How To Clean Under Your Kitchen Appliances (Without Moving Them)

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Cleaning a kitchen is hard work, especially when the time comes around to do a deep, thorough clean. Not only do you have to scrub every inch of the kitchen, but you also have to deal with moving large and heavy appliances in order to clean underneath them. Ovens often weigh hundreds of pounds, so moving them is no easy task. In fact, the spaces underneath your appliances are probably one of the hardest spots to get clean in your kitchen. Combine this with the fact that you should clean under your appliances at least twice per year, and you might start wondering what your other options are. Luckily, there are some special cleaning tools, such as a retractable gap dust cleaner, that allow you to reach under large appliances for cleaning. While they are not going to be as effective as moving the appliance out of place, they can certainly help and save you some pain.

Rather than removing the entire appliance, you can use a retractable gap dust cleaner, a DIY microfiber tool, or a special vacuum attachment. All of these can fit underneath your appliance and collect some of the dust and debris hiding down there, and you can decide which will work best for you based on your kitchen's layout, your appliances, and your budget. While they will help keep your kitchen cleaner with less difficulty, it is still important to occasionally move the appliances to clean the areas your tool of choice cannot reach.

Retractable gap dust cleaners like this one from the Auruza store, are great for getting underneath appliances. These tools feature a retractable handle that can extend to make cleaning easier while still being able to be stored in compact spaces. At the end of the handle, there is a long, flat, flexible piece that is covered by a removable microfiber cloth. The shape makes it easy to reach far underneath your appliance, and the microfiber material is perfect for this cleaning task. 

Microfibers are positively charged, so they attract negatively charged dust and particles under your appliances, making them a very effective tool. The cloths will easily collect dirt, dust, and debris from under your appliances while dry, but you can also wet the cloths before use to get a deeper clean. When you're finished, you can throw the cloths in the washing machine for easy cleaning. You can also learn how to properly disinfect microfiber towels after using them for cleaning to prolong their life.

Although this tool's utility sounds rather niche, it can be used throughout your home. The microfiber cloth works just the same on walls and shelves as it does on the floor, which means that this gadget can be great for dusting any hard-to-reach places, including light fixtures and narrow spots like vents. The versatility and effectiveness make it a good addition to your cleaning supply kit, but there are also other methods to consider before purchasing one of these tools.

If you're not ready to buy a new dusting tool, there are some other options to try. First, you can create a DIY version of a gap dust cleaner. There are a few ways to do this, but one simple version can involve securing a microfiber cloth to a yardstick or other long, flat item. It may not be as easy to use as a retractable option that you can use while standing up, but it is free and means you don't have to buying a new cleaning tool.. 

Alternatively, you may want to consider buying a vacuum attachment designed to fit underneath appliances, like this Thin Vac one. There are a variety of attachments that fit different hose sizes and are shaped to fit beneath your appliance allowing you to vacuum up any dirt and dust. Vacuum attachments may be a better choice for you if you have a pet that sheds or are generally more worried about larger debris and crumbs finding their way under your appliances, rather than just dust. Of course, vacuum attachments are typically more expensive than gap dust cleaners. 

Whether you purchase a gap dust cleaner, make one yourself, or purchase a vacuum attachment, it's important to still move your appliances for a deep clean occasionally to make sure there are no pests, mold, or other bits missed by your cleaning. When the time comes to move your appliances, learn how Windex might be the secret to moving heavy furniture to make the process easier.