» Wash interiors of appliances used for food preparation such as inside of fry pans, slow cookers, etc. taking care not to get electrical parts wet.

» Clean bottom of frypans, etc. after each use to avoid grease buildup. Use fine soap-filled steel wool pads for stubborn grease.

» Follow special label or care guide instructions with appliance for specific parts or materials.

» If a blender cannot be taken apart for cleaning, pour in a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap, fill the blender pitcher about halfway full with warm water and run the blender on high for 10 to 15 seconds. Add ice to this mixture to sharpen blades, and repeat if necessary. Light-duty cleaner will clean the base if a swipe with the sponge isn't enough.

» To clean a coffeepot, use a mild detergent and water for all washable parts. Use a percolator brush to clean inside the thin tube with warm, sudsy water. Use baking soda if a more abrasive cleaning is needed. Clean periodically by boiling equal parts vinegar and water in it. Let it sit overnight and rinse well in the morning. The lime deposits will wash away.

» To clean a food processor, soak all washable parts in hot, soapy water. The base can be washed with light-duty cleaner. A little nonstick spray on the center shaft will keep gooey foods, like dough, from sticking.

» Before cleaning a roaster oven, be sure to let it cool, then use a nylon scrubber to clean the racks. The outside can be cleaned with a gentle abrasive or baking soda on a sponge. Plastic sides can be cleaned with liquid dishwashing soap or baking soda and water. Clean out the crumb tray often, because it can be a fire hazard. Put the racks in a garbage bag with ammonia.

» Use mineral oil to lubricate blenders, eggeaters and any other kitchen appliances with movable parts. Salad oil may corrode the metal, but mineral oil is noncorrosive and is just as safe for food as it is for salad oil.

» There are several effective options for cleaning chrome. For simple shining, rub the container with dry baking soda or flour. For more thorough cleaning, use rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth. This will remove drips and grease. Then dry thoroughly. You can also clean chrome by rubbing it with a ball made from crumpled aluminum foil.

» To clean your blender, add a small amount of dishwashing liquid. Fill half way with hot tap water and blend. Instantly clean!

» If you have some difficult stains your microwave, there are two things you can try to remove them. First, you can cover the sides of your microwave with a cream cleanser. Put a microwave safe container with water in it on the turntable. Microwave it and make plenty of steam. Wipe out the interior with paper towel, and be sure to rinse thoroughly. If this doesn´t work, you can take a 3 cup glass microwavable container, fill with 1 cup water and 1 cup white vinegar. Microwave for 5 minutes uncovered. Then wipe down with warm sponge.