Your major household appliances probably got quite a workout during the recent holiday season. Now is the time to get them back in shape and working at top efficiency. RepairClinic.com offers these cleaning and maintenance tips.

Range/Stove/Oven
Drip pans on most stoves can be easily removed and put in a dishwasher for cleaning. For stubborn stains you may need to use a scouring pad, or replace the pans altogether. Clean pans radiate heat better.

Ridding your smooth-top range of cooking spills and splatters can be quite a challenge. Try our new scraper to make this task much easier.

Now's the time to self clean your oven and get rid of all those drippings and splatters from holiday cooking. You can also clean any porcelain stovetop or glass range/oven control panel with a non-abrasive cleanser or glass cleaner. Watch out for some "cream type" cleansers as they often have tiny abrasive particles in them, which can damage your stovetop or control panel. RepairClinic.com recommends Appliance Polish & Cleaner for safe cleaning.

Refrigerator
Most frost-free refrigerators have a set of coils underneath called the condenser. These coils must remain clean for efficient cooling. RepairClinic.com's handy refrigerator condenser brush will make this once-a-year project a snap.

It's important to clean refrigerator door seals periodically so they don't get stuck to the door frame and tear. Use an old toothbrush and a little soap and water to clean in all the nooks and crannies. Use a bit of bleach for any mold growth.

To reduce refrigerator odors, cover all foods well and put onions and garlic in sealed bags. RepairClinic.com also suggests Fridge Aid, a high-quality activated charcoal air filter, to absorb odors.

Dishwasher
If your dishwasher isn't getting dishes clean enough, there may not be enough water entering the machine during the fill cycle. After the dishwasher fills, check inside to see if there is water covering the entire bottom of the dishwasher floor. If not, replace the water inlet valve. You can order the one for your dishwasher using the PartDetective.

Repair your worn dishwasher rack tines to prevent rust pieces from ruining the pump. Before making a repair, be sure to clean up the rusted spots on the dishwasher rack with household sandpaper to make the repair last much longer. Repair kits for light blue, gray and white tines are available in our dishwasher accessories section.

Check out what's ON SALE NOW
RepairClinic.com offers weekly specials on tons of appliance accessories. Visit our ON SALE NOW page.

New Year's fun facts:
- People make more resolutions to start a new habit than to break an old one.
- 63% of people are keeping their resolutions after two months.
- 67% of people make three or more resolutions.
Top four resolutions:
- Increase exercise
- Be more conscientious about work or school
- Develop better eating habits
- Stop smoking, drinking, or using drugs (including caffeine)

Appliance maintenance calendar
We've put together a maintenance calendar to help you figure out what needs to be done and when. Add the page to your favorites, or print it out and keep it for reference throughout the year. You can find the appliance maintenance calendar here.

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