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Whether you’re a keen cook or just use your cooktop to reheat leftovers, you’re likely to have experienced the frustration of cleaning a cooktop. Over time, your cooktop can build up grime, gunk and baked on spills. This can make cleaning an unpleasant chore, but there are some tips and tricks to make cleaning easier. Get the Right Tools Liquid surface cleaners and paper towels are often sufficient for light cleaning of an electric or gas cooktop, but if yours is particularly dirty, you may need additional tools. Cooktop cleaning brushes are inexpensive, but can be used to brush debris off or break up tougher grime spots. Burned on residue can be removed using a razor scraper, just take care not to scratch the surface. Assess Natural Cleaners While you’re likely to find lots of kitchen cleaning sprays at most grocery stores, you may not need these often pricey solutions. You’re likely to have two of the most effective cleaners already in your kitchen: Lemon and vinegar are not only cheap, but also powerful. Lemons can be used to great effect with baking soda. You just need to sprinkle baking soda lightly on the surface and rub it with lemon before you wipe with a damp cloth to clear the remnants. Vinegar can be used in a one part vinegar, two parts water solution. Put this in a spray bottle for everyday cleaning. Wipe When Warm While this is not a great tip for cleaning a mess right now, but

The fridge is likely to be the most important appliance in any home. The fridge acts as a hub in any kitchen; it is used every day for preparing meals, getting snacks or enjoying a refreshing drink. So, if you’ve invested in a new fridge, it is essential to think about how you can increase its lifespan. Fortunately, we have some easy ways you can ensure that your new fridge lasts as long as possible. Clean Your Coils Your refrigerator cooling coils can be found underneath or behind the unit. Either of these places is likely to collect a great deal of dirt, dust and pet dander. When the coils get buried beneath a layer of gunk, they are unable to keep your fridge functioning. If this is not addressed, your coils may burn out. So, it is a good idea to vacuum your coils every few months and remove any debris to reduce extra strain on your appliance that can compromise efficiency and performance. Clear the Top Although it may be tempting to see the top of your fridge as an extra shelf to store cereal boxes or other items, this is not a good idea. Refrigerators release excess heat out of the top of the appliance; you’ll find it feels a little warm to the touch. When you have items on the top of your fridge, it will trap heat and this forces the motor to work harder. Over time, this can cause serious damage, and your fridge

The lint filter inside your dryer is a small component that is very easy to overlook, but it could actually help you achieve some significant time and money savings. Cleaning your lint filter is a simple task, but regular cleaning is vital for an efficient home. The Potential Problems of Having a Dirty Lint Filter While it is easy to overlook, your filter can have a significant impact on dryer performance. If your filter is allowed to become clogged with lint and debris, it can create some potential problems including: Blocked Airflow: The lint or fluffy residue from your towels, bedding, and clothing accumulates inside the dryer and collects in the filter. Unfortunately, this lint doesn’t just disappear, and when the filter becomes full, it restricts airflow, blocking the heated air. This lack of free flowing air means that not only will your clothing and other items take longer to dry, but there is also a risk of your dryer overheating. Increased Energy Usage: Additionally, the restricted airflow will contribute to using more energy to dry your items. As your dryer is forced to work harder and harder, it will use more and more energy, so you’ll be faced with higher energy bills. Motor Strain: The additional power needed and longer drying periods not only uses more energy, but places the dryer components under increasing strain. One component, particularly at risk, is the dryer motor. As your dryer is working harder, you may find that your dryer motor is vulnerable

