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Cleaning plastic kitchen appliances may seem an easy enough task. Most of us just think we need to wipe them down and rinse every now and again, but believe it or not, if you leave them to fester, they can become hard to handle in the long run.
In this guide, we’ll take you through how to safely and efficiently clean down the plastic elements of your kitchen appliances without the headaches.
We’ll address the elephant in the room – aren’t most kitchen appliances metal? Yes – however, there are some that have plastic in the build, meaning that you may well need to know a few tips on how to get your white goods looking their best.
Yes – it’s convenient, but plastic needs cleaning regularly in order to maintain its colour. Moreover, plastic tends to not be as hygienic as other materials such as stainless steel, for example. It should therefore be cleaned more frequently to ensure that your appliances are grease-free and completely safe to use.
Let’s take a look at how to get the most out of your plastic tools through simple cleaning tips.
Cleaning Plastic Kitchen Appliances – How Frequently Should You Clean?
Most of your small plastic kitchen appliances – or those with plastic in the manufacture – will need cleaning at least once a week. Even if you do not use them, they can receive splatter from cooking on the hob, from drinks, or other food.
What’s more, they can easily collect dust if they are simply sat on the work surface, waiting to be used. White plastic, as is common, is particularly annoying for showing up every single bit of dirt.
However, what is possibly the most annoying thing to remove from your plastic kitchen appliances is grease. As you know, kitchen grease can pretty much make its way anywhere in the kitchen and can be a nightmare to remove. Over time, it builds up and can make the general kitchen clean-up much more difficult.
So, in order to keep your plastic kitchen appliances as clean as possible in the long run, it is best to clean them at the very least once a week.
Obviously, you should also clean them whenever you use them. The longer you leave dirt in and on your plastic kitchen appliances, the more likely they are to stain.
Therefore, whenever you have finished using a plastic kitchen appliance, leave it long enough to cool down (if it has to), then clean it or at least give it a rinse before you get to the real cleaning later.
How do I Clean My Plastic Kitchen Appliances?
Grab the white vinegar, the baking soda, a lemon or two… cleaning plastic in your appliances isn’t as tricky as you might think.
Use Bleach
As you know, bleach is an extremely strong chemical that can help to restore the whiteness of certain objects. Moreover, it is very good for killing bacteria and pathogens on sight.
However, given how harsh this chemical is, you should only use a small amount and never use it on an appliance that you will put food in. For example, you should never bleach the inside of your blender.
However, for cleaning the exterior of some of your plastic kitchen appliances, bleach could do just the trick. Carefully dilute a small amount of bleach before putting the plastic elements into the solution, or use gloves and a cloth to wipe it over.
Remember to never put anything electrical near the solution, and do not spray it near any plugs or wires! Always make sure to thoroughly rinse bleach, and NEVER mix it with other cleaning products. Chlorine gas is easily created by mixing the wrong chemicals together, and it can kill. If in doubt, stick to one.
Use White Vinegar
A softer but just as effective ingredient to use in your cleaning arsenal would be white vinegar. Add one tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water and use it to clean your plastic wear with a spray or a cloth.
The great thing about white vinegar is that it is safe to use nearly anywhere in your kitchen as it is completely food safe. It won’t leave a nasty smell and will leave your plastic items looking perfect.
Use Baking Soda
You may have heard of mixing baking soda and water to clean the inside of an oven. Well, you can use exactly the same solution to clean the plastic in your kitchen, too – it’s a brilliant all-around resource.
Simply add water to some baking soda to make a paste. Cover your plastic kitchen appliance in the paste and leave it for around twenty to thirty minutes. Once the time is up, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away the paste, then dry the appliance off before using again.
Use Lemons
Lemons are fantastic for cleaning – they’re acidic enough to lift up dirt and grime, and they are completely kitchen safe.
For example, if you have a plastic kitchen appliance that has started to change colour, you can rub a lemon slice over it, ensuring that the juice covers all of it. Then, leave it by a window in plain sunlight for one or two days.
After the two days are up, you should notice that the plastic has either regained its complete original colour or has at least lightened.
Conclusion: Cleaning Plastic Kitchen Appliances
As you can see, cleaning plastic kitchen appliances doesn’t have to be difficult, and it doesn’t have to involve using harsh chemicals. In fact, it is far better to use food-based products to ensure that your kitchen appliances are safe to use after having been cleaned. This also means you can avoid damaging your appliances, as well as avoid bringing about any noxious smells.
