kitchen appliances maintenance and care information pack for landlords

this information has been prepared for landlords by glotech and is purely a guide on caring and maintaining the appliances from new. for more detailed and specific information please refer to the relevant user hand book supplied with the domestic appliance.

kitchen appliances

cookers / ovens / range cookers

new electric cookers must be turned on before use to burn off any grease or coating on the elements. the elements may smoke for a short while. if the cooker is stainless steel then greater care should be taken when cleaning the appliance as stainless steel scratches and marks very easily. cleaning should be carried out using warm soapy water or stainless steel cleaner. you must not use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads as these will badly mark the finish. pan stands should be washed with warm soapy water. the cooker knobs are normally removable and can be cleaned in warm soapy water.

the oven’s interior normally has an enameled finish, however some may be self cleaning. enamel tends to be shiny and smooth and if the oven is self clean then the finish within the oven will be textured and rough with a matt finish (catalytic liners). sometimes an oven can have the combination of the two. to clean the enameled surfaces, oven cleaner can be used rinsed out with warm water. cleaning the catalytic liners is not required as these are a stay clean system. oven cleaner must not be used as it will damage the function of the liners. in able for these to work efficiently then the oven should be left on for approx 10 minutes after use on a high temperature. catalytic liners do have a shelf life and may need to be replaced after a few years depending on use.

splash backs

the splash backs should be cleaned using warm soapy water or if stainless steel then use either soapy water or stainless steel cleaner. you must not use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads.

ceramic hob

ceramic hobs and cookers are easier to clean due to the smooth finish. however they are more fragile and can crack if heavy items are banged or dropped on them. any spillages must be cleaned up immediately especially if they have a large sugar content as this can damage the surface. after use the hob can be scraped using the supplied scraper. more scrapers can be ordered from the supplier. once the stubborn debris has been removed with the scraper the hob can be cleaned using a mild cleaner and soft cloth. the hob can then be buffed using kitchen towel or a dry cotton cloth.

cooker extractor hood

cooker hoods are normally ducted outside via cooker hood ducting, which is a flexible or rigid hose. however if this is not possible then the air may be recirculated passing through grease and carbon filters to remove the grease and odours.

grease filters are now normally stainless steel and can be cleaned by placing in a dishwasher on a high temperature setting. if the cooker hood contains carbon filters (only if the hood is not extracting outside) then these must be replaced once a year. to identify if your hood has carbon filters remove the grease filters and look inside the hood to see if the motor has a circular black cartridge filter at each end of the unit. these can be removed by normally twisting the cartridge a quarter turn. the carbon filters can be ordered from glotech.

refrigeration built-in / integrated or freestanding

before use all refrigeration must be cleaned out using bi carbonate of soda or warm soapy water. regular cleaning should be carried out to remove bacteria and odors. ice build up on the back of the inside of the unit is normal. if the unit is moved then the unit must be left to stand in position for 24 hours before switching it on.

upright larder fridge

the temperature within the unit can be adjusted using the dial situated inside or on the fascia of the appliance. normally the higher the number the colder the unit will get.

upright freezer frost free

if a freezer is frost free then this will normally be printed clearly on the fascia. it will normally state `frost free’ or `no frost’. frost free units do not require defrosting and will never get a large ice build up within the unit. regular cleaning is important to remove bacteria and odours. domestic freezers are normally factory set at a set temperature of -18 degrees and this cannot be adjusted.

freezer static (non frost free)

a static freezer refers to a freezer that is not frost free. these freezers require defrosting when the ice build up reaches a level whereby it restricts the unit’s capacity and the correct operation of the drawers and compartments. the quantity of ice build up depends normally on how much food contents is within the unit and how often the door is opened. the more the freezer door is opened the quicker it will ice up. to defrost the freezer turn the appliance off at the mains and let the freezer defrost on its own with time. do not scrape the ice off using a sharp instrument as this can puncture the system enabling the gasses to escape. a blunt scraper can be used after the ice has started to melt. some freezers have a spout at the base of the unit to enable the water to drain into a tray.

freestanding or built-in / integral dishwashers

all dishwashers are pressure tested for leaks in the factory after production. before use dishwashers must be put on a wash without any contents to rinse out the unit and remove the stagnant water in the sump. dishwashers rely on salt to soften the water so that the workings of the appliance are not damaged with limescale. this must be regularly topped up normally once every 1-2 weeks. to do this please refer to the user manual. rinse aid must also be topped up as this maintains a sparkling finish on all the glasses etc. there is normally a cap next to the detergent dispenser. remove this to top up the rinse aid. again this should be done every 1-2 weeks. the filters must also be regularly checked. these can be found in the base of the dishwasher. these can be removed by twisting the filter and gently pulling straight up. remove the food debris and replace. the two spray arms must also be regularly checked. these can be removed as per user manual and the spray jets checked for any food debris.

freestanding or built-in / integrated washing machine or washer dryer

all washing machines are pressure tested for leaks in the factory after production. before use the appliance must be put on a wash without any contents to rinse out the unit and remove the stagnant water in the sump. for best results use washing powder. liquid detergent can corrode the interior of the appliance. the appliance should occasionally be programmed to complete a hot temperature wash without any washing inside the appliance. this will clean out the appliance and dissolve any undissolved detergent. the appliance must not be overloaded as this will damage the unit. to know whether the machine is overloaded put your hand onto of the washing in the drum and you should at least have a hand spans worth of space on top of the washing. after use always leave the door open unless it is obstructing a walk way.

freestanding or built-in / integrated condenser tumble dryer

during first use the dryer may have a burning smell. this is because the element is burning off the grease from manufacture. a condenser dryer is one that does not vent the condensation during drying through a flexible hose to the outside. the water will normally be collected within a reservoir that should be emptied after each use. some condenser dryers contain a pump to pump the water down a drain at the back of the unit. the appliance will stop automatically once the reservoir is full. this is normally situated at the bottom of the front of the appliance or in the fascia of the appliance where the soap dispenser is on a washing machine. condenser dryers will contain a condenser that should be regularly cleaned. this is normally situated at the bottom of the appliance. please refer to the user manual for safe removal. the condenser can be cleaned under running water. the fluff filter must also be regularly checked normally after each load. this is normally situated on the inside of the door.

microwaves

stainless steel microwaves must be cleaned using warm soapy water. you must not use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads as this will scratch the surface. the interior and door interior including seals of the microwave should be cleaned regularly using warm soapy water and left to dry before use. metal objects must not be used inside the microwave.

vacuum cleaners

to maintain a healthy vacuum cleaner it is essential that the bags and filters are regularly changed, this keeps the cleaner performing well and also prolongs its life by keeping the motor cool. bagless vacuum cleaners like dyson’s don’t require replacement bags but will need emptying regularly, generally after every use. they also come with life time filters, these need regular washing once every 3-6 months with warm soapy water.

kettles

kettle’s are effected by limescale just like any other appliance, after time you may start to notice white flakes in your tea or coffee, this is limescale! to remove it use descaler. descaler can be purchased from glotech. stainless steel kettles should be cleaned using warm soapy water.

steamer

steamers can be dismantled and cleaned using warm soapy water. please refer to the user manual for more information

toaster

toaster can be cleaned using warm soapy water. the crumb tray at the base of the toaster must be emptied after each use.

spare parts

here at glotech we can get any of your spare parts and accessories.

Tags: cookers, dishwashers, freezers, fridges, hobs, hoods, kettles, microwaves, ovens, spare parts, splash backs, steamers, toasters, tumble dryers, vacuum cleaners, washer dryers, washing machines