If you’ve noticed the temperature is about to spike once again at the end of the week, don’t panic. Experts have revealed six jobs to prepare your kitchen in time for the July heatwave.
While the last heatwave left us desperately seeking ways to cool a home, purchasing the best fans and desperately checking to see if the best portable air conditioners were back in stock, this time around, it pays to be prepared.
When you’re hot and bothered, the last thing you want to do is clean a kitchen. So, experts recommend completing these six kitchen tasks now before the weather heats up. You’ll thank yourself later!
1. Clean your kitchen bins
Unfortunately, stinky bins are often synonymous with hot weather. Heat speeds up the process of decay, which can cause some pretty funky smells. So, it’s really important to keep on top of bin hygiene when the weather heats up to avoid attracting flies and making your kitchen stink.
‘The warm weather provides the ideal conditions for bacterial growth and the breakdown of food, which is why kitchen bins are often the biggest culprits for unpleasant smells in the summer,’ explains Heather Nixon, sustainability manager at Bio-D.
‘Giving your kitchen bin a thorough wash before temperatures rise removes food residue that causes the odours. It’s also worth emptying food waste more regularly during hot spells as this reduces the window of opportunity for odours and bacteria to develop.’
To help reduce odour, you can buy charcoal bin filters for £14.50 at Amazon. These are great at absorbing and neutralising unpleasant odours.
2. Clean and check your extrator fan
Do you remember the last time you cleaned your extractor fan? Well, now is as good a time as any, as these fans can be really helpful when your kitchen feels too hot.
‘Extractor fans can be your friends in heatwaves as they pull warm, humid air out of the kitchen, especially when you’re cooking or doing the washing up. Before the heat arrives, give the fan and filter a deep clean to make sure it’s working as efficiently as possible, so it can help stop hot, stuffy air sitting in the room,’ says Angus Struthers, Managing Director at BOXT, heating and cooling specialists.
3. Clean the dishwasher
While your dishwasher is likely to be your best friend during a heatwave, it’s a good idea to give it a clean before the heat hits, particularly if you want to reduce the risk of bad smells.
‘Dishwashers can easily become a hidden source of unpleasant odours during hot weather. The remaining food particles, grease, and moisture from previous cycles can build up around the filter and door seals and combined with higher temperatures, it can make smells that usually go undetected much more noticeable,’ says Heather.
‘Pre-empting this before a heatwave begins by removing the dishwasher filter, wiping around the rubber seals and running an empty maintenance cycle with some rinse aid is an easy way of reducing odours and preventing homes from becoming even more uncomfortable with the heat.’
4. Plan no-oven meals
During a heatwave, my kitchen is a firm no-oven zone. I normally opt for plenty of salads (MOB Fresh has some delicious non-boring salads) during the summer, so I don’t have to use my hob or oven. This helps reduce the amount of excess heat in my kitchen.
In the meantime, it’s a good idea to degrease your oven and give the inside a clean to remove any food residue before the heat hits (and causes potential odour), and so it is lovely and clean when the time comes to return to heart
‘We all love a home-cooked meal, but this can actually turn your kitchen into a furnace without you realising. Ovens and hobs are some of the biggest culprits in the kitchen. We’ve all got to eat, but if you can plan a few meals that don’t need the oven, or can be cooked earlier in the day or later in the evening, it can help stop the kitchen from becoming unbearably hot during the afternoon,’ says Angus.
5. Wash cleaning cloths
Lastly, you’ll need to clean your kitchen cleaning cloths ahead of the temperature increase. Not only do they become smelly, but they can harbour bacteria, too. Two things that contradict the whole point of a cleaning cloth!
‘Damp dishcloths and cleaning cloths can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria, and this is sped up when temperatures rise. Before a heatwave arrives, give your kitchen cloths a thorough wash and make sure they’re able to dry completely between uses, rather than leaving them scrunched up beside the sink. This is a simple yet effective preventative habit to get into to stop further bacterial and odour build-up,’ says Heather.
6. Give your fridge and freezer a clean and clear out
Now is also the perfect time to clean your fridge and freezer. Bin any old food, and ensure you wipe away any stains or spillages. This helps reduce smells and helps your appliance work more efficiently.
‘The warmer it gets, the more strain is put on your fridge-freezer, so getting a few small jobs done before the hot weather hits can help prevent it from breaking down just as you need to stock up on ice cream,’ says Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare.
‘First, give your fridge and freezer a quick clear-out. Throw away any out-of-date food, nearly empty jars or gone-off vegetables, and make sure you’re not overpacking shelves or blocking the air vents. While a reasonably full fridge and freezer can help maintain a stable temperature, good airflow is key to keeping the appliance running efficiently during hot weather.
‘It is also worth giving the fridge-freezer a quick maintenance check. Pull it slightly away from the wall if you can, so there is enough ventilation around the back, and try to keep it out of direct sunlight. Wiping up spills, checking the door seals and making sure nothing is blocking the vents can all help the appliance cope better when the kitchen is warm.’
What you need
Ezebesta
Compost Bin Filters
These filters stick to the lid of your bin and absorbs and neutralises bad smells.
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If you’re saying goodbye to the oven in hot weather, you’ll need some delicous salads to fill you up. I’ve added this to my cart already.
Miniml
Miniml Eco White Vinegar Cleaning Sorrento Lemon Scented
White vinegar is a brilliant, eco-friendly cleaning product that can tackle multiple cleaning tasks. This one smells lovely, too.
How many of these jobs have you ticked off so far?
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