7 kitchen appliances you should always deep clean before Christmas – even the ones you hate cleaning, says our kitchen editor

Christmas is undoubtedly one of the busiest times for our kitchens. From socializing to cooking a turkey, the heart of the home sees it all – therefore quickly becoming dirty.

So, what can you do ahead of time? While it will still be necessary to wipe down surfaces and sweep away crumbs, your appliances that work overtime throughout the festive period could do with a little love before the chaos of Christmas sets in.

Here, Lydia Hayman, our in-house kitchen editor and appliance expert, shares her cleaning tips on getting your appliances ready for festive use. And, as a trained chef, Lydia assures us you'll thank yourself later.

7 appliances to deep clean before Christmas

1. The oven

The all-important Christmas dinner simply wouldn't work without an oven. After all, you can't exactly fit a turkey into even the best air fryer. But if you're wondering if you should clean your oven before or after Christmas, now is the time, says Lydia.

She explains, 'The oven has worked hard for you all year round, and now it's going to be doing overtime for all that festive cooking. You'll need to tackle any grease buildup which can cause smoke and affect the flavor of your food.'

So, to deep clean your oven, start by cleaning the oven racks, by soaking them in hot soapy water. We recommend using Dawn Ultra Liquid Dish Soap available at Walmart to do so, as the powerful formula cuts through grease and grime without the need for scrubbing. Neglecting to do so is a common Christmas clean up mistake.

Lydia says, 'While they soak, scrub the oven walls with a paste made of baking soda and water, or oven cleaner.' The Great Value Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner available at Walmart will do nicely if you're happier with a commercial cleaner.

'Let it sit for a while to loosen grime, then wipe everything down with a damp cloth to finish,' Lydia continues. 'Don't forget to tackle cleaning the glass oven door for a clear view of your Christmas party recipes, holiday feast or Christmas cookies, to prevent overcooking or burning.'

Importantly, one thing that Chris Willatt, owner of Alpine Maids, warns against is using the self-cleaning oven feature, if you're in a rush or prefer not to get your hands dirty.

He says, 'I can not stress enough that you never use the self-cleaning feature on your oven. The high-temperature settings will cut the life span of your oven in half. Never use it.

'If you have a particularly tough stain, use a degreaser, let it sit for an hour, and scrape off the gunk with an oven scraper,' such as the number one bestselling Razor Blade Scraper Tool available at Amazon, which doesn't scratch surfaces.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

2. The fridge

Much like your oven, your fridge works hard over the holiday season, storing all your delicious treats and tipples for friends and family alike. Therefore, Lydia points out, it's just as important to clean your refrigerator.

She says, 'I find that a clean, organized fridge makes life so much easier when cooking for a crowd. It helps you keep track of ingredients and ensures nothing gets forgotten – like those carrots shoved to the back of the drawer!

'I start by removing everything. Toss anything that has expired (using a sturdy trash bag, such as the Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags available at Amazon), and stack the rest on your counters or island. Wipe down the fridge shelves and any sticky jars or sauce bottles (using a natural cleaning spray such as the Method Antibacterial All-Purpose Cleaner available at Walmart) before putting them back.'

It's also important to remember to clean your fridge drain hole, to prevent blockages, odors and get rid of fridge smells.

Lydia adds, 'Once the fridge is spotless, double-check the temperature settings to keep your food fresh for longer – this is super important! The ideal temperature is 37-40°Fahrenheit. Then, restock and enjoy your tidy, organized space, ready for your Christmas groceries.'

You might also like to invest in some of the items pros say every fridge needs to stay organized, such as stackable boxes or airtight containers.

3. The microwave

They're the hero of Christmas leftovers, but when was the last time you cleaned your microwave?

Vanessa Bossart, founder of GreenTerra Cleaning Services, says, 'Over time, microwaves get splattered with sauces, grease and crumbs. A dirty microwave not only looks unappetizing but can also affect the flavor of reheated food.'

To clean it, fill a microwave-safe bowl with water, and add a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. We recommend cleaning with vinegar or cleaning your microwave with lemon, such as the Great Value Lemon 100% Juice available at Walmart as both are natural alternatives without any harsh chemicals. Then, depending on the condition of your microwave, heat the bowl for three minutes or more to loosen grime with steam.

'Wipe down the interior with a soft cloth sprayed with Method All-Purpose Cleaner available at Amazon to remove residue and leave a streak-free finish,' advises Bossart. 'Don't forget the exterior – use the same cleaner to polish handles, buttons, and the door.'

To prevent splatter and to heat up your food in the microwave without losing moisture, use a microwave-safe BPA-free splatter lid, available at Amazon.