A kitchen with no major appliances is basically a blank canvas. When you install new appliances, you can add more character to your kitchen, but this is not an easy decision. Each appliance finish has different characteristics and will bring a different ambiance to your kitchen. So, here we’ll explore the most popular appliance finishes to help you to choose the right one to complement your kitchen design. Contemporary Stainless Steel Stainless steel has become the go-to appliance finish for many homeowners. This type of finish goes well with everything, carrying the power to make any kitchen cabinets feel more modern and new. Today, stainless steel appliances tend to be fingerprint resistant, making them a great choice for homes with small children that may leave little finger marks all over. Stainless steel can add contemporary sophistication to any kitchen decor, providing a safe option for your kitchen decor. Bold Black If you want to create dramatic appeal in your kitchen aesthetic, bold black or black stainless steel could be the perfect choice for your appliances. This is an intense hue that can be paired with almost any other color to create a vivid contrast, particularly with white. If you want to make a stylish statement, black is undoubtedly a bold choice, but if you have a smaller kitchen, it may not be the right option for you. Having a great deal of black in smaller areas can make the space look crowded and even smaller. This finish is best avoided

A washer and dryer combo is a vital resource for any home. A busy home can require multiple loads of laundry each week or even each day, so you need to know that you can rely on your washing machine and dryer. So, here are some tips to help you find a pair of laundry appliances that will work best in your home. Match Styles from a Manufacturer The simplest way to ensure that your new washing machine and dryer will work together is to purchase a matching pair from the same manufacturer. Not only will your new appliances be likely to be equipped with complementary functions, making them easier to use, but they are also likely to have a similar appearance to fit the decor of your laundry room. Look for Stackable Models When you have limited space inside your home, you should consider stackable laundry appliances. While stackable washers and dryers are generally smaller, they provide excellent space saving in laundry rooms or small apartments. Additionally, stackable laundry appliances are usually designed to work in concert as a single unit, even if they are actually technically separate devices. Consider Function Controls Like many other appliances around your home, laundry appliances have developed a great deal in recent years. For example, many modern washer and dryers for sale feature a Wi-Fi connection that allows you to control and monitor your appliances remotely. Whether this is a feature that appeals to you will depend on how tech-savvy you want your

Food storage methods have evolved a great deal in recent years. The advances in technology have created a variety of refrigerator options, so refrigeration is now not just about keeping perishables fresh. With the hundreds of features to choose from, buying a new fridge can cause a great deal of consumer confusion. So, here we’ll explore some important features you should look out for when you’re shopping for a new refrigerator. The Right Door Style Fridge opening options have significantly changed over the years, making it easier to choose the right door style to suit your kitchen. Side by side models allow you to get access to certain foods without opening the whole refrigerator. French doors offer similar benefits and make organizing easier. If you want quick access to your frozen foods, you may prefer a traditional top or bottom freezer door. Door Alarms If you have toddlers or young children in your household, safety should be a consideration for your purchase. Some models have door locks and alarm systems that will alert you if the door has been left open or if a child may be playing with the refrigerator. This type of alarm can save energy, as the internal temperature is reduced if the door is left open. Additionally, you may wish to choose a refrigerator with a door lock, so you don’t need to worry about little ones spilling drinks or getting into the treats without permission. Adjustable, Sliding Shelves There are a lot of considerations when

Whether you simply take pride in creating meals to wow your friends and family or have some serious culinary chops, there are some tips to consider when designing and renovating a kitchen. While a basic kitchen may be all that’s needed if you could burn a boiled egg, if you want a chef worthy kitchen, there are some elements you’ll need to include to impress any guests at your dinner parties. The Work Triangle When you plan your kitchen layout, you’re likely to be aware of the work triangle. This involves having your sink, refrigerator and cooking surface at the three points of a triangle. While it may be challenging to create this geometric shape in some kitchens, to maximize functionality and aid movement, you should try to incorporate the work triangle into your new kitchen. Double Sinks Even if you have a fantastic dishwasher, two sinks can be extremely beneficial in a chef worthy kitchen. Sinks are a crucial element of any kitchen and having a separate sink to stack used pots, leaving one free to clean fruit and vegetables or drain pasta can make preparing any meal easier. Keeping a dedicated sink for meal prep and one for clean up will aid the flow in your kitchen. Your sink should have high faucets and a deep bowl, so you can avoid water splashing as you’re doing your meal prep. Lots of Counter Space As a keen home chef, you’re likely to be doing a variety of food preparation

