Many homemakers feel that maintaining kitchen appliances is a big task. When people see awesome deals in kitchen appliances sales, most feel like buying almost everything. However, the thought of cleaning and maintaining them can cause many people to rethink their choice. This is one of the reasons why some consumers are shy away from indulging in hard-to-clean kitchen appliances.
In comparison to any other room in the house, the kitchen can become the most infested area if the leftover food and other residue are not cleaned. Even the kitchen appliances, if left uncared for, can become a breeding ground for germs. So, invest some time because a little care on your part can brighten kitchen appliances and make them last longer.
How to care and maintain kitchen appliances
Our appliances work for us and we need to make sure that they are maintained and taken care of properly for ensuring their optimum usage. Here are some of the tips and tricks that will help you to lengthen the life of appliances in kitchen.
- Refrigerator
Probably, the most used and most favorite of all kitchen appliances, a refrigerator needs constant cleaning. It is subject to a lot of spillages and unwanted junk. Not just the exterior, the interior, and the freezer also need constant cleaning. Cleaning the refrigerator with warm soapy water can keep the bacteria and smell away. - Oven
Be it a microwave oven or a convection oven, there are food build-ups after the appliance has been used. Over a period of time, the appliance starts wearing out and breaks down. Avoid using any abrasive cleaning agents which are full of chemicals. Instead stick with a homemade cleansing agent that includes vinegar, baking soda, and salt. - Dishwasher
Dishwashers clean dishes and if there is a lot of dirt and food accumulation on the inside, it can harm the filter. To clean the dishwasher, empty the dishes and place a bowl of vinegar. Start the cycle with hot water and let it finish one cycle. This will eliminate any foul and musty odor. - Coffeemaker
Mineral deposits can clog your coffee filter. Again water and vinegar come to your rescue. Two parts water and one part vinegar when poured into the water chamber can help relieve unnecessary clogs and cleans the machine.
These were day-to-day appliances which are used extensively. But apart from that, there are some high-end appliances in the kitchen that need thorough cleaning to keep working efficiently like a barbeque grill, stand mixer, or a food processor.
- Barbeque grill
Barbeque grills are available in stainless steel and cast iron. One cleaning solution does not work for all surfaces. For cleaning stainless steel, refrain from using abrasive strong chemical solutions as it may scratch the surface. Cast iron barbeque grills can be cleaned with any cleaning solution to get rid of stubborn stains. - Stand mixer
Cleaning a stand mixer requires dish soap, a clean cloth, and water. Unplug the mixer and separate the attachments like the blade, beater shaft, and mixing bowl. Clean and wipe food residue with a soapy solution. While cleaning the motor, one has to be careful of not letting water go near the lever or ventilation ports. Little water residue can damage the motor. - Food processor
Since a lot of stuff like chopping, slicing, pureeing, and even kneading dough takes place in a food processor, it needs timely cleaning, especially in the motor area. Of course, after every use, a food processor has to be cleaned. A lot of food residues sometimes remain underneath the blade area, shaft, and spindle. A damp cotton cloth and some soapy liquid can clean the processor thoroughly.
All appliances in kitchen form an integral part of a kitchen. Your kitchen is incomplete without the right appliance. It does not matter whether the appliance is big or small. Each and every appliance needs care and maintenance to keep it working.
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What you should know about arthritis as a joint condition
Read moreThe joints in our bodies are constantly working while we move our limbs. Hence, it is understandable that with time we may develop certain joint conditions that lead to pain and compromised mobility. One of the very common forms of these conditions is arthritis. It leads to joint inflammation. A condition that mainly affects people over 65 years of age, it can be more commonly seen in women.
Different stages of arthritis
There are many different types of arthritis, but the two most commonly occurring ones are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis has four stages.
- Stage 1
During this stage, inflammation occurs in the joints. Swelling, stiffness, and joint pains are common symptoms of this stage. The joint tissues swell up, too. - Stage 2
During this time, the joint lining, synovium, is inflamed even more and results in cartilage damage. The joints’ motion capability is compromised due to this, leading to pain. - Stage 3
In this stage, the severity of the joint condition becomes even more harmful. Rheumatoid arthritis leads to bone damages. This results in more pain, loss of mobility, and weakness of muscles. - Stage 4
This is the end stage where the joints stop functioning completely. It leads to more pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Osteoarthritis has four stages of progression, too.
- Stage 1
Tiny wear and tear may occur on the knee joints, and spur growths on the bone can be seen. It does not cause too much pain. - Stage 2
The bone spur growths increase and lead to pain. The knee joints start to become stiffer. - Stage 3
During this time, the joint inflammation leads to even more pain and stiffness. Walking can result in popping sounds, too. - Stage 4
The space between the bones in the joints become very narrow, which leads to wearing of the cartilages. A chronic inflammatory response is caused by the breakdown of cartilages and leads to even more discomfort and pain.
Diagnosis of arthritis
These joint conditions can be diagnosed by a doctor using medical tests. A physical exam will reveal if you have red and warm joints. The test is also performed to examine the fluid around your joints. A rheumatologist can analyze the levels of inflammation in your joint fluids and blood to determine what type of arthritis you have. Blood tests are also done to check for antibodies such as anti-CCP, rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibody. X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans are also performed to check the condition of your cartilage and bones.
Prevention of arthritis
A family history of arthritis or aging can cause you to suffer from the disease, and you may not have any control over it. However, there are certain things that can be done to lower the chances of you developing arthritis. To start with, include omega-3 in your diet. You should also exercise regularly, keep your weight under check, not put your joints under stress, and try to avoid injuries.
If you ever feel any symptoms of arthritis, you should see your doctor immediately. They can help you slow the progress of the joint condition.
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The time-line of Outback Steakhouse
Read moreOutback Steakhouse is an Australian-based American casual dining restaurant chain. It is based in Tampa, Florida. It is spread across 23 countries throughout North and South America, Asia and Australia. Founded in 1988 by Bob Basham, Chris T Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, Tim Gannon, it has restaurants at almost 1000 locations.
Since its opening, it has gone through several milestones making it one of the popular steakhouse across the United States and other countriesLet us have look at their timeline
Early 1990’s Expanding as a public company
The number of Outback restaurants continued to expand. By the year 1992, roughly, 35 new restaurants were opened. With the inclusion of new innovative signature recipes, the Outback Steakhouse had gained popularity. By the end of the year 1992, policies adopted by the owners pushed Outback’s systemwide sales to almost $200 million. Steady growth, both in revenues and number of restaurants continued to follow. It passed 100 restaurant mark in March, expanding across 15 states. Reporting an annual growth of 150 percent, it emerged as a new public company.
Mid 1990’s Addition of Carrabba’s and another concept in the Menu
With the addition of Carrabba’s and other concepts, Outback Steakhouse expanded internationally. They entered into a joint venture with a Houston restaurant group and developed Carrabba’s Italian Grill restaurants. It featured Italian cuisine in a casual setting.
Outback continued its steady expansion in 1994 and opened 70 new Outback Steakhouses and 10 new Carrabba’s Italian Grill casual diners. By the end of 1995, there was a total of 300 Outback Steakhouses and 25 Carrabba’s Italian Grill casual diners. The revenues at the end of the year 1995 had reached $665
Million, making it more than double when compared to earlier 2 years.Late 1990’s – Crossing the $1 billion revenue mark
The international expansion of the Outback Steakhouse concept began somewhere around 1996 with its first unit opening internationally in Canada. