What To Know About Keeping Black Appliances In Pristine Condition

Black appliances are a must-have if you are looking for that sleek, modern finish in your kitchen. Aesthetically pleasing and immensely popular, these products can make your kitchen feel more contemporary and up-to-the-minute, stated Don's Appliances. You might be wondering, though, how to keep them looking shiny and clean, as fingerprints and streaks tend to show up much easier on black than white. The good news is that you probably already have many of the products needed to keep your appliances looking in pristine condition.

Whether it's a black stainless steel fridge, a matte black oven, or a high gloss black kettle, there are plenty of ways to keep your modern kitchen appliances looking at their best. Things such as white vinegar and microfiber cloths work well for shiny black appliances. Alternatively, if you've gone for a matte black finish, then dish soap and hot water work wonders, too. In addition, there are various cleaning products available to buy, which help keep both the inside and outside clean and well maintained.

Bond Cleaning in Adelaide had some ideas to make cleaning days quicker and easier. They suggested getting all your equipment and products organized in advance. For cleaning black appliances, you will need white vinegar, dish soap, baking soda, microfiber cloths, a spray bottle, some newspaper, and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Make up a cleaning solution of equal parts of water and white vinegar in the spray bottle. If you are also cleaning an oven, in a plastic bowl, make a paste with water, baking soda, and a few drops of white vinegar. This is an effective remedy to break down baked-on food that has built up inside the oven.

Bond Cleaning also noted that caring for appliances after each use is good practice. Use the water and vinegar solution to spray the appliances every day, then wipe them down with a microfiber cloth to make sure grease and dust don't build up and spoil the glossy finish of your modern black appliances.

Depending on how often you cook, kitchens can quickly become dirty. Additionally, if you have pets or children, then it is very easy to end up with food stains or greasy fingerprints where they aren't wanted. Before you can effectively clean and bring your black appliance back to its best, you need to tackle any marks, food, oil, or grease that has built up.

Hunker stated that often saturating any marks with the cleaning solution and leaving it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes may be all that's needed. Make sure to let any crusted material fully soften so that it can be removed easily with a soft cloth. Rubbing at stains with too much force or using anything abrasive such as a scourer, will likely ruin the shiny surface. If the stain is harder to shift, then leaving the cleaning solution to soak in overnight could potentially work, but if you need something with quicker results, rubbing alcohol or white vinegar may be necessary. Do, however, take care, as apartment therapy warned, rubbing alcohol can give off harmful fumes and is highly flammable, therefore, you should avoid naked flames and ensure the area is well ventilated. Also, be sure to rinse well anything you have used it on.

For general appliance cleaning, first, wipe down the exterior surfaces with a soft microfiber cloth; this will remove any dust or dry foodstuffs like salt, coffee grounds, or bread crumbs that may have accumulated. Then, take your cleaning solution and spray it all over the surface. Take another dry microfiber cloth and gently buff the surface until it's dry.

For black stovetops, Vintage Kitchen recommended taking all the removable burner parts and putting them into a bowl with hot water and dish soap. Using a paper towel, clean away any loose bits of food, then spray the stovetop all over with the cleaning solution and leave it to sit for 3-5 minutes. Wipe dry with a clean microfiber cloth. Wash all the burner parts that have been soaking in the hot water, dry thoroughly, and replace them on the clean oven top. These same methods can also be employed when cleaning your black microwave.

Making sure you properly dry your black appliances is another very important step, and the key to this is a bit of elbow grease and those microfiber cloths! Sustaining The Powers suggested buying them in bulk and washing them without fabric softener, as this will keep them fully absorbent.

They also shared a great recipe for a streak-free appliance solution. Mix together 1 cup of water, 1 cup of white vinegar, 1 cup of rubbing alcohol, 2 to 3 drops of dish soap, and 3 to 4 drops of your preferred essential oil (to counteract the strong smell of the vinegar). Shake them all together in a misting spray bottle. Spray directly onto pre-cleaned surfaces, then buff dry with a microfiber cloth, and you will have a shiny, streak-free finish. Alternatively, if you don't have any microfiber cloths, once you have cleaned your appliance with the cleaning solution, you can use a paper towel or a scrunched-up newspaper to buff up and dry. Paper towels don't leave any lint behind, and they are super absorbent.

If you have small children, then matte black appliances are much more user-friendly when it comes to keeping them in good condition. The matte effect is not a magnet to greasy fingerprints and smears like their shiny counterparts, making them much easier to keep clean. DJ Design noted that matte black surfaces require no excess buffing or polishing. Just a simple wipe down with warm soapy water and leave to dry.

Aztec Appliance had another recommendation. A modern alternative is black stainless steel, which doesn't show up fingerprints in the same way that plastic does. In fact, some high-end black stainless steel appliances have a matte finish with print-proof technology to make sure fingerprints and smudges don't spoil the look of your kitchen.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is not to use any wax-based cleaners. Renovator Store pointed out that wax-based cleaners will fill in all the pits and imperfections in a matte finish and ruin its appearance. Additionally, anything that is too abrasive, acidic, or contains solvents should be avoided at all costs.

As your oven most likely has a glass-fronted door, the interior will also be visible. So, keeping the inside clean is just as important as the outside when trying to make sure your appliances are looking pristine. While many companies offer oven cleaning services, employing a few tips from Merry Maids will save your hard-earned money.

To clean the inside of your oven door, they suggested making a paste with baking soda and water. Spread this on the inside of the oven door and allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes, then wipe away with a damp microfiber cloth. If any stuck-on residue remains, take a sharp knife and gently scrape it off with the knife edge held at a 45-degree angle so as not to scratch the glass. Repeat if necessary and buff up well with a cloth or paper towel.

When it comes to the shelves and racks, you can either soak them in hot water with soda crystals or, if they will fit, put them in the dishwasher to soften to grease and grime and scrub them with a ball of scrunched up tinfoil. Another great tip from Good Housekeeping is to use an oven liner. This is an easy way to protect the bottom of your oven from spills and baked-on food, and the liner can simply be removed once a week and run through a dishwashing cycle.