During holiday times we rely on our household appliances more than ever. With the extra cooking and resulting dish washing that we do when we entertain the thought of our dishwasher, oven or fridge and freezer breaking down can send most people into a panic, but the good news is if we take care of our appliances throughout the year they are less likely to let us down when we need them most.

Routine tasks to keep the dishwasher working well include regularly removing the filter and rinsing it under running water. This will remove any food debris, pips and other deposits that may build up. Every few months a dishwasher cleaner should be used on a hot wash to get rid of any fat build up in the pipes. Inspecting the spray arms to make sure they are not blocked is also advisable and if they are, a quick clean using a toothbrush and white vinegar should be enough to unblock them.

Fridges and freezers are seen as an essential kitchen appliance but are often neglected. Depending on the type you have they may not need regular defrosting but keeping the inside clean by using unperfumed antibacterial wipes is important. If the freezer does need defrosting it is essential to do this as the freezer will work better without that build-up of ice.