4. The range hood

Forgetting to clean your range hood isn't just unsanitary – it's unsightly too, says Rhonda Wilson, quality lead cleaner at FreshSpace Cleaning.

She says, 'I forgot to clean this when I had guests over! Since then, I have never skipped it. If you can remove the filter, do so and soak it in hot, soapy water. While that's soaking, use a degreaser (such as the Method Lemongrass Cleaning Products Kitchen Degreaser Spray Bottle available at Target) to scrub the hood and fan, especially those awkward corners.'

Then, rinse everything and dry thoroughly, before reassembling the filter. For the exterior of the hood, simply wipe it with a microfiber cloth, such as the HOMEXCEL Microfiber Cleaning Cloth available at Amazon, Wilson advises.

Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden has a stainless steel hood and cleans with a homemade essential oils cleaning spray for a streak-free finish. She says, 'Just add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential to about two cups of water, and a tiny dab of dish soap and it'll give you a brilliant cleaning mix that cuts straight through the grease that accumulates on a hood.'

Punteha prefers 100% pure geranium oil from Amazon and keeps her DIY cleaning solutions in durable ambler glass spray bottles, also from Amazon.

5. The coffee machine

If you reach for your best coffee maker everyday (and you might need it more than ever over the exhausting run to the holidays) it's important to clean your coffee maker ahead of time, says Lydia.

She admits, 'Deep cleaning my coffee machine is my least favorite task, but it actually doesn't take very long. And, if you have overnight guests, they'll appreciate a delicious coffee in the morning.

'Mineral buildup can affect both the taste and efficiency of brewing. While I'm at it, I actually like to descale my kettle too, so it's clean for making herbal teas or boiling water for cooking over the holidays.'

To clean a Nespresso machine, clean a Ninja coffee maker, or indeed, any other kind of caffeine appliance, run a brew cycle with equal parts water and white vinegar to descale the machine, advises cleaning expert Bossart. Then, rinse it through thoroughly with two cycles of plain water.

'Wash the carafe and removable parts in warm, soapy water,' she adds, 'and use a descaling solution like Urnex Dezcal Coffee and Espresso Machine Descaler available at Amazon to maintain peak performance.

If you need to clean a drip coffee maker or clean a coffee percolator, our expert-led guides dive into the details for a squeaky clean appliance.

6. The dishwasher

Don't neglect your dishwasher, either, says Lydia. 'A dishwasher that goes wrong can be the most frustrating thing to happen at Christmas, when you’re stacked with washing up,' she warns.

So, to make sure yours is running smoothly in time for the big day, take the time to clean your dishwasher, paying particular attention to cleaning the dishwasher filter.

Alessandro Gazzo, professional cleaner from Emily's Maids of Dallas, says, 'Place a cup with white vinegar (such as the Great Value Distilled White Vinegar available at Walmart) and run a full cycle. Remove the filter from the bottom of your dishwasher, grab a soft brush (or old toothbrush) and wash with soapy water, before rinsing with cold water.'

If your dishwasher is particularly in need of a clean, you might prefer to use a commercial dishwasher cleaner to tackle limescale and odors, says cleaning expert Bossart, and don't skip wiping down seals, edges and the interior of the door to prevent mildew buildup, as this is an oft-forgotten hidden moldy spot in the kitchen.

'Don’t forget to poke out the holes of the spray arms with a toothpick or a tiny paperclip,' adds professional cleaner Wilson.

To keep it fresh over the holidays simple pop a couple of lemon halves in with dishwasher cycles. Our writer tried lemons in her dishwasher and says she'll never load it without them again.

7. The blender

Finally, deep clean your blender before Christmas, says cleaning expert, Bossart.

'These holiday workhorses often see action for soups, sauces, and smoothies, but leftover residue can dull flavors and harbor bacteria,' she warns.

Begin by disassembling your blender, before washing the parts in warm, soapy water. 'For stuck on-residue, fill the blender with warm water, a drop of dish soap (such as the Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Dish Soap available at Target) and a splash of vinegar, then blend on high for 30 seconds, adds Bossart, which is Courtney Cox's blender cleaning hack.

Then, rinse thoroughly and use a small brush to scrub around the blades to ensure they're spotless.

FAQs

How often should I deep clean kitchen appliances?

While we have listed the appliances to clean before Christmas, it is, of course, important to continue the cleaning into the New Year and beyond.

Aim to clean your dishwasher once a month, and your refrigerator and range hood every three months. Every thing else should really be cleaned weekly, or even daily, after use. After all, they are the dirty things professional cleaners always notice in people's kitchens, and you won't want guests noticing them too.

Next, why not try polishing your stainless steel appliances with olive oil? It might sound unusual, but Chiana Dickson, H&G Solved content editor tried it recently, and was shocked by the remarkable results.