When refrigerators first began to appear in homes, they were equipped with a single door, and there wasn’t even an option of a freezer. Once the freezer started to become in demand, there was the standard option of a French door style with the fridge on one side and the freezer on the other or the freezer on top. Today, the bottom freezer has become an increasingly popular design. This provides a single wide door or two french doors for refrigeration with the freezer in one or two drawers underneath. So, here we’ll explore the advantages of this type of design and why it may be the right choice for your kitchen. Putting Your Favorite Foods in Easy Reach In most households, frozen food is used less frequently, while the refrigerator door seems to be continually opened and closed. So, putting the freezer at the bottom leaves you lots of room for all your fresh and chilled food at eye level, preventing the need to kneel down to get access to your vegetable drawer. This can be invaluable when you are trying to prepare dinner with fresh produce and avoid items being forgotten below eye level to spoil. Double Width Design A side by side freezer and refrigerator can be limited in terms of the cooling and frozen capacity, as each side occupies only a portion of the total appliance width. So another advantage to this type of design is that it offers a double width fridge portion. This makes

Many homeowners are concerned with having a greener home, and when it comes to saving energy, the kitchen is one of the most important areas to concentrate your efforts. Your kitchen is likely to be in use throughout the day, with appliances to make our lives easier. So, here are five great ways to save energy without compromising your kitchen functionality. Upgrade Your Cooktop to Induction Induction technology magnets to conduct heat through your cooking vessel directly. This differs from conventional cooktops that use thermal conduction to focus the heat on the cooktop burner.In simple terms, magnetic induction features a coil mounted under the cooking surface of each burner. This generates a magnetic field that is turned on when you turn on the stove. As you place a ferromagnetic pot or pan on the burner, heat is delivered directly to the cookware. This provides a more concentrated heat, where there is no heat loss from escape as you would find with a traditional burner. According to Department of Energy statistics, induction cooktops can save a great deal of energy as they are 12% more efficient compared to a smooth top electric range or cooktop at heating food. While they tend to be more costly initially and you cannot use Teflon pans, induction cooktops offer considerable energy savings in the long term. Update and Stock Your Refrigerator Refrigerators are at the top of the list of most energy-using appliances in the typical home. This is because your refrigerator is continuously running

Under beautiful sunny skies, punctuated by billowy cotton candy white clouds, a crowd of well over 2,000 feasted at the USA TODAY Martha Stewart Wine & Food Experience sponsored by Thermador and Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center this past Saturday. Guest stood in line to snap a selfie with Martha, explored Thermador’s new collections PRO and MASTERPIECE and munched on delicacies prepared by many of LA’s finest eateries. The Wine & Food Experience was a true a gastronomic celebration for LA foodies. Thousands sampled wines, spirits, food in a festive and party-like atmosphere from Fig & Olive, Makani, CAVA, Border Grill, Preux & Proper, Gwen, OTIUM, AIR FOOD, URBAN PRESS, The Bazaar, Parks BBQ, 71 Above Sotto, Terranea and many more.. The turn out exceeded all expectations, bolstered by the good weather and perfect fall temperatures. The Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center | Thermador Culinary Stage Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center and Thermador sponsored the Culinary Stage which featured Martha Stewart and other chefs sharing their recipes while doing food demonstrations on Thermador’s newest appliance offerings. Attendees also got an up close and personal sneak peek at Thermador’s new collections PRO and MASTERPIECE, which launched 300 new products in October, the largest new introduction in the company’s century plus history. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center Thermador Sale and YEAR-END SPECIAL PROMOTION Attendees with a valid event ticket are being offered special incentives on Thermador appliances (see showroom for details). Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center Studio City Showroom, serving the Los