Behind the fridge, stove, and washer: the once-a-year routine most homeowners skip

These zones are out of sight, out of mind, and out of every standard cleaning checklist. They're also where the boring problems start — coils that lose efficiency, vents that catch fire, kinks in water lines that fail a year from now.

Behind the fridge — annual routine

1. Unplug the fridge or shut off the breaker for that circuit.
2. Pull the fridge forward slowly. Watch the water line if your fridge has an ice maker.
3. Vacuum the coils at the back or underneath. Use a long brush attachment.
4. Wipe the floor and the wall behind with damp microfibre.
5. Inspect the water line and shutoff for crusty deposits or pin-prick leaks.
6. Slide back, plug in, give it 4-6 hours to come back to temperature.

Behind the stove / range

Most ranges have a gap of 5-10mm against the wall that collects grease, crumbs and the occasional fork. Pull the range out (mind the gas line if applicable), vacuum, then degrease with hot water + dish soap. Avoid harsh solvents — they damage the floor finish underneath.

Washer and dryer — the lint trap is just the start

1. Dryer: vacuum the lint trap housing (not just the screen). Disconnect and clean the exhaust duct end-to-end annually.
2. Washer: run a hot empty cycle with 250ml of white vinegar to descale.
3. Both: pull forward, vacuum the floor, wipe baseboards. Check shutoff valves for crusty buildup.

If pulling appliances forward isn't an option (built-in fridge, gas range against the wall), our deep clean includes behind-appliance access for the units that move. We don't disconnect gas lines — bring a plumber for that.