Cleaning Your Refrigerator

Chefs always seem to talk about the stand mixer being the work horse of kitchen appliances.  While it certainly is a work horse, I would have to say that the refrigerator is really the ultimate work horse appliance in the kitchen.  When you take a moment to think about it, the refrigerator is the only appliance that never shuts off.  It's constantly in work mode keeping food cold or frozen in an effort to maximize the longevity of your groceries.  Being that this is such a critical kitchen appliance, it is important to keep this appliance in tip top shape so that your perishables are optimally stored.  For today's post, I am sharing my list of go-to cleaning supplies as well as my schedule for properly maintaining my fridge.  I know this may not be a top of mind cleaning chore, but when you stop to really think about the actual importance of the refrigerator in your home, I think you may gain an appreciation for the value of today's post. 

Refrigerator Cleaning Supplies

• Weiman's Stainless Steel Cleaner (I prefer the Spray, but wipes are fine to use too)
• Spray Bottle filled with equal parts Water and Distilled Vinegar
• Rubber Gloves
• Baking Soda Fridge Pack
• Mild Dish Detergent
• Paper Towels and/or Cleaning Rags
• Vacuum 

Suggested Cleaning Schedule

• Weekly
  • Wipe up any/all food spills
  • Clean out any food that is past its prime/expired
  • Polish Stainless Steel Exterior (if applicable) using a polish like Weimans
  • For refrigerators with a non-stainless steel exterior, clean using a mixture of distilled vinegar and water
• Monthly
  • Remove all food from fridge, clean all shelves and interior walls using distilled vinegar and water (*odors tend to absorb into soap detergents, so using a mixture of water and vinegar will not only disinfect but it will also prevent unwanted food odors from lingering)
  • Check expiration dates on all refrigerated condiments and discard any that are past their prime
  • Remove and clean exterior base grate on refrigerated with a mild detergent and water
  • Pull refrigerator away from the wall to vacuum any dust/debris that may have accumulated behind the appliance
  • Replace Baking Soda Fridge Pack (*baking soda will help to eat up any food odors and keep your fridge odorless)
• Additional Fridge Cleaning Resources
  • Apartment Therapy
  • Real Simple
  • Martha Stewart

When it comes to cleaning your house, don't forget to clean...

I have recently been sent into a major cleaning frenzy (aka Spring Cleaning in July) thanks to my recent closet cleaning/organizing project and the fact that my mom is coming to visit in a few days for her Mother's Day Girls Weekend (see this post).  While there are the routine items to clean (floors, surfaces, bathrooms, etc.), there are also many items that need to be cleaned with less frequency and often go overlooked.  Below I have compiled a list of 7 areas that fall victim to being overlooked when it comes to cleaning your home.  I have included a list of my suggested cleaning products for each item/area and the recommended cleaning frequency.  A huge portion of my cleaning knowledge is thanks to none other than the domestic queen, Martha Stewart, so I have included links some of my favorite Martha Cleaning Checklists and additional references that I have found to be extremely helpful when it comes to maintaining the various aspects of my own home.  

Cleaning Products and Resources

Here is a list (with links) of all of my favorite cleaning products to use and/or reference when tackling various household chores.  

• Kitchen Cabinet Degreaser- Greased Lightning 
• Washing Machine Cleaner- Tide Washing Machine Cleaner
• Lint Roller- Scotch-Brite Lint Roller
• Dust Cloths- Swiffer Dust Cloths
• How to Clean your Laundry Room Appliances
• Martha Stewart's Spring Cleaning Checklist
• Martha Stewart's Weekly, Monthly and Seasonal Cleaning Checklists

Yes, I am a self-admitted cleaning enthusiast, but these commonly overlooked areas that I have identified in this post are not gratuitous.  A huge factor for ensuring that your home appliances and furnishings stand the test of time is proper maintenance (aka cleaning!).  There is no denying that cleanliness is major part of an overall home aesthetic, so why not take a little extra time to make sure that your efforts are thorough.  Going the extra distance when it comes to cleaning will pay off in spades, so I hope these tips and resources have helped you to identify those commonly overlooked areas in your own home and get them incorporated into your own cleaning routines.   

Caring for Cookware

When I started my first job after graduate school, one of the first purchases  I made for myself was a decent set of pots and pans.  It was a 10 piece set of stainless steel cookware for $148.99, which was a fantastic deal.  In addition to the price being reasonable, I am so glad I had that first set to practice on (both cooking and cleaning/care) before we invested in a nice set of cookware. While damaging any pan is never the ideal, it's much easier to move on from a less expensive pan than a really nice pan.  

When it came time to purchase a nice set of cookware, I will admit that I did spend a slightly excessive amount of time researching the different types of cookware available.  I wanted to find a line of cookware that best complimented my lifestyle and cooking frequency.   High end cookware is not cheap, so whatever I ended up purchasing need to last a lifetime (or close to it).  

Throughout my search process, I learned a lot about the products and even more about what was required to care for each type/line of cookware.  It has been two years since we purchased our cookware, I cook quite often and our cookware still looks like new.  Below I have compiled a list of my best tips and resources for caring for 4 of the most common types of cookware.  Properly caring for cookware requires explanations with a bit more granularity, so this post is a little longer than most but definitely a great resource.  

