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You’re Probably Not Cleaning Your Appliances Enough — But These Budget-Friendly Products Can Help

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We rely on our washing machine, dishwasher, and garbage disposal to take care of messes for us on a regular basis — but when was the last time you gave those appliances a good clean, too? 

Don’t feel bad if the answer to that is “never.” When it comes to cleaning, they’re some of the most overlooked areas of our home. Luckily, there’s no need to worry about summoning any extra elbow grease to get this job done. We spoke with YouTuber and “queen of clean” Jessica Tull about three products she relies on for each one — and they’re all under $12!

“People don’t realize that you actually have to clean your dishwasher — the inside, like what you can’t see,” Tull says. “The Affresh dishwasher cleaner (Buy on Amazon, $5.99) is great because you can use it on it’s own or you can use it along with regular detergent, so you can clean your dishes and your dishwasher at the same time.”

She recommends using the cleaner once a month. Whether you have a full load of dirty dishes or not, the tablets will work to clean and descale any model dishwasher and get rid of built up limescale, minerals, and food residue — all the things you don’t want getting splashed right back onto your dinnerware.

Tull tells us she also keeps the Affresh washing machine cleaner (Buy on Amazon, $11.99) in her laundry room to make sure the appliance isn’t holding onto lingering dirt, odors, or germs. “The washing machine should be cleaned once a month, too,” she says. “The Affresh washing machine cleaner has a little chart on the side of the box for you to check off the last time you did it, which is really convenient.”

Her favorite product, though, is the Affresh garbage disposal cleaner (Buy on Amazon, $11.73). “You just drop the tablet in, run the water, and then start the disposal,” she explains. “It foams up and cleans the inside and leaves a nice citrus scent. It’s awesome!” You’ll find a handy monthly chart to check off on the side of these boxes, too. 

Take a look at the video below to see how easily Tull uses each product while going through her cleaning routine: 

When she isn’t giving her appliances a good clean, Tull says she uses a simple mixture of vinegar, water, and essential oils to wipe down “pretty much anything, except granite.” She’ll either add a few drops of tea tree oil to the mixture, or blend together lavender and peppermint. “It smells really clean and fresh.”

You can find more helpful tips from Tull over on her YouTube and Instagram pages. And remember to give your washing machine, dishwasher, and garbage disposal a monthly clean!

First For Women aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Questions? Reach us at shop@firstforwomen.com

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