodents can wreak havoc on them.

So, as much as possible, wipe clean your stovetop, oven, toaster, and microwave after every use. At the very least, do this before you head to bed, as most pests, like mice, rats, and roaches, come out at night.

2. Dislodge Grease and Grime With Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate, AKA baking soda, was a big player in the 1986 restoration of the Statue of Liberty. Back then, the restoration team used 100 tons of soda to clean the iconic structure. The results were so great that baking soda soon became a standard surface cleaning agent.

So, if baking soda can clean the Statute of Liberty, it can also be useful for cleaning many types of appliances. It’s safe for most types of materials, such as aluminum, chrome, copper, glass, steel, and rubber. This mild abrasive can help displace grease, grime, and grit build-up.

You can make your own baking soda cleaner by using a 2:1 ratio of baking soda and hot water. For example, for every half a cup of soda, use a quarter of a cup of hot water. Mix well and then apply a thin layer to appliance surfaces and let sit for about 15 minutes.

You can then use a damp rag to wipe away the paste and another piece of cloth to rinse away leftover residue. This trick can help clean not only appliance surfaces but also deodorize them.

3. Let Appliances Sparkle With a Vinegar Spray

White distilled vinegar (yes, the same kind you likely have in the kitchen) consists of about 5% acetic acid. It’s this ingredient that gives vinegar its acidity and sour smell.

It’s also thanks to acetic acid that makes vinegar effective on some dirt, grease, and bacteria. For example, a study found that exposing E. coli to 5% acetic acid for 20 min reduced the bacteria’s population.

Note that while vinegar can be antibacterial, it’s not as effective a germ killer as bleach. So, it’s best to use it only as an appliance cleaner and not as a disinfectant.

You’d want to use white vinegar on appliances since it doesn’t have a coloring agent. This means it won’t put your pricey kitchen equipment at risk of staining. By contrast, colored vinegar, like balsamic and red wine vinegar, can stain surfaces.

Like baking soda, you can use white vinegar to clean surfaces like glass and stovetops. Vinegar is safe for stainless steel but not on aluminum, cast iron, or natural stone.

You can also use white vinegar to break down and dislodge soap scum build-up in a dishwasher. Just add a cup to the rinse compartment and let the machine run for one cycle.

For other appliances, such as stainless steel, use a spray made of equal parts of water and vinegar. Let it sit on either the interior or exterior surfaces for about 5 minutes to soften debris build-up. Use a clean piece of damp cloth to rinse away the dislodged food particles.

4. Tighten Fasteners as They Come Loose

Fasteners, like screws, nuts, and bolts, are some of the easiest-to-lose appliance parts. This is partly because of their small size and the fact that they loosen over time. They’re easy to replace, but it’s best to tighten them before they disappear.

For starters, fasteners exist to hold together the many components of your appliances. If you lose one, more weight and strain will fall on the remaining ones. This can then give rise to appliance problems like wobbly handles, doors, and racks.

Pay particular attention to fasteners that secure appliance gas and water pipes. Tighten those that move as soon as you can; otherwise, you’ll be at risk of gas or water leaks.

5. Check Pipes and Seals for Leaks

Dishwasher hoses and gas pipes themselves will develop cracks after several years. A leaky dishwasher hose can cause water damage or give rise to mold problems. A damaged gas pipe can leak dangerous gas and can even lead to explosions.

Faulty seals, such as those on your fridge and oven, can, in turn, make appliances inefficient. In refrigerators, leaky gaskets allow the cold air to escape. Ovens with malfunctioning seals also let heat out, resulting in unevenly cooked food.

So, as part of your appliance maintenance, give these parts a thorough inspection. Wipe them clean first so that it’ll be easier to see any deformed, broken, or split sections. If you find any, have the pipes or seals replaced as soon as possible.

Appliance Maintenance Is Key To Longer Lasting Equipment

Regular appliance maintenance can help keep these machines energy-efficient, reliable, and safe. It also helps reduce the need for expensive appliance repair services. Plus, it helps extend equipment life, so you get to save money by not needing early replacement.

So, as early as today, follow these tips to kickstart your kitchen improvement project.

Ready for more home and real estate tips and tricks like this? Then please feel free to check out our other educational resources!