Back to School: Prepping Your Kitchen Appliances for the New Term

When the school term starts, your kitchen becomes the heart of the household. Packed lunches, quick weeknight dinners, and endless laundry all depend on your appliances working efficiently. Here's how to get everything ready before the rush begins.

Start With the Oven

During term time, your oven gets a workout — quick midweek roasts, batch-cooked dinners, and weekend treats. A clean oven heats more efficiently, cooks more evenly, and doesn't fill your kitchen with smoke or unpleasant smells.

Before the term starts:

• Remove and soak the racks
• Wipe down the cavity with eco-friendly cleaner
• Clean the door glass inside and out
• Check the seal for any gaps

If you find carbon build-up that won't budge, it's worth booking a professional deep clean before the term begins rather than struggling with it during busy weeks.

Refresh the Fridge and Freezer

A clean fridge keeps food fresher for longer, which matters when you're storing packed lunch ingredients and batch-cooked meals.

• Empty and wipe all shelves with a mild sanitiser
• Check expiry dates and clear out anything past its best
• Wipe the door seals — they harbour bacteria
• Defrost the freezer if ice has built up

A fridge that's cluttered and dirty has to work harder to stay cold, which means higher energy bills and food that spoils faster.

Give Your Washing Machine Some Attention

Term-time means more uniform washing, more PE kits, and more laundry overall. A washing machine that's clogged with limescale and detergent residue won't clean effectively and may develop unpleasant odours that transfer to clothes.

Run a hot cycle with a washing machine cleaner to clear the drum and pipes. Wipe the rubber door seal, which traps water and grime, and leave the door open between washes to let it air dry.

Don't Forget the Dishwasher

If you have one, the dishwasher works overtime during term time. Remove and clean the filter, wipe the spray arms, and run an empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner to remove limescale and grease build-up.

The Quick Wins

• Microwave: Wipe the interior and clean the turntable — quick meals depend on it
• Extractor hood: Greasy filters reduce airflow, so give them a soak
• Kettle: Descale it if you live in a hard water area

Get Professional Help

If your appliances need more than a quick wipe-down, Fordwell offers professional deep cleaning for ovens, fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, and more. We cover Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, Essex, and West Sussex.

Book online and get everything sorted before the school run takes over your schedule.