Appliances 101

Cooktops are not without their dangers. From overcooking and accidental burns, you can be putting yourself at risk without even realizing it. Here’s what you need to know and why you should be safer in the kitchen. Glass stove tops are becoming increasingly popular for their sleek and seamless appearance. These cooktops match popular kitchen decor and style while also being easy-to-clean. One downside to a glass stovetop is they can crack if you’re not careful. A sudden shift in temperature from cold to hot can create damaging effects. For example, think of putting a hot pan under cold water, this creates steam because of the temperature shift. It can also cause warping in pans because it moves from a higher temperature to a lower one. A stovetop is no exception to this. Avoid putting a hot lid face-down on a glass stovetop. A hot lid on a stovetop can create a seal between the two surfaces. The hot air gets trapped as it rises creating a push-and-pull effect which can damage the surface and even break under added pressure. This can also occur with cold lids as well, it all depends on the difference in temperature. Check your stovetop regularly to ensure it is cooking consistently and there are no electrical problems. If you find any issues it’s a good investment to seek out a service professional to avoid unnecessary risks. Source: the Spruce

You may have come across appliances referred to as counter-depth or cabinet-depth. These kinds of appliances are designed to fit neatly in-line against countertops and base cabinets. It’s most common in refrigerators since these appliances most often come out further than countertops or cabinets. Other appliances such as dishwashers or wine coolers are already designed to fit under a countertop. A refrigerator can extend as far as 5 to 10 inches than cabinet faces which can make some designs look awkward or clumsy. The counter-depth design is a popular solution to keep the appliance’s profile low and aligned with cabinets or countertops. While these designs are more elegant and seamless, they are not without their drawbacks. Here’s a list of the most common pros and cons for a cabinet-depth appliance. Cost. Typically, a counter-depth appliance will cost more than a standard refrigerator with comparable features. It’s also not uncommon for the appliance to have slightly less capacity than their standard counterparts. Maintenance. A counter-depth appliance is typically repaired and maintained the same way as a standard appliance. The shallower design does require certain components such as water filters to be repositioned. This may make accessing them slightly more difficult. A repair will cost you about the same as a standard appliance. They’re also no more prone to problems than a standard appliance. Design. This design is favored for a modern and streamlined profile. A luxury kitchen will often make use of this design, since uninterrupted looks are essential. The counter-depth design is also useful in smaller kitchens where a standard appliance can come out much further and be a hindrance. Convenience. A counter-depth refrigerator is shallower in depth, meaning you have a shorter reach to access contents. Finding and retrieving foods is easier and requires less bending. The easier access does come with a cost of capacity. You can expect a smaller storage volume unless you opt for an even wider refrigerator. The shallow design can improve traffic flow since the appliance won’t get in your way as you move about. However, the doors are often wider meaning they will swing wider as you open and close them. In the market for a new refrigerator to add to your kitchen? Check out our product line here! Cosmo refrigerators come in a variety of designs including counter-depth and standard. Source: the Spruce

A kitchen range hood has taken on more prominence as a focal point in the space. Range hoods are built out of many types of materials such as stainless steel, bronze and copper. Whether you have a range hood as a statement piece or a simple vent, it is important to keep it clean for optimal performance. If you are cooking with and using the hood daily, try to clean it monthly. If you aren’t cooking as often, then seasonal cleaning should be sufficient. Always clean it after a bigger holiday feast. The range hood suctions up grease and food particles that naturally cling to the surfaces. Cleaning is essential not only to keep it looking and smelling better, but to also prevent a house fire. If a pot or pan is left on the stove for too long, flames can appear and if the range hood is greasy it can lead to extensive structural damage. As with any product, you should always reference the manufacturer’s manual before cleaning. This will give you a more specific procedure for taking care of your range hood. What You’ll Need: Baking Soda Degreasing dishwashing liquid Boiling Water Soft nylon-bristle brush Spray-on degreaser Paper towels or cleaning rags Cleaning a Range Hood Filter Range hood filters all help catch grease and food before it enters the ductwork. Some are metal that can be cleaned and reused for many years while others are disposable charcoal filters. Check your manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning. Remove the filter. To remove a reusable filter, either slide it out or find the latch that will pop out the rest of the filter. Prepare a solution. Fill the sink with boiling water or use a large pot or baking dish that is heatproof. Add a tablespoon or two of dishwashing liquid to the water. Check that it contains a degreaser. Add 1/2 cup baking soda and mix the solution. Soak the filter. Submerge the filter into the solution and let it soak for at least fifteen minutes. Try to remove it before the water cools completely or the grease will resettle on the filter. Scrub and Rinse. Use the scrub brush to remove any grease and food particles that are still clinging onto the filter. Rinse with hot water and dry completely before placing in the range hood. Cleaning the Range Hood Interior/Exterior Apply degreaser to interior surfaces. Clear out the stovetop below as you may get drips. Spray on the degreaser and let it work for at least fifteen minutes. Wipe away. Use paper towels to wipe away the cleaner and grime. For stubborn particles, spray a bit of degreaser on a nylon-bristled brush and scrub the area. Rinse well. Dip a clean paper towel in warm water and rinse the interior to remove any remaining cleaner. Cleaning the exterior surfaces. Depending on the material, use an appropriate cleaning product recommended for those finishes. To prevent streaks on stainless steel, use a drop or two of olive oil on a microfiber cloth for a final polish. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for other materials such as painted metal, copper and brass. Source: the Spruce

