The complete guide to cleaning home appliances: Spring Cleaning 2023

Spring cleaning tasks deviate from day-to-day cleaning in that they tend to be jobs that aren't done regularly, such as cleaning and performing routine maintenance on household appliances.

It can be easy to overlook cleaning the things we use to clean other things, like the dishwasher and washing machine, but it's important to maintain them to ensure that neglect doesn't cause permanent damage to these expensive appliances, and to keep them in good working order. If deep cleaning an appliance like a washer/dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher or kitchen range is on your list of spring cleaning tasks, we’ve got all the resources you need to do the job.

In addition to major household appliances, small appliances like the microwave or coffee maker need routine upkeep. We have guides that can help you perform these simple but important cleaning jobs.

A washing machine cleaning tablet makes performing routine maintenance an easy job.

Cleaning a washer will prevent the buildup of laundry products and soil that can leave clothes dingy, even right out of the wash, and prevent odors from taking root in the machine — and in your laundry. We spoke to experts about how, and how often, to clean top loading washers and front loading washers, to keep those machines running at peak performance, giving you the cleanest possible laundry.

A dryer vent kit contains flexible brushes that clean the vent's interior walls.

Like washers, electric and gas dryers need routine maintenance to keep them running smoothly and safely. Ensuring that the dryer's venting system is free of lint and other buildup will keep your machine running safely and efficiently, and greatly reduce the risk of a dryer fire.

A dishwasher cleaner makes quick work of performing routine maintenance.

A dishwasher needs regular cleaning and maintenance to operate properly, and to prevent foul odors from developing. An off-smelling dishwasher can indicate a problem with a dirty filter, a clogged drain, trapped food particles or mold and mildew growth in the gasket seals, all of which can be addressed in a few simple steps. To break the process down, we consulted experts who explained how, and how often, to clean a dishwasher.

Heavy-duty commercial oven cleaners work quickly to remove baked-on buildup, but gentler options are available.

Cleaning ovens, cooktops and vent hoods are dirty jobs, but regularly cleaning and maintaining a range is critical to keeping your home safe and your food tasting great. With the help of experts, we created a guide to cleaning a kitchen range from top to bottom, including gas and electric stovetops, ovens, vent hoods and filters to keep them looking their best and operating at peak performance.

Dobie Pads are nonscratch scrubber sponges that are the perfect thing for scouring surfaces without causing any damage to plastic or glass.

If you’re finding spring cleaning inspiration from #fridgegoals, a major refrigerator cleanout may be on your list of chores. After all, before you can even think about organizing apples and juice pouches into matching plastic bins, you’ll need to deep clean your refrigerator in order to achieve the desired effect. We have everything you need to do the job.

Specialty organizers, including ones for those increasingly popular tall cans, are available for just about anything you can think of.

Spring cleaning doesn't need to be limited just to cleaning — organizing projects also have their place in spring cleaning plans. Once you’ve cleaned out your refrigerator, why not invest in a few pieces that will help to make it display-worthy? We rounded up 20 of the best fridge organizers, for everything from leftovers to wine, all priced at $20 or less.

White vinegar is one of many cleaning agents that can be used to leave the microwave looking like new.

Large household appliances like the refrigerator and oven aren't the only ones that need routine care and cleaning — small kitchen appliances like the microwave should be cleaned as well. We’ve got loads of tips for how to tackle this pretty gross but also pretty easy chore.

A pastry brush can be used to brush crumbs out of a toaster or toaster oven.

Cleaning and maintaining a toaster or toaster oven is an important kitchen chore, but it's easy to overlook — making it a candidate for some TLC come spring cleaning time. Routine maintenance of these small appliances will keep them in good working order and, more importantly, will keep your family and home safe from fires.

Perforated parchment paper liners make air fryer cleanup super easy.

Air fryers need to be cleaned regularly, and they need to be cleaned the right way to prevent damage. This guide has everything you need to know about keeping your air fryer clean and in good working order, including the best methods for addressing common problems from sticky buildup to funky odors.

Urnex descaling powder can be used on a variety of coffee makers as well as on other small appliances that tend to develop scale, such as tea kettles, clothes steamers and humidifiers.

In addition to regular cleaning, coffee makers need to be deep cleaned and descaled. We’ve broken down all the steps you need to know to keep every type of coffee maker in tip-top shape, from regular cleaning recommendations to deep cleaning and descaling instructions, including the tools you need for the job.

Deep cleaning grill racks can be a dirty job, making products that do most of the work for you a good choice.

Spring cleaning season also brings the beginning of grilling season in many locales. If your grill is in need of some attention after being stored for the winter, or if you’re a year-round outdoor chef who has deep cleaning the grill on the list of spring cleaning chores, our guide has all the tools, cleaning agents and pro tips you need to get the job done right.

A small scrub brush can get into nooks and crannies where bacteria tend to form.

Small appliances to add to your spring cleaning checklist aren't limited to the kitchen — if you use a humidifier or a dehumidifier in the home, chances are it needs to be cleaned and inspected to ensure they’re running efficiently and safely.

A good detergent is a must-have when washing heavily soiled laundry.

In addition to cleaning your major appliances, you might also want to press them into service come spring cleaning time. We consulted with experts and pulled on our own knowledge to round up 23 surprising ways your washer can help you tackle spring cleaning jobs.

Vacuum attachments can perform a huge number of jobs, and can be purchased separately to bring more cleaning power to your vacuum.

A vacuum cleaner can be used on more than floors — and it should be, especially during spring cleaning season. A vacuum is the right tool for tasks as varied as cleaning a mattress and keeping a dryer vent duct in good working order. We talked to vacuum manufacturers to round up 15 surprising jobs your vacuum can do for you, including vacuuming the dog!