Cleaning tips to protect your kitchen appliances

Keeping your appliances clean is an important part of having a clean, germ-free kitchen. But be careful; your appliances are expensive and cleaning them without damaging them can be tricky. Here are some helpful tips to make sure your appliances' finishes last.

• You can clean the exterior of most ranges and refrigerators with an all-purpose glass and surface cleaner, or a homemade solution of 15 millilitres (one tablespoon) of dishwashing detergent in four litres (one gallon) of warm water. (If you make the solution any stronger, it will leave a residue that's hard to rinse away.)
• Wipe down cooktops regularly. Many ceramic cooktops are sold with a cleaning cream made especially for this purpose. You can also use a nonabrasive cleaner or a paste of baking soda and water.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads; they can scratch the surface.
• Range hoods have a grease filter that should be removed and cleaned periodically. Put the filter in the bottom rack of the dishwasher or soak it in a sink of hot water and liquid dish detergent and rinse under a stream of very hot water.
• Wash the interior of the range hood with a small amount of liquid dish detergent in four litres (one gallon) of hot water.
• Hoods that don't vent to the outside have a disposable charcoal filter that must be replaced according to the manufacturer's directions.

• The best cleaning tool for tight spaces under and behind large appliances may be in the car; the long-handled brush you use to sweep snow from the windshield is just the right size and shape to go under the refrigerator or behind the stove.
• For wider crevices, try an old paint roller on an extension stick.

• To avoid misplacing the jewelry that you slip off while doing dishes or cleaning, install a cup hook near — but not over — the sink in a protected spot.
• Hang rings, watches and bracelets there while your hands are in the water. That way, you will always know where your precious belongings are, and they'll never become tarnished with water or suds!