Cleaning

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

Maintaining Your Major AppliancesHere are some tips to maintaining, cleaning, and inspecting your washing machine and clothes dryer. You can save time and money by following this advice, and avoid breakdowns, or hazardous situations.Washing Machine It's a good idea to periodically check and replace the fill hoses on your washing machine. If you have rubber hoses, you should consider replacing them with braided stainless steel hoses. It is recommended that you replace your washer hoses every 3-5 years. While you are back there, take a look at the electrical connection. The plug needs to be firmly in place, the cord connection to the washer should have a restraint, and should not evidence any corrosion or burn marks. Also, you should periodically clean the inside of your outer washer tub. Whirlpool makes a cleaner called Affresh for this purpose. There are also a variety of home remedies including using combinations of bleach, vinegar, and/or baking soda. You can discover these cleaning remedies online, or just look on the aisles of your grocery store for washer cleaning products. If you have a front loading washer, pay special attention to cleaning the front gasket, especially at the bottom where it's possible for moisture to settle and mold to grow.Automatic DryerMake a habit of cleaning the lint filter in your dryer once a week. It's also very important to regularly clean the dryer vent. If you're lucky you'll have a short direct vent pipe to the outside that you can clean with a vacuum

Three tips for cleaner dishesTry these tips for cleaner dishes, or get a new dishwasher at UAKC Here are three suggestions to make sure you're getting the most out of your dishwasher:1. Don't pre-clean your dishes.Some people want to give their dishwasher a little help by pre-washing their dishes. While you certainly don't want to put your leftover for baked on food in your dishwasher, it is not a good idea to rinse off your dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. Dishwasher detergents contain chemicals that keep food particles removed from the dishes in suspension so that they don't get redeposited on your dishes. If you put only clean dishes in the dishwasher, the detergent will find no dirt particles and wind up as a film on your already clean dishes.2. Hot water gets dishes clean.Typically, dishwashers will heat incoming water to 150 degrees or more depending on the cycle selected. However, the incoming water needs to be 120 degrees for this to happen. Even if your water heater provides water at 120 degrees, if your dishwasher is located too far from the water heater, the hot water may not be hot enough by the time it gets to the dishwasher. My water heater is at one corner of my house, and my dishwasher is clear over at the other corner, as far as it can be from the water heater. We need to run the hot water at the sink near the dishwasher for a few minutes before we

Independence Day ThoughtsCooking, Washing, and Cooling Appliances in 1776When we think of our Founding Fathers, our thoughts go to the grand portraits of Washington and Jefferson and their mansions in Virginia. Of course, life for most people in the 18th century was as the philosopher Hobbes described, "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short".CookingCooking was still mostly done over a fire, but in the second half of the 18th century Ben Franklin invented a cast iron stove. An improved version of his invention that vented upwards became popular for decades. Nevertheless, cooking was very rudimentary when compared with the appliances we have today.Cleaning Consider the poor housewife or servant. Washing in the last half of the 1700s, was a planned event, even a community event, which took place sporadically near a stream or river where water in large vats was heated to boil the clothes. Lye and ash were the chemicals of choice, soaps didn't come along until the 1800's, along with wash tubs and washboards.CoolingRefrigerators didn't exist. There weren't even ice boxes. So food preservation consisted of various dried foods, as well as cured meats and fish. A common breakfast and supper might be little more than bread and milk. For diinner (a mid-afternoon meal), fresh chicken, pork, and some beef were staples and wild game and fish were also plentiful in the New World. Corn was common at most meals, potatoes less frequently, as well as seasonal vegetables.Well, "We've come a long way baby." It's interesting to think that

