Temperatures are climbing again. Late week brings a spike. Experts say: get moving on your kitchen.
We scrambled last heatwave buying fans. Chasing portable air conditioners. Checking stock frantically. This time? Prepare properly. When it gets hot, you won’t want to clean. Do it now. You’ll be glad you did later.
Deal With The Stink
Bins smell worse in heat. Decay accelerates. Flies arrive. Heather Nixon from Bio-D says warm weather breeds bacteria fast. It breaks down food. That creates odor.
“Warm weather provides ideal conditions for bacterial growth… kitchen bins are often the biggest cul-prits for unpleasant smells.”
Wash the bin now. Remove food residue. Empty it often once the sun hits. Reduces the window for smarts to bloom. Consider charcoal filters. They absorb bad air. Cost is about £14.50 on Amazon. Cheap insurance for your nose.
Air Flow Matters
When was the last time you cleaned the extractor fan? Probably too long. These gadgets matter more than you think in heat. Angus Struthers of BOXT calls them “friends” during heatwaves.
They pull out hot humid air. Especially when you cook. Clean the fan. Scrub the filter. Ensure it works hard. Prevents the room from becoming a sauna. Stuffy air lingers if the fan is choked. Fix it now.
The Dishwasher Trap
Dishwashers are summer heroes. We love not scrubbing plates by hand. But they hide smells. Heather notes that food particles and grease build up in filters and seals. Heat amplifies it. What was barely noticeable becomes unbearable.
“Pre-empting this… by removing the filter… is an easy way of reducing od-ours.”
Clean it before the wave. Wipe the rubber seals. Run an empty cycle with rinse aid. Keep the home comfortable. Don’t let the dishwasher fight against you.
Skip The Oven
Ovens create heat. A lot of it. Cooking turns your kitchen into a furnace. Angus warns about this trap. We eat, obviously. But do it strategically. Plan meals that need no baking.
Eat salads early in the day. Cook dinner later when evening cools the house. In the meantime? Scrub the oven interior. Remove old residue. Prevents burning smells. Makes it ready for when you actually need to roast something. Clean ovens are happier ovens.
Kill The Cloth Bacteria
Dirty rags breed bacteria. Heat speeds this up. Washing damp cloths feels mundane but it matters. Heather points out they become breeding grounds quickly if left damp near the sink.
“Give your kitchen cloths a thor-ough wash and make sure they’re able to dry com-pletely.”
Don’t leave them scrunched. Let them air out. Wash them thoroughly before July arrives. It stops the buildup. Simple. Effective. Often ignored.
Fridge Maintenance
Nathan Blackler from Go.Compare warns about fridge strain. Warm air stresses the unit. It might break down. Right when you want ice cream. Poetic cruelty.
Clear out the old stuff. Toss expired jars. Block no vents. Airflow keeps it cool. Don’t overpack. Wipe spills. Check door seals. Pull it from the wall slightly. Give the back breathing room. Keep it out of sunlight. An efficient fridge survives heat. An overstressed one quits.
How many tasks are done?
Which ones will you skip? 🥶
