Appliance Cleaning Guide: Oven, Fridge and Washing Machine

Why appliance cleaning matters

Kitchen appliances collect grease, food residue, limescale and damp. An oven full of burnt-on grease smokes and smells when heated. A fridge with spills on its shelves holds odours. A washing machine with a dirty drawer and seal can leave laundry smelling musty. Cleaning them regularly keeps them working as they should and makes the whole kitchen feel cleaner.

Oven and hob

1. Make sure the oven is cool and switched off.
2. Remove racks and trays and soak them in hot, soapy water.
3. Apply an oven cleaner suited to your oven's surfaces, following the label.
4. Scrub, wipe away residue and rinse with a damp cloth.
5. Clean the door glass, then the hob, removing pan supports and burner caps on gas hobs.

Extractor fan

Switch off the power, remove the filters and soak metal filters in hot soapy water. Charcoal filters are replaced, not washed. Degrease the hood, dry everything and refit.

Fridge

1. Remove all contents, checking dates as you go.
2. Take out removable shelves and drawers and wash them in warm soapy water.
3. Wipe the inside, including the door seals, with a mild cleaning solution.
4. Dry everything before putting food back.

Washing machine

1. Pull out and wash the detergent drawer.
2. Wipe inside the door seal, where residue and damp collect.
3. Run an empty hot wash with a machine cleaner, following the manufacturer's guidance.
4. Leave the door and drawer open to dry.

Common mistakes

• Cleaning while powered. Unplug or isolate first.
• Harsh products on the wrong surface. Check the appliance manual.
• Forgetting seals. Fridge and washing machine seals trap dirt.
• Putting parts back wet. Damp encourages smells.

What our appliance cleaning includes

• Cooker (oven and hob). Disassembling, soaking removable parts, scrubbing, degreasing, wiping surfaces and reassembling.
• Extractor fan. Removing the cover, degreasing components, washing and drying them, and reassembling.
• Fridge. Removing contents, wiping shelves and drawers, sanitising surfaces.
• Washing machine. Cleaning solutions applied, drawers and seals cleaned, scrubbing and degreasing inside and out.

Typical job £165 — based on 226 completed jobs in the last 12 months.

Moving out?

Agents check appliances at checkout, and they are not part of our standard kitchen clean. Add the oven, fridge, extractor or washing machine to your end of tenancy booking so everything is done in one visit.

A simple appliance cleaning routine

• After cooking: wipe the hob once cool and clean up oven spills before they bake on.
• Weekly: wipe fridge shelves and throw out old food; wipe the washing machine door seal.
• Monthly: clean extractor metal filters if you cook often; wash the detergent drawer.
• Every few months: give the oven, racks and fridge a full clean.

How to prepare for a professional appliance clean

Empty the fridge, clear the hob and the worktop beside the oven, and take laundry out of the washing machine. Make sure appliances are accessible and let us know the type of cooker when you book.

Signs an appliance needs a deep clean

• The oven smokes or smells when it heats up.
• The fridge smells even after old food is thrown out.
• Laundry comes out of the washing machine smelling musty.
• The extractor is louder than usual or leaves cooking smells behind.

Read our oven cleaning cost guide, or book a clean.