Your oven is bound to build up some grime over time. An oven cleaner can be a great solution to cleaning grates, reviving baking sheets and even scrubbing white porcelain tubs. However, an oven cleaner should be handled with care since it is a harsh solution. Here are a few precautions you should take when handling oven cleaner. Don’t use it on a self-cleaning oven. The oven cleaner could corrode the oven’s special enamel coating. If you have a self-cleaning oven, check the product manual to find out which products are safe to clean with. Avoid some parts inside the oven. Take caution to avoid certain oven parts while using oven cleaner. The heating elements on the top or bottom of the unit and gaskets should be off limits. The cleaner could cause them to degrade and lose their airtight seal. Don’t use it without protection. Oven cleaner eats through tough build-up in your oven and can damage sensitive areas on your body like your skin. Wear rubber gloves to prevent the harsh chemicals in cleaners. It’s also wise to consider wearing goggles or another form of eye protection. Don’t use it without ventilation. Oven cleaner is irritating to the respiratory tract. This could cause issues if it’s inhaled. Turn on the vent hood in your kitchen and open windows to circle the air when exposed to fumes. Don’t expose others. Take precautions to not use the product around those who have asthma or other respiratory issues. These fumes can be especially dangerous to pets, especially birds. Be sure to always keep the oven cleaner somewhere safe where children cannot reach it. Source: the Kitchn

Kitchen appliances come in all sorts of colors and finishes. However, the cost of home appliances can mean these are long-term investments for your home. The choice is ultimately dependent on your decor tastes, the reason for buying the appliance, and your living situation. Here are a few tips you can follow when deciding on their color. Colorful Appliances If you’re looking to get a colorful refrigerator or microwave, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. A bright color will quickly date the appliance. Over time these appliances will go out of style much faster than expected. It may seem appealing to go for a trendy kitchen, but neutrals are more likely to seem timeless. When picking these appliances, remember that these colors usually go out of stock more often than stainless steel. If one appliance needs to be replaced, it may be difficult to find the same color or you’ll have to settle for mismatched appliances. Décor Preferences When deciding on an appliance’s color, ask yourself if it complements the rest of decor that won’t be changed anytime soon, such as flooring, counters and backsplashes. Stainless steel tends to be the most neutral of all finishes since they fit with both warm and cool color schemes. Stainless steel is more difficult to keep clean, as fingerprints show more easily compared to other finishes. Black appliances tend to blend with other stainless steel appliances and are harder to date than color finishes. If you’re looking for a customized look, the hidden-appliance look involves cabinet panels that virtually hide appliances within cabinetry. This will be the most expensive option but can greatly enhance the selling feature of your kitchen. Source: the Spruce

All major appliances have proper maintenance protocols to ensure it offers years of reliable use. Dishwashers are no exception. Mold, mildew, inefficient cycles and malfunctioning mechanics can disturb your kitchen’s flow for meal prep and cleanup. These repairs can also be costly. It’s important to prevent these issues by avoiding some common mistakes. As with any appliance, it’s best to refer to your product’s manual for the most accurate information. Running short, cold cycles. Many dishwashers can come with different cleaning options, such as cold washes or short rinses. However, it may be in the best interest of your appliance to stick to the standard full, hot cycles. A cold and short cycle can cause sludge and slime buildup. To ensure your dishwasher’s water is truly hot, try briefly running the hot water from the faucet closest to the dishwasher (typically your kitchen sink) before starting a cycle. Skipping heated dry. Similar to the previous rule, your dishwasher does need an extra hot cycle to burn off any lingering dampness and humidity. Not doing so can lead to mold and mildew. Use the heated dry option to give your unit a little more power to do its job. Using detergent pods. Most of the time detergent pods are more convenient, but may not be as effective as liquid detergent. Most newer dishwashers don’t get the water hot enough to completely dissolve the pods. Look out for any half-dissolved pods in the dishwasher door or residue on glassware. A detergent pod could be the culprit. Not cleaning filters daily. You may be unaware of the fact that your dishwasher has a filter food debris. This filter traps larger food particles, similarly to a basket drain in your kitchen’s sink. Leaving these filters dirty or clogged with food can lead to inefficient water flow and ultimately a less effective dishwasher. Avoiding maintenance. Anytime you notice your dishwasher working less efficiently than normal or leaving food residue behind on dishes, it may be time to schedule an inspection or maintenance. Sometimes sensors can malfunction and the dishwasher will stop heating water properly, no matter the way it’s set. It’s best to always take note of these issues sooner rather than later. A technician will be able to identify and fix any obstructed or faulty sensors before the appliance breaks down completely. Source: the Kitchn

You may be looking at your dishwasher, more specifically the detergent compartments and asking yourself what all those mean. Let your dishwasher take the load of the work by utilizing these compartments to their maximum potential. Your owner’s manual will be the most useful for model-specific practices. You can also find many manuals online in their PDF formats. If you’re still looking for a guide to fill the gaps, look no further! Here’s what dishwasher compartments mean, and how you should use them. (From left to right as pictured above) Main Wash Compartment. This is the main compartment where you’ll always be using when running the dishwasher. Many kinds of detergents can go here such as powder, gel and pods. Even if you use a pod, it should go into this compartment and not be tossed into the dishwasher as this will make it dissolve too quickly. Be sure to follow the recommended detergent amount, often times people use too much! Pre-Rinse Compartment. The smaller compartment usually located with the main wash compartment is there for a reason, even if most people don’t use it. The pre-rinse cup is meant to hold extra detergent if you feel the load will require some extra power on greasy pots and pans. It’ll add a bonus cleaning action to the pre-wash cycle of your dishwasher. Rinse Aid Compartment. Not often used, but should be! The Rinse aid helps break the surface tension of the water that rests on your dishes after they’re washed. The water will in turn slide off easily. It’ll help dishes dry faster and prevent water spots on your dishes. This compartment will hold more product than you actually need for a single cycle. Fill it up and refill once it runs out. There is usually an indicator to let you know it’s getting low. Source: the Kitchn