Here's How Often You Should Be Cleaning Under & Behind Large Kitchen Appliances

Knowing how to deep clean your kitchen is important for aesthetic appeal and for hygiene and safety purposes. Sure, cleaning the light switches, counters, and floors is a great start, but this only tackles some of the visible grime. There's a whole world of dust and debris under and behind your large kitchen appliances, like your refrigerator and stove — especially if you have pets that shed hair and dander. Even if you have a pet-free household, it's essential to pull out your large appliances and vacuum the area to clear any mess that is causing them to work harder than necessary. As a general rule, you should aim to clean under and behind your refrigerator every three to six months. For ovens or ranges, aim to pull them out to clean every six months

This is because your floors, for example, act as a landing pad for crumbs, mud, and kitchen splatters. But why would the hidden areas of your kitchen appliances get so dirty if they aren't exposed to the same surface-level chaos? Turns out, these machines create their own tiny ecosystems of debris. One of the main factors in behind-the-appliance dirt and debris is the lack of airflow. Without a cross-breeze or regular cleaning to disturb it, fine dust settles and clings to the heat-generating coils, eventually forming a thick insulating layer of grime. Pair that with the heat and the microscopic grease particles drifting through the kitchen, and you have a sticky, stubborn film that attracts every passing speck of dander.

The good news is that you don't have to worry about this task every time you go to clean the kitchen. While it is important to be thorough, these places aren't accumulating grime daily. Cleaning under and behind your refrigerator every three to six months is important, as dust buildup on refrigerator coils makes the motor work harder, increasing your electric bill and shortening its lifespan. Ovens or ranges should ideally be cleaned every six months because grease and food crumbs behind the stove are a major fire hazard and attract pests. And for dishwashers, plan on setting a calendar reminder annually to check for slow leaks and clear out debris that might be clogging the drain line.

While knowing when to clean is one thing, it's a whole other challenge to know the proper way to get it done. Before even attempting to clean your large kitchen appliances, always unplug electric appliances or turn off the gas supply before pulling them out far enough to tension the lines. Once the appliance is moved out, use the crevice tool on your vacuum to suck up the "dust bunnies" and loose debris. The best way to clean behind your refrigerator includes using a coil brush to knock dust off the condenser coils (usually located at the bottom front or the back).

Another way to get this job done is to clean under your kitchen appliances without moving them. Using a retractable gap dust cleaner can reach those tight spots, without straining your back. If you're not quite ready to buy specialized tools, you can DIY one with a microfiber cloth and a yardstick or broom handle.