Stainless Steel 

Stainless Steel is probably the most commonly used type of cookware.  It is durable, easy to use and fairly low maintenance to maintain.  There are many different types of stainless steel cookware to choose from (ex. 3 ply, 5 ply, brushed, copper core, etc).  For all forms of stainless steel, I have found Bar Keepers Friend (BKF) to be the best cleanser and polisher. BKF comes in two forms, liquid and powder.  I prefer the BKF Soft Scrub (liquid version), as it tends to be less abrasive.  BKF not only cleanses and polishes stainless steel, but it is equally as effective on copper!  Since I have the All Clad Copper Core line of pots and pans which is consists of both copper and stainless steel in each piece of cookware,  BKF has been the most effective and efficient cleanser for my cookware.  In addition to using BFK, I have also found All Clad's Product Use & Care Manual to be an invaluable resource.

Cast Iron & Enamel Cookware

In addition to my set of All Clad pans, I also have a few pieces of Le Creuset enamel cast iron cookware.  I love to use my Le Creuset Dutch Oven for making soups and stews, my grill pan does an excellent job with cooking various meats and my braising dish creates the most flavorful and delicious entrees that are always cooked to perfection.  

When it comes to care for Enamel/Cast Iron Cookware, my favorite cleanser is thanks to a suggestion I had received from my friend Kelly.  I had been battling the stubborn bacon grease brown stain in the bottom of my enamel braising dish for days.  My struggle had randomly come up one day in a conversation with Kelly, who suggested I fill the piece of cookware with hot water, add a 1/4-1/2 scoop of powder OxiClean and let the piece soak for a few hours.  Wouldn't you know, it worked like a charm!  After a few hours of soaking, I dumped the oxiclean water, then washed the piece of Le Creuset with soapy water and a nylon scrub brush, and voila!  The cookware was back to looking pristine!  Since OxiClean is my preferred method for cleaning Le Creuset, I keep a small tub of it underneath my kitchen sink for easy access. (*Note-This is the only type of cookware you should ever allow to soak in water).  

Copper

Who doesn't love the look of copper cookware?  Gorgeous is an adjective that comes to mind when I think of copper cookware.  In addition to being beautiful in appearance, copper is an excellent heat conductor, evenly and quickly distributing heat throughout a pan, which is why chefs love to use copper cookware.  With that said, there are two reasons why copper is not the most common type of cookware used.  The first reason is that because copper is a precious metal, it is the most expensive type cookware on the market today.  The second reason is that copper cookware is extremely high maintenace.  It tarnishes easily and requires polishing constantly.  

On my recent trip to San Francisco, I had the opportunity to experience cooking with Mauviel Copper Cookware at my sister's house.  All I can say is that it certainly lives up to it's reputation in every way.  There was one morning when I used the small skillet to make eggs and the pan cooked the eggs beautifully!  After I had let the pan cool I went to clean it and saw that the entire copper side had been tarnished from a single use!  My sister keeps her copper in perfect condition and when I opened her cleaning closet I saw how she achieved copper perfection.  Inside her closet was a stack of Wright's Copper Cream (Wright's also makes a fabulous Silver Cream).  This copper cream is affordable, non-abrasive and very effective.  In addition to Wright's, I have found BKF and even Twinkle to be great copper cleaners.  

Teflon/Non-Stick

If the truth be known, I only have one piece of teflon/nonstick anodized cookware. The reason being, this particular type of cookware can only endure a maximum temperature of 450 degrees fahrenheit (which can be very limiting for someone who cooks frequently).  My biggest tips when caring for Teflon/Nonstick cookware are:

• Never use metal cooking tools on the surface of Teflon/Nonstick cookware.  Metal cooking utensils will scratch the surface, thus compromising the integrity and effectiveness of the non-stick component.
• Hand wash with dish soap, water and a nylon brush.  This is a non-stick surface, therefore, you shouldn't require cleansers for advanced stains. Simple soap and water will adequately cleanse your cookware.   

Cookware Do's and Dont's

• Do- Your research!  Each type of cookware requires different types/levels of care and maintenance.  If you don't think you are up to the task of polishing your cookware after each use, Copper might not be the best option for you.
• Do- Handwash your cookware thoroughly after each use.
• Do- Use either vegetable cellulose sponges, nylon wool or nylon scrub brushes to assist in cleaning your cookware.
• Do- Use wooden, plastic and silicone cooking utensils when cooking.  If possible, avoid using metal cooking utensils, as they can scratch/damage the surface of your cookware.  
• Do- Dry your cookware thoroughly after washing to prevent water spots and rusting.
• Don't- Put your hot pan under running water right after use.  Allow your pan to cool completely before cleaning it to avoid warping the pan. 
• Don't- Soak your stainless steel cookware in water.  Soaking your pans in water can lead to pitting damage that is permanent.
• Don't- Put your pan in the dishwasher.  Even if the instructions say "Dishwasher Safe," you are always better off hand washing your cookware to preserve its integrity and increase the longevity.  
• Don't- use steel wool to clean a stubborn stain out of any pan.  While you may succeed at removing the stain, you will scratch/damage the pan's interior which could affect future cooking.

As I have mentioned in this post, cookware is not an inexpensive purchase so it is important to make sure you select a set that can fit your lifestyle.  If you want a low maintenance set of cookware, I would recommend Cast Iron/Enamel or Teflon.  However, if you don't mind a little extra cleaning, then maybe stainless steel would be the best choice for you.  My goal with this post is to equip you with the knowledge to care for whatever type of cookware you select or may already own.  If you have any questions regarding the information in this post or care tips beyond this post, you can always contact me at redefiningdomestics@gmail.com.  I am always happy to answer any questions you might have regarding all things domestic!