6 Tips for Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances

One of the most popular appliance finishes is stainless steel. It can be a very classy look, but sometimes it can seem daunting to clean all of the fingerprints, especially if you have little kids. When you need to clean your stainless steel appliances there are a couple things to consider.

1. Use a cleaner made specifically for stainless steel and a soft microfiber cleaning cloth. DO NOT just use regular water and a paper towel. There can be minerals in your water that can harm the stainless steel and the paper towel fibers can get trapped in the grain.

2. NEVER use steel wool, steel brushes or other metal cleaning pads. Metal against metal will scratch your appliances leaving you with a not so pretty finish. This will also leave small carbon remnants that can be left in the steel which will leave a rusty looking finish which is not what you want.

3. Always wipe with the direction of the “grain” of the stainless steel.  If you look at the material you will be able to see if the striations in the stainless goes horizontal or vertical, whichever way they go that is the direction you want to wipe. This helps clean deep into the microscopic grooves where oxidation happens.

4. Be careful about the cleaner that you use.  Some cleaners leave a “greasy” film on the product and can be harmful to the environment. While some cleaners, such as Ecosential by Smart Choice, are formulated to clean while still being eco-friendly.

5. Pay attention to stainless steel handles. Sometimes the grime can stick to these areas the most. It might be best to take off the handles to get the sparkly shine. You should also wipe the area around where the knobs are as dirt and grime get trapped in these areas.

6. Don’t forget about the hood. If not careful, the hoods can buildup grease and dust very fast in those hard to reach areas. Make sure to get a ladder and wipe down these areas to get the perfect stainless steel look.

Stainless steel does require more cleaning, but with a little elbow grease it can stay beautiful just like it was brand new. Once you have these tips in your head and clean every few weeks, you will be so happy that you picked stainless steel appliances in your kitchen.

3 Reasons to Buy A French Door Fridge

There are so many different options for refrigerators. There are top-mount, French doors, bottom mount, side-by-side, and more. It is hard to distinguish which one is the best choice. Here are three reasons why people like the conference of having a French door refrigerators.

1. Do you hate bending down to find things in crisper drawers way at the bottom of the fridge? And do you sometimes forget what is in there because you can't easily see into it? Not with a French door refrigerator. The crisper drawer's are high enough for you to reach in and see into the refrigerator more easily. You can find your food easier and you do not have to bend down.

2. Usable space is optimal in a French door style fridge. With the 2 main doors up top, the width of the fresh food section is the best possible set up! You can easily reach for a deli tray, cookie sheet, or a large pizza box right in the middle of the fridge.

3. Options!  French door fridges come in a variety of set ups that are more customized to your needs. You can choose 3 door, 4 door, or even a 5 door set up. Another great option that is nice with French doors is having temperature controlled drawers. This allows you to change the temperature of the drawers that can either be used as a fridge or a freezer.

Ultimately the decision is up to you with what type of refrigerator is best for your space and family size. Hopefully, we have answered some questions about the French door option that would make you want to pick this option.

Have any more questions about different types of refrigerators? Leave them in the comments section or give us a call and we can help!

5 Trick-Or-Treat Tips for Parents

Boo! Halloween has certainly snuck up on us this year, and your little ghouls and goblins are gearing up excitedly for their big trick-or-treating adventure. Here are some helpful hints for you and your kids to get the most out of your big Halloween night out so you can have a safe and happy Halloween.

1. Wear Comfortable Clothes- Parents, keep in mind that your little ones are full of excitement and energy (not to mention candy!) so you can anticipate at least a couple hours’ worth of roaming around your neighborhood during trick-or-treating time. Make sure to wear weather-appropriate clothes and comfortable shoes so you aren’t howling like a werewolf with every step of your Halloween journey!

2. Light Up the Night- Halloween is a dark and spooky night full of fun and mischief! Just make sure you don’t let it get TOO dark- keep yourself and your children well-lit and easy for passing motorists to spot as you cross the street. You can purchase cool glow sticks or adorn your children with light-up accessories to make them highly visible when crossing to the houses on the next block.

3. Skip Masks- Yes, we know Batman is nothing without his mask, and we admit that a Darth Vader without his iconic black helmet lacks a certain something, but masks can get in the way of safety and comfort during trick-or-treat time. Encourage your children to opt for mask-free costumes, or to use makeup in lieu of a mask for the desired effect. Not only will this increase their visibility as they walk through the neighborhood, but it will also help them to breathe better.

4. Inspect the Loot- Once trick-or-treating is through and it’s time to head home with your candy haul, make sure to look over all of your kids’ treats carefully. If you spot any unwrapped candy, or see anything that looks suspicious, remove it from your children’s stash and dispose of it. Stick with the mini candy bars and non-candy treats that are obviously still in their original wrappers, for safety’s sake.

