With Labor Day weekend in the rear view mirror, fall is just around the corner. 

I was reminded of this - not by the excessive heat we're having in Pennsylvania - by the leaves that are already coming off my trees. 

There were several leaves on my kitchen floor, requiring a broom. While I swept, I started noticing other areas in the kitchen that needed cleaning. 

The kitchen is one of the most frequently used rooms in our homes. Just by mere use, the room is going to get dirty. Most of the dirt and clutter is in the open - dishes, crumbs, grease on walls - but what about the things not out in the open, areas we can't see?

 Two areas often neglected in the kitchen are behind the refrigerator and stove. Sort of the out of sight, out of mind theory, right? 

Remember, a dirty kitchen can hurt your health. McCombs Supply lists 4 reasons why cleaning behind the stove/range and the fridge is important.  

• Dust: If anyone in your family has allergies, not cleaning behind the stove and fridge may be an issue to them because of the dust. 
• Mold: This can especially be a problem under and behind refrigerators. If the area is damp, mold can grow. Mold types of mold are harmful to your health.
• Bits of food: This may smell (The scent of rotting food is not pleasant). Your pets may wrestle some of these crumbs out spread them through the house, potentially contaminating your floors with foodborne illnesses. Pets (and young kids) could also eat these food bits and get sick.
• Pests: Crumbs can lead to unwelcome house guests. Bits of food on the floor underneath your appliances, may attract mice or ants. 

Oh, I mentioned greasy walls earlier in this article. A story on the the website Clean Mama talks about  how to clean walls.

Also, here is a video showing how to get grease off a granite counter. 

Clean Behind The Refrigerator

Cleaning the kitchen may not be fun, but it’s worth it for the sake of your health others. It is recommended that you clean behind your fridge and stove at least once every three months. With autumn approaching the winter not fall behind, now is a smart now to clean, before mice come in out of the cold.  

The first step is unplug the fridge and pull it away from the wall. 

Next, clean the condenser coils with a refrigerator dust brush, then use the brush attachment on your vacuum to get the loosened dust on the coils. Reference.com has a good story on how to clean your refrigerator coils. 

McCombs Supply has coil cleaning products.

Use a combination of water and vinegar (about half and half) to clean the walls behind the refrigerator. Soapy water also works.  Make sure the area behind and under the fridge is dry before you put the appliance back in place. 

Make sure to clean the veggie and crisper drawers.

Clean Behind The Stove

First, unplug the range/stove and then pull the stove forward.

Wash the oven drawer it in the sink (inside and outside).

Then get out the broom and sweep or vacuum behind your stove. Dislodge food partials stock on the floor behind the stove. (You may need to use a cloth or old toothbrush to dislodge.)

McCombs sells replacement grates. 

Use about half soapy water and have vinegar to clean the back of the stove and the wall behind the stove. Don't let the prongs get wet on the stove, but clean the prongs off with a rag.

Make sure to clean clean your burners. If you have an electric stove, pull out the burners, wash them and dry them. Use a rag or sponge to clean inside the burner areas regularly — make sure the stove is off. 

Last but not least is the stove hood, which can get very greasy.  

McCombs Supply has surface elements and control knobs, if you notice during cleaning that you need a replacement part. 

About Us

McCombs Supply Company, Inc.

In business since 1953,McCombs Supply Co., Inc. is a third-generation family-owned business that specializes in low prices and fast, reliable shipping.
Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, McCombs Supply Co., Inc. offers replacement repair parts for dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, range-ovens, refrigerators, washing machines, HVAC, commercial refrigeration, commercial cooking, pellet stove parts and more. Some of our manufacturers we distribute for include – Backer-Chromolox, Broan-Nutone, Exact Replacement Parts (ERP), EZ Flo, Fasco, Mastercool, ICM, JW Harris, Packard, Robertshaw, Sealed Unit Parts Company (SUPCO), White Rodgers, Englander, Breckwell, Harman, Lennox, Napoleon, St. Croix and Quadra-Fire.

We supply contractors, service technicians, housing developments, hospitals, retirement communities, institutions, and do-it-yourselfers.

Today, we have nearly one million SKUs in our system. We are constantly upgrading our cutting-edge technology to serve our customers better.

Copyright 2018