Taking care of your appliancesFour Appliance Tips to Keep your Appliances Fit Clean your dryer duct. There's a reason why this is the first tip. Supposedly, the number one cause of house fires is clogged dryer vents. The lint trap on your dryer should be cleaned after each use, but the external vent hose and in-wall vent should be checked annually, and professionally cleaned if necessary. If your clothes are taking longer and longer to dry, or if your clothes come out of the dryer and/or the dryer cabinet gets very hot, those are good signs that your vent is clogged. In some cases, with short direct vents you can clean them yourself. Otherwise, you may need to have them cleaned professionally. Change your refrigerator water filter. This one you can do yourself. If it hasn't been done in the past year, you should definitely replace it. Otherwise, check the use and care manual. Clean your oven (if it is dirty). There are now a lot of different oven cleaning systems, such as Aqualift®, steam clean, and the familiar pyrolytic self-clean systems. Depending on your oven brand and type your cleaning system may vary. If all your oven needs is to be wiped down with hot soapy water, then you're good to go. Otherwise, use the cleaning system provided for your specific oven. Check your washer fill hoses. Make sure that there are no leaks, and no cracks or split hoses. If the hoses are old or brittle, they should

K&BB 2016 Award WinnerComing Soon to Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center Electrolux Front Load Washer Model EFLS617(NEW) SmartBoost™ introduces an exclusive technology that infuses water with detergent in a special chamber before the cycle begins, for a deep clean that removes tough stains in all cycles.LuxCare™ Wash system features improved wash actions, perfect cycle timing, temperature control, and smart load sensing.Perfect Steam™ option vents steam from the bottom to effectively remove stains. This new Electrolux washer won best in class from Kitchen and Bath Business at this year's KBIS in Las Vegas. The new Electrolux SmartBoost™ wash system premixes the water and detergent before the wash begins for a deeper cleaning which promises to get at those hard to remove stains regardless of the cyle. It's also loaded with the additional features below:Features Front-load design 4.4-cubic-foot capacity SmartBoost™ LuxCare™ wash system 15-minute Fast Wash cycle Sanitize option StainSoak option Perfect Steam™ option Extended Refresh option Fresh water rinseFor the best selection in Electrolux or other major appliances and plumbing fixtures cal or visit the pros at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. The new Electrolux EFLS617 model featured above will be available in April 2016. To view the current Electrolux models at UAKC, click on the link below:Electrolux Washers and DryersBookmark this blog and return often for the latest news in major appliances and plumbing fixtures. 

Tips on Keeping your Refrigerator Clean and Sanitary Spring is a time of renewal. Maybe that's why the habit of Spring Cleaning exists. While it's great to clean the closets and scrub the floors, let's not ignore our appliances. They need periodic cleaning as well. Cleaning the Outside. Clean the outside of your refrigerator thoroughly. Soap and water is good to start with. Non-abrasive liquid household cleaners are generally fine, but check the contents since some cream type cleaners have a type of grit in them. Elbow grease will help with most that is stuck on, but for tougher smudges try first soaking to soften-up and then carefully use a plastic scraper with a smooth edge to avoid scratching. Remove the shelves or racks, and clean them thoroughly with soap and water. Use an antibacterial soap or cleanser if you have one. Empty the crispers and any other drawers or compartments, and remove them if you can. Clean the crispers thoroughly, just as you did the shelves. While the shelves are still out of the refrigerator wipe down the interior walls of the refrigerator. Deep Cleaning Pull your refrigerator away from the wall. Refrigerators have wheels, but they may be inoperable when the leveling legs are lowered after installation. Look for the turnscrews and use them to raise the leveling legs so that you can roll out the refrigerator without damaging your floor. Clean the floor behing the unit, and if necessary, the wall behind the refrigerator. If there are

Appliance Operation Tips from UAKCWe regularly use this blog to provide tips on how to save money on appliance purchases. See blogs below:Two Viking Range Events Will Save You MoneyLuxury Appliances on a BudgetHow to Get Free AppliancesHowever, today we're offering 5 tips on saving money on the operation of your appliances. Clean appliances operate more efficiently. A dirty gasket on your refrigerator can create air gaps and let cool air escape, causing the refrigerator to run more. Clogged up ports in your dishwasher spray arms make dishwasher run longer to get dishes clean. If possible run appliances during off peak hours to save on electricity. Many appliances have delay timers that allow users to set start and stop times. Use energy saving cycles. It's not enough just having a light wash, a vacation mode, or a cold water cycle on an appliance. In order to actually save energy/money appliance owners must select and utilize these cycles when appropriate. Clean filters regularly. Range hoods, dishwashers, refrigerators, and dryers, all may have filters that need to be either cleaned or replaced periodically so that they can operate properly and efficiently. Wash full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine. It takes as much water and electricity to run a complete cycle whether the appliance is full or half-full.Of course, when buying a new appliance from Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) look for an Energy Star appliance. An Energy Star dishwasher, for example, will use 41% less energy than the federal

