Interesting points about vinegar and citrus cleaners...I've been experimenting myself lately since I'm renovating my kitchen for the first time. I tried diluted vinegar on my stainless steel fridge, and it worked great, but does anyone else notice a lingering smell afterward? It fades eventually, but still noticeable for a bit.
Also, curious about the mild dish soap approach—does it really clean thoroughly enough around rubber seals? I've been hesitant because I worry about residue buildup or missing hidden grime. Maybe I'm overthinking it though. Recently, I used baking soda paste on my oven door glass, and it was surprisingly effective. But now I'm wondering if that's safe long-term for the finish?
Honestly, rotating cleaners sounds like a good idea to avoid damage, but how do you all keep track of what's safe for each appliance? Feels like there's a lot to remember when you're new to this...
I totally get the vinegar smell thing—my kitchen smelled like a pickle jar for hours after I cleaned my microwave with it. 😂 As for dish soap around rubber seals, I've used it on my vintage fridge (circa 1950s, still kicking!) and haven't noticed residue issues yet. But now you've got me second-guessing myself...maybe I should check again. Has anyone tried castile soap instead? Heard it's gentle but effective—wonder if that's safer long-term?
I've used castile soap on my old stove's seals, and it's been fine so far—no residue or drying out. Smells way better than vinegar too, haha. Your vintage fridge sounds amazing, btw...they really don't make 'em like they used to.
"I've used castile soap on my old stove's seals, and it's been fine so far—no residue or drying out."
Glad to hear castile soap worked for you! I actually tried it on my vintage dishwasher seals last year, and while it cleaned well initially, after a couple months I noticed they started feeling a bit tacky. Switched back to diluted vinegar and water with a few drops of essential oil (lemon usually), and that's been my go-to ever since. Funny how appliances can react differently...maybe the rubber composition matters? Either way, totally agree about vintage appliances—they're built like tanks.
Interesting to hear your experiences with castile soap and vinegar. I've been experimenting with natural cleaners too, mostly because I'm a bit paranoid about harsh chemicals damaging the finishes on my older appliances. Vinegar seems to work great on glass and stainless steel surfaces for me, but I've always been hesitant about using it on rubber seals—heard somewhere it can dry them out over time? Maybe that's just an urban myth though...
I've actually had pretty decent luck using baking soda paste (just baking soda and water) for tougher grime on my fridge gasket. It cleans well without leaving any stickiness or residue behind, at least so far. But now I'm wondering if the type of rubber really does matter. Are dishwasher seals different from fridge seals or stove seals in terms of rubber composition? Could explain why we're all seeing different results.
Either way, totally agree that older appliances are worth a bit of extra care—they definitely don't make 'em like they used to.