5. Limit the Props- Unless you want to be stuck carrying Captain America’s shield, a couple of lightsabers AND a basket with Toto inside all evening long, encourage the kids to leave handheld props home. Your children will have their hands full with their trick-or-treat bags, and you can guess who will end up carrying all of their accessories! Not only that, but long props such as swords or a Grim Reaper scythe can pose a tripping hazard for both your kids and random passers-by.

The Interstate Appliance staff wishes all of you a safe and happy Halloween!

5 Ways to Help Organize Your Refrigerator for the Freshest Food

Are you sick of your milk spoiling a few days before the expiration date? The problem could be where you put your milk in the refrigerator. Take the extra time to stock your fridge carefully to cut down on food waste.

Depending on how old or new your refrigerator is or even the special features of your specific model or brand there can be areas that you should watch out for.  Areas like door bins and upper shelves tend to be a little warmer than the middle of the refrigerator or the bottom shelves.  Here are a few steps to help you with placing your food and drinks in the best possible areas to maintain freshness.

1. The Refrigerator Doors

The temperature in the doors can be a couple of degrees higher than the main compartment. This could be too warm to store milk and eggs in. Here are items that you should place in the doors that can handle the slight change:

• Condiments
• Juice
• Soda or soft drinks
• Water
• Butter
• Cooking oils

2. The Lower Shelf

The very middle of you fridge is one of the coldest areas to store food. This spot is best for foods that are more temperature-sensitive. Here are the foods that should be on the lower shelf:

• Milk
• Eggs (in their carton)
• Raw fish, meat, and poultry

Extra tip: You can use little trays to separate the meat from the other foods and they will also catch any drips or spills falling down into the rest of the refrigerator.

3. The Upper Shelf

This area of the refrigerator can get slightly warmer and you want to be cautious as to what you put in this area. Here are items that you should put on the upper shelf:

• Yoghurt
• Snacks like (fruit cups, hummus, etc.)
• Jelly and Jam
• Peanut butter
• Leftovers (store more in the front of the fridge so you don’t forget about them)

4. Veggie and Fruit Bins

Crisper drawers are designed for produce. In some refrigerators you can adjust the humidity for drier foods or moister climate foods.  If you do not have the ability to adjust the humidity, that is okay and you can organize your bins in a way that low versus high humidity foods are stored together and are separate from each other. Here is a list of fruits and vegetables you can group together:

High- Humidity Drawer

• Carrots
• Strawberries
• Watermelon
• Broccoli
• Green Onions
• Leafy Greens
• Brussels sprouts

Low-Humidity Drawer

• Apples
• Mangos
• Pears, plums, peaches, nectarines
• Peppers
• Mushrooms
• Summer squash
• Avocados

5. Outside the Refrigerator

There are common misconceptions for a few foods that should not actually be placed in the refrigerator. Here are a few items that you should keep out on your counter-tops or food pantry:

• Garlic
• Coffee
• Bananas
• Bread (Organic bread should be refrigerated. All bread is okay to freeze)
• Tomatoes
• Lemons and limes
• Onions and Potatoes but keep them away from each other

We hope that these food organization tips help you keep your food fresher longer. Let us know if you have other issues with keeping your food fresh or other questions about organizing your refrigerator. 

Keep Up With These 3 Kitchen Trends

There are constant changes coming to kitchen design and it's a struggle to keep up. These changes are fresh and refreshing. Likely they will remain longer than a simple trend.

Horizontal wood grain is becoming huge for cabinetry in kitchens. This new trend is revitalizing traditional wood cabinetry. Less recessing and molding details on this style of cabinet and more flat. Horizontal wood grains actually makes the kitchen seem wider. Hardware is kept simple and understated. The most popular style of hardware is simple metal, horizontal pulls.  A huge benefit of installing this kind of cabinetry is that it can be paired with other types of wood. The cabinet grain is very prominent, easily pair a wood flooring that has a smaller visible grain. Also, run the other kind of wood grain in a different direction, preferably vertical. This will create a focal point with a clean look!

Another trend is to mix two kinds of cabinets to add dimension and interest. You can even add three different materials to create your own unique cabinet design. The key to pulling this off is to keep the cabinet design simple. Refraining from raised panels or ornate moldings on the cabinet doors. Each different cabinet material is in the same flat panel design, same design to link the cabinets together with different wood grain.

2017 is all about contrast which can easily be seen by the newest appliances coming out in dark but classic colors.  Contrast is the key to keeping a design looking unique and interesting. Monochromatic schemes can be great if done well, but beware of washing out the room. Details get lost in a monochromatic setting and everything just sort of blends together. Creating contrast is one of the best ways to add interest and dimension. Details are noticed and appreciated when contrast comes into play!

If you're looking to set yourself apart but still be trendy try out these ideas.

What is your favorite modern kitchen trend? Leave it in the comments section.