Settling into your new apartment home and loving it?
Repair and replacement of appliances are very expensive. Remember that you
are responsible for maintaining these appliances throughout your lease term and
will be financially responsible for anything above normal wear and tear.
Keeping that in mind, we want to offer you up the best information possible to
keep your appliances and home in tip top shape!
Glass top stove and stainless-steel appliances are super easy to maintain
BUT they ARE different than what you may be used to. Here are some easy tips
and tricks to keep your counters spotless and your appliances smudge-free!
GRANITE
COUNTERTOPS:
The easiest way to keep your stone looking great is to avoid bad habits that may
damage it.
Do: Blot up Spills Immediately
Acidic substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce, and sodas
could potentially stain the surface. Cooking oils may also leave a stain if not
wiped up.
Do: Clean Surfaces Using a Sponge or Soft Cloth
Using a specially formulated natural stone and granite cleaner is
recommended to keep your countertops in the best condition while also
protecting the sealer. However, hot water will do for quick clean-ups. Dish
soap won't permanently damage your granite, but repeated use of soapy
water will cause build-up (yes, even if you rinse) and dull your countertop's
shine. So, regularly using dish soap for cleaning granite countertops
is not recommended.
Do: Use Coasters Under all Glasses, Bottles, and Cans
Again, granite won't etch and using coasters is not an absolute necessity, but
using coasters is just a good practice to protect all bath and kitchen
countertop surfaces.
Do: Use Trivets and Hot Pads Under Pots & Pans
Yes, you can take a hot pot off the stove and put it right on granite
countertops without any problems. It is possible for granite to
suffer "thermal shock" and crack, but rare. You don't want to put hot
pans on any other surface except for soapstone. But you must consider other
issues as well... Grit that gets trapped between the pot and the
countertop surface may scratch the surface--even granite countertops. Granite
is very hard and durable and can take tons of abuse without any significant
damage, but it can develop light surface scratches or pitting in high-use areas
around the sink and cooktop. It is not common, but it is possible. And ALL other
surfaces are softer than granite. Better safe than sorry. Also, once you remove
the hot pan from the countertop, the surface will be very hot and may burn.
Do: Use a Cutting Board
Again, avoid the possibility of scratching the solid surface and protect your
knives. Cutting on the stone will dull and damage your knives' edges quickly.
You should never use your granite counter as a cutting board.
Don't: Use Generic Cleaning Products
Generic cleaning products including bleach, glass cleaners, and other degreasers
and common household cleaners that you buy at your local store contain acids,
alkalis, and other chemicals that will degrade the granite sealer leaving the
stone more vulnerable to staining. You can get an affordable cleaner Weiman
Granite Cleaner & Polish like this for less than $4 at Walmart.
Don't: Use Vinegar, Ammonia, Lemon or Orange as Cleaners
Most common and name-brand household products are not suitable for cleaning
granite countertops. It is best to avoid using anything that isn’t specifically
recommended for granite. Simply use warm water and a soft cloth, if nothing
else. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners and vinegar.
Don't: Use Bathroom, Tub & Tile or Grout Cleaners
The powders and even the "soft" creams contain abrasives that will
scratch and dull surfaces.
Don't: Sit or Stand on Your Countertops
Unlike a laminate countertop surface, granite, marble and quartz solid surface
countertops are very hard, but not flexible. Additionally, they DO NOT have a
plywood backing, so when too much weight is applied in one spot, it could cause
a crack.
Don't: Store Liquids or Toiletries Directly on Your Countertop
Cooking oils, hair products, perfumes, colognes, nail products, creams,
lotions, and potions tend to spill or leak and often go overlooked. Even when
sealed, a substance that remains on the granite surface for an extended period
may stain the granite. Practice proactive granite countertop care by storing
these products on a shelf or decorative tray like they do in fancy hotels!
GLASS STOVE TOP:
Let’s face it—glass-top stoves can be hard to keep clean without routine
maintenance, but we love the extra counter space they can provide as well as
the sleek look and usual easy wipe down. A few drops of water spilled while
cooking can create crusty halos around your burner that won’t simply wipe away
clean. Burn marks can build up over time until your stove constantly looks
dirty. It’s a frustration we all share. Thankfully, there’s a solution—and it’s
an easy one.
You can use a mixture of white vinegar (to remove the grease) and then
baking soda to rub away caked on stains. Bon Ami powdered cleanser (easily
found at any grocery or super store) is another great option. Because a ceramic
glass top stove isn’t coated in another material (like a window or mirror is),
it’s okay to use a mild abrasive cleaner like Bon Ami or baking soda to remove
residue and stains.
To make your glass stovetop look new in minutes, first wipe it down with a
wet cloth. You can wipe it with white vinegar to remove grease. Then, sprinkle
the surface with Bon Ami powder cleanser or the baking soda and give it a good
scrub with a soft cloth or the soft side of a sponge. If the stain doesn’t rub
away at first, apply more Bon Ami and continue working it until it disappears.
Please note: the cleaning of a glass-ceramic cooktop should be
uninterrupted; with plenty of water used to keep the surface moist. All the
cleaning solution, including any residue, should be completely removed from the
surface once cleaning is completed. Bon Ami, or any cleaner, should not be left
in contact with the cooktop for an extended period of time.
When all the stains have been rubbed away, wipe the surface clean using a
wet cloth. For a streak-free shine, dry the surface using a clean, dry cloth.
STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES (DISHWASHER/REFRIGERATOR/MICROWAVE):
To get your stainless steel appliances shining like new,
you’ll need to invest in some microfiber cloths. These super-soft, non-abrasive cloths will last you a long time —
especially since you can throw ’em in the wash and reuse them! You’ll also need
white vinegar (in a spray bottle, preferably), paper towels and mineral oil
like olive oil.
1. Gather your supplies: This task (and most others!) will be so much easier if
have all of your supplies collected and ready to go.
2. Determine the direction of the grain: I know that we usually reserve the term “grain” for wood; however,
stainless steel also has a grain. Look closely. It will either be running
horizontally or vertically. To clean your stainless steel, rub in the direction
of that grain.
3. Do a preliminary clean of your appliance with vinegar: Spray your appliance liberally with vinegar.
4. Wipe it down: Using either a paper towel or a very soft cloth, wipe
the vinegar off in the direction of the grain. This should remove the initial
debris from your appliance and start to shine it up a bit.
5. Dip your soft cloth into a little bit of oil: You don’t need a ton, as you can always come back for more.
6. Polish your appliance: With your oiled-up cloth, wipe in the direction of the
grain. You will start to see all of the marks disappear! Now you have a shiny
new appliance again!
You can also purchase a pretty inexpensive Stainless
Steel cleaner from the store but it should always be a two-step process, one
that cleans, and one that buffs or shines.
There you have
it! All of the easy tips and tricks you’ll need to keep your new
apartment home looking like new!!! Enjoy!