Nobody looks forward to the grueling task of cleaning kitchen appliances. From the greasy- grime splattered stovetops to the burnt-on baking disasters inside the oven to even the comparably simpler stubborn streaks on stainless steel refrigerators, they can all combine to overwhelm even cleaning professionals.

If you’ve ever felt like cleaning your kitchen might be fighting a losing battle, fret not because, with the right pro tricks and the right microfiber, we are going to transform this uphill task into an achievable chore.

Cleaning expert, Melissa Homer, shares her highly guarded tips to make appliance cleaning as safe, speedy, and effortless as possible without sacrificing killer results. These techniques were honed from working 18 years in the professional residential cleaning industry at the headquarters of one of North America’s largest residential cleaning franchises.

Melissa saw firsthand the miraculous transformation and near irreparable damage that can come from appliance cleaning the right or wrong way. So this hard-earned wisdom is not to be taken lightly and can literally save you thousands of dollars in dodged disasters.

Maintenance Cleaning

When it comes to maintaining the inside of your refrigerator, all you really need is a quality all-purpose microfiber towel, some disinfecting all-purpose cleaner, a toothbrush, and possibly a cooler with ice. If you’re a professional that has to clean whenever your customer asks or a home consumer with a fresh spill that can’t wait, a cooler with ice is critical to remove as much food from the fridge as possible to make enough room to clean the shelves thoroughly.

If you have the flexibility to wait till your fridge has less food inside, maintenance cleaning is easy to do cooler-free with the pushback trick. This old pro trick is to start cleaning by pushing all the food items back as far as you can on the shelf below the one you are cleaning. This will allow you to remove all the items on the shelf you are working on to the freed-up space below, making proper wiping a breeze.

Once you’ve cleaned the shelf, move everything back up, wiping off the bottoms of each item as you do and arranging them in an organized manner. Then simply repeat till complete.

Solving Spills

Ferreting out your fridge’s hidden stink soils is all about gravity. Accidental spills and drips in the refrigerator will always work their way down to the lowest point in the appliance, which is usually under the crisper drawers.  

Every model is different, but most refrigerators have removable drawers and bins to allow for deeper levels of cleaning, so consult your manual. If your shelves' release tabs are confusing or soils have seeped under glass, be sure to search Youtube for videos of how to remove the glass from your brand and model of the shelf because it is rarely as intuitive as it looks.

Once you get to it, cleaning up the yuck is usually a more straightforward task than any all-purpose cleaner, a microfiber scrubbing sponge and a multi-surface towel can clean up in no time. Sometimes an old toothbrush might be needed to scrub out annoying grooves.  

If there are ever really stubborn pools of dried-on mess, a plastic razor blade will help scrape up the yuck without the risk of scratching yourself or the appliance.

Perfecting Your Polishing

But what about the exterior of your fridge? Especially the stainless-steel parts that seem to resist all efforts to keep them streak-free and shiny.

This is where the MW Detail 400GSM Towel comes into play. Water or a disinfecting all-purpose cleaner, combined with this microfiber towel, can achieve an exceptional shine that’s often elusive because microfiber traps the very soap residue that causes streaks.

If you're a fan of the added gloss that comes with polish, remember to first clean the surface before applying the polish, ensuring that you're not trapping any dirt under the oils and waxes. Using the Detail Towel, you'll be able to achieve an incredible shine while using less product than you're used to, saving your budget and Mother Nature.

What supplies do you need?

• Premium multi-surface microfiber towels
• Non-Abrasive Hand Pad or Scrubber Sponge
• All Purpose Spray and Glass Cleaner
• Plastic razor blade (if needed for heavy soils)
• Large Cooler with Ice Packs- If cleaning a full freezer

How To Do It Right

TOP DOWN: Start cleaning from the top shelf down to the bins, removing spills and crumbs, and arranging food in an organized manner.

PUSH BACK: Before cleaning each shelf, push the food on the lower shelf back. Then, remove all the food from the shelf you're cleaning and place it on the pushed back lower shelf.

