Save Energy with Clean Appliances

An oven full of grease, grime, and food doesn't heat as effectively as a clean oven, meaning it has to use more energy to make up for the deficiency. Here's how to tackle your oven the easiest way possible:

• Spray the inside with water.

• Generously add baking soda to the oven, coating as much of the surface as possible (especially the bottom, where overspill tends to collect).

• Spritz the baking soda with water one more time.

• Let sit for 2-3 hours.

• Wipe clean with a damp rag.

When you wipe away the baking soda, the grime comes with it!

A clean fridge will cool more effectively—and that means clean both inside and out! Here's a quick way to get the most clean from your fridge in 30 minutes or less:

• Take everything out of the refrigerator, throwing away anything you don't need to keep as you go.

• Wipe down the inside of the refrigerator with a sponge soaked in a vinegar and water mixture.

• While the fridge is empty, pull it out from the wall and quickly dust the coils in the back.

• Push the refrigerator back and replace the items, grouping them in ways that make sense to you so you will be able to find everything later.

A clean fridge will also make finding things easier and certainly make you feel better about how it looks!