Free Installation on Frigidare and Electrolux Dishwashers at UAKCUp to $100 Installation Rebate Expires 4/15/2014Frigidaire and Electrolux up to $100 installation rebates on dishwashers expire on April 15th. Hurry-In to Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center today to take advantage of this rebate offer. Click below to download rebate certificate: Frigidaire Rebate FormElectrolux Rebate FormThe Frigidaire dishwasher listed below is just one example of the great values available on the Frigidaire and Electrolux dishwashers that qualify for the installation rebate if purchased by April 15th.Frigidaire Gallery 24'' Built-In DishwasherEXCELLENT CLEANING PERFORMANCEExclusive OrbitClean® Spray Arm provides 4 times better water coverage* for an excellent clean. (*than a traditional lower spray arm).QUICK WASHWashes a full load of dishes in a quarter of the time. Perfect for those time when you need clean dishes, quickly, but have a million other things to do.DISHWASHER CYCLESNumber of Cycles: 7NSF® Certified Sanitize Option: YesEnergy Saver: YesFavorite Cycle: YesHeavy: PowerPlus®Normal: YesQuick: YesRinse Only: YesUpper Rack : YesHi-Temp Wash: YesHeat/No Heat Dry: YesDISHWASHER SPECIFICATIONSPlace Settings: 14Tub Design: Tall-Tub DesignInterior: Granite GreyFilter: Stainless SteelFood Disposer: Stainless SteelMulti Speeds: 5Rinse Aid Dispenser: Adjustable with IndicatorSatellite Spray Arm: OrbitClean™Smart Soil Sensor: YesWash Levels: 5Wash System: Direct FeedMake a visit to Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center to find out more about Frigidaire, Electrolux, and other fine appliances and plumbing fixtures.Two locations to serve you - Calabasas and Studio City:We Deliver and InstallAll Major Appliances877-696-2982Studio City12050 Ventura Blvd.818-755-1111Calabasas26767 Aguora Rd.818-880-0111Showroom Hours:Mon-Sat. 9 AM to 6 PMSun 11 AM to 6

BlueStar Event In Store Expert EventJoin Us at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center CalabasasWhen:11:00AM - 3:00PMSaturday, February, 22, 2014Where:Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center26767 Agoura RoadCalabasas, CA. 91302Off the 101 FWY / Lost Hills Exit (see map below)T 818.880.0011CalabasasView Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center, 26767 Agoura Blvd. Calabasasl in a larger mapTake advantage of a special promotion if you attend this event. Please rsvp to:john@2twelvegroup.comBLUESTAR FEATURESBlueStar ranges come in a number of configurations, including grill and griddle options, to accommodate all your cooking needs. With their gas ranges you will have the broiling, baking, surface cooking capacities and overall performance that professional chefs desire, which is why home chefs turn to BlueStar gas ranges.25,000 BTU BURNERSThe new PrimaNova™ burners deliver an intense 25,000 BTU flame for maximum high, concentrated heat, perfect for achieving unmatched searing and an ultra-rapid boil. Choose from available 25,0000 BTU, 18,000 BTU, 15,000 BTU and 130°F simmer burners to complete your range with unmatched control and precision.INTRODUCING RADIANT ORCHID: 2014 COLOR OF THE YEAR  FULLY CUSTOMIZABLEWith an almost infinite combination of burner configurations, colors, and sizes, BlueStar ranges can be built to suit your personal style and unique cooking preferences.SUPERIOR OVEN CAPACITYThe home baker's restaurant dream - BlueStar's 30", 36", 48" & 60" ranges each feature a full-extension oven rack and extra-large oven capacity to accommodate an 18"x26" commercial baking sheet.MADE IN THE USABlueStar products are proudly handcrafted in the USA in their Reading, Pennsylvania, factory, where they have