SPRAY & WIPE: Lightly spray your all purpose cleaner on the shelf, side walls, and back wall. Scrub with a scrubber sponge and scrape with the plastic razor as needed. Wipe clean with a microfiber towel.

BOTTOMS UP: Dampen a microfiber towel with your all purpose cleaner and wipe the bottom of each food item before placing it back on its original shelf. Keep labels facing forward.

IDENTIFY SUSPECTS: Throwing out food that is expired (check dates) or rotting as you work.

RINSE & REPEAT: Repeat the method working down the shelves. For the bottom shelf, remove food items and place them on a clean microfiber towel. Work quickly to avoid food getting warm.

CLEAN BINS & BOTTOM: Empty food onto the clean towel, then pull out the bin (if it comes out easily) and spray and wipe inside and outside with your all purpose cleaner. Clean under the bins with the sponge or plastic scraper as needed, then refill and replace the bins.

DELVE INTO DOORS: Use the clean towel to store food while cleaning door shelves. Spray and wipe shelves, wipe bottoms of items, and replace them facing forward.

FREEZER FIXING: Do not clean freezers with food inside, unless you have a cooler to store the food in while you work. Once empty, spray a microfiber towel with your all purpose cleaner and quickly wipe it out. Do not spray the freezer surface to avoid chemical freezing.

SWIPE SEALS: Wipe down the sides and seals of the refrigerator/freezer doors and the front edge of the body of the refrigerator with a microfiber towel sprayed with all purpose cleaner.

FINAL SHINE: Wipe down the front, accessible sides, and top of the refrigerator with a microfiber towel sprayed with all purpose cleaner. Buff to a shine with a dry towel.

Professional Tips: Refrigerators should be cleaned as often as needed, or if something has spilled inside, but at a minimum, every three months. Consider adding a magnetic meal planning weekly calendar to your fridge door to plan meals to use up older ingredients if you find a bunch of expired items while cleaning.

More Information: Looking for insider cleaning and maintenance advice? Check out Porch's comprehensive guide, featuring our own insights and much more!

What supplies do you need?

• Premium multi-surface microfiber towels
• Non-Abrasive Hand Pad or Scrubber Sponge
• All Purpose Spray and Glass Cleaner
• Kitchen Degreaser
• Dish Soap
• Gentle Abrasive Powder or Cooktop Cleanser
• Plastic razor blade (if needed for heavy soils - glass cooktop only)

How to Do It Right

IDENTIFY: Determine if the stove top is gas, electric or glass.

• • • Gas: Grates and burner tops can be removed and soaked in the sink with hot water & dish soap
    • Electric: Remove and wipe coils. Drip pans can be soaked in the sink with hot water & dish soap
    • Glass: There are no items to be removed. Be cautious not to use heavy abrasives.
    • Stainless Steel: Be cautious never to drag heavy grates on stainless steel. Lift carefully.

PREPARE & PRESPRAY: Remove any large loose debris or food bits with a microfiber towel. Spray stove top down with all purpose cleaner (use degreaser if heavily soiled). Spray grates as well if they cannot be removed and soaked in the sink. Wait at least 10 minutes for cleaning products to soak.

CLEAN CONTROL PANEL: While the stove top soaks, wipe down the back control panel and front doors with your all purpose cleaner and microfiber towel. Remember to wipe the handles and knobs (clean underneath, if they are removable).

SCRUB STAINS: Scour down the stove top with your non-abrasive sponge. If it is stainless steel, only scrub in the direction of the grain. If glass, only use gentle abrasives or cooktop cleansers. If there are any stubborn stains on the glass, use a plastic razor blade to carefully scrape off the debris.

WIPE CLEAN: Dampen a microfiber towel with warm water and wipe down the stove to remove grease and soap residue. Dry surface with a dry microfiber towel.

BURNERS & GRATES: For gas stoves, scrub the burners in warm soapy water. If there are any stubborn stains, you can use a soft-bristled brush. For electric stoves, scrub the drip pans in the sink and wipe down the coils with a damp microfiber towel*.

REASSEMBLE: Dry all burners, grates, and drip pans and return them carefully. Be careful not to scratch stainless steel with heavy grates.

BUFF TO A SHINE: Inspect your work, rubbing down the surface with a dry microfiber towel to work up a nice shine

Professional Tips: Stove tops should be cleaned as often as needed, or if something has splattered on them, but at minimum every two weeks. Never use anything heavily abrasive, like green heavy-duty scouring pads, steel wool pads, or pumice sticks on stovetops.
*Critical Warning: Truly neglected drip pans in electric stovetops can never be scrubbed back to new without endless scouring and potential scratching. It is less expensive than your labor to replace them.

What supplies do you need?

• Safety Equipment: Rubber Gloves, Goggles, Disposable Face Mask
• Disposable Microfiber Towels (or really old premium microfiber towels)
• Non-Abrasive Hand Pad or Scrubber Sponge
• Several Large Trash Bags (or a plastic tarp)
• Roll of Newspaper
• Oven Cleaner
• All Purpose Spray and Glass Cleaner
• Pumice Stone Stick (if needed for heavy soils)

How To Do It Right

IDENTIFY: Read the oven label or instruction manual to determine if it is a Self-Cleaning, Manual Cleaning, or Steam-Clean Oven.

• • • Self-Clean: Only use oven cleaner that is safe for self cleaning ovens.
    • Manual-Clean: Can use a traditional oven cleaner, but I still recommend using self-cleaning oven cleaner, as it’s far safer with less fumes.
    • Steam-Clean: Use water only and follow only the manufacturer’s instructions.

PROTECT: Spread out a couple trash bags on the floor in front of the oven door and cover with a thick layer of newspaper. Dampen a clean towel with water and set it on the newspaper.

SAFETY: Put on your safety equipment – goggles, rubber gloves, and face mask.

SPRAY: Pull out the racks from inside of the oven and lay them out on a trash bag, spray with all purpose cleaner, and let them soak.

SOAK: In the empty oven, spray the inside walls and inside door with oven cleaner. Be careful not to overspray onto cabinets or floors. Wipe overspray off immediately with the damp towel.

WAIT: Close the oven door, place your safety equipment on the newspaper, and clean the rest of the kitchen, letting the product soak (manual cleaner = 10 min | self-cleaning cleaner = 1 hour).

SCRUB: Scrub the oven racks with your hand pad. Remove the soap by wiping them clean with a microfiber towel dampened with water. Dry them and set them aside.

SCOUR: Put back on your safety equipment and scrub the inside walls and inside door with your hand pad or sponge. If spots remain, spray more cleaner and rub gently with the pumice stone to remove stubborn carbon deposits.

RINSE: Wipe out the inside of the oven and door with microfiber towels dampened with water until the surface is clean. Throw the soiled towels and sponge in the trash bag.

SHINE: Spray a new towel with all purpose cleaner and wipe down the inside to remove any last residue. Replace the cleaned racks and grates.

CAUTION: Do not use towels or pads used inside the oven on any other surface. Use a fresh towel and all purpose cleaner to wipe down the exterior of the oven.

CLEAN UP: Throw the newspaper in the trash bag, then throw your rubber gloves and mask in. Place your goggles in the kit. Use the clean trash bag the grates were placed on to empty the trash.

Professional Tips: Ovens should be cleaned as often as needed, or if something has splattered inside that is causing smoke, but at minimum, every six months. The pumice stick, when used on a damp surface, is a safe lifesaver for inside neglected ovens but a disaster for stovetops, so only use it where it belongs.

Coming Up Next: Cabinet Confidence

You are now fully equipped with the knowledge and tools to clean your fridge, stovetop, and oven like a pro (unless, of course, you don’t own any of our microfiber yet, in which case add it to your cart now).

But we're not done yet! Be sure to come back this Thursday for "Cabinet Confidence: Microfiber for Pristine Pantries, Cabinets & Drawers." You've tackled your appliances; now, it's time to take on those grimy cabinets, disorganized drawers, and crumb-filled pantries.  

We’ll even reveal the restoration tricks the Pros use to remove near-impossible challenges like fine wood cabinets covered in years of neglected grease or even the most dreaded of all, cigarette smoke! Set your reminders NOW!