Best Appliances for Home Cleaning of 2024
Staying healthy doesn’t require a degree in microbiology; it just takes sanitizing appliances and knowing where to disinfect.
Germs are everywhere. To avoid getting sick, it's critical to wash your hands frequently. Did you know that there are 60,000 germs that people come in contact with every day?
According to the American Cleaning Institute, "just because something looks clean, doesn’t mean it really is clean. It's critical that we use disinfectants and sanitizers are designed to kill bacteria, viruses and/or fungi on surfaces. In addition to the obvious places like floors, toilets, showers, sinks and countertops, focus on surfaces that are germ hotspots."
Kitchen Appliance Cleaning Checklist:
Pro tip: Make sure to reference the use and care guide for your appliance for the best cleaning practices. This is especially true when using cleaning products on control buttons and electronic control panels.
In addition to home cleaning practices, there are many appliances that can help you sanitize and purify your home.
1. Washers and Dryers with Sanitize and Allergen Cycles
We carry germs, bacteria, dust, and allergens with us every day in our clothes. These irritants are especially harmful to allergy sufferers.
If your washing machine has a self-cleaning cycle, run it. A self-cleaning washer cycle is a high temp cycle (typically about 150 degrees F). This will reduce the bacteria and residue living in your machine already.
If you have a front-loading washer, it's a good idea to use a damp cloth or paper towel and wipe the rubber door gasket. Affresh cleaning tablets can also help you clean your washer.
If your washing machine has a sanitize or allergen cycle, consider using it on heavily soiled items. This hot cycle is typically about 170 degrees F and is designed to eliminate harmful germs and allergens. Hot water is better for killing bacteria. If you don't want to run a hot water cycle, warm soapy water should also do the trick.
2. Dishwashers with a Sanitize Cycle
Your dishwasher is responsible for keeping your plates, glasses, pots, and pans clean and bacteria-free. It's critical to take care of your dishwasher since the items that go into it will also touch your food and your mouth.
Like with your washing machine, it's essential to clean your dishwasher occasionally. If your dishwasher has a filter at the bottom, make sure to check it for any food particles. You should also check the spray arms to make sure they don't have any debris, as this can affect the cleaning performance of your dishwasher.
Some models have a dishwasher cleaning cycle. If yours does not, occasionally run hot water or sanitize cycle to eliminate any odor or bacteria to clean the interior.
You can also clean your dishwasher with Affresh cleaning tablets. If you don't have them, you can substitute baking soda and white vinegar with these easy steps:
Remove the bottom rack of the dishwasher to access the drain. Remove any food remnants.
Place a cup of vinegar on the upper rack and run a hot water cycle in an empty dishwasher.
Sprinkle one cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher and run another hot water cycle.
3. ACs with Dehumidifiers to Kill Bacteria and Prevent Mold
Having an air conditioner that can reduce humidity and prevent mold will improve the air quality in your home. Although it's not quite AC season yet for most of the states, the weather is getting warmer, and it's always a good idea to think ahead.
4. Air Purifiers Improve Air Quality in Your Home
There are a lot of impurities in the air. Typically, allergy and asthma sufferers notice them most. Bacteria, germs, mold spores, pollen, pet dander, smoke, dust, and odors can make breathing harder. Adding air purifiers will help remove these irritants.
5. Add a Steam Closet
Some items are just tricky to clean, so most people don't clean them. Couch cushions, pillows, stuffed animals, comforters, curtains, small area rugs, shoes, and dry-clean-only items are a few germs harboring items that a steam closet could sanitize.
Every home should have a steam closet. Not only is it great for your work wardrobe, but you will be able to clean and sanitize the hard-to-clean items in your home easily.
