Don’t wait until spring to clean your household appliances! Check out these tips for keeping your appliances sparkling clean all year.

Refrigerator – Keep a small spray bottle filled with a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar in your refrigerator. This way, you can address spills as they occur. Give your refrigerator a deeper cleaning every four to six months.

Dishwasher – In an empty dishwasher, place a cup full of vinegar on the top rack. Run a full cycle on high heat to disinfect.

Microwave – Fill a bowl with water and place in microwave. Heat until water boils to break up any food build-up on the inside. Allow steam to dissipate inside microwave before wiping the interior clean.

Washer – Run a cycle with two cups of vinegar on high heat. Once completed, use a toothbrush and sponge to scrub the inner drum and soap dispenser with a mixture of one quart warm water and ¼ cup vinegar. Run another high heat cycle without detergent or vinegar.

Dryer – Clean your lint screen after each load. Occasionally clean the lint-trap-housing cavity with a long, flexible lint brush. Clean the dryer’s vent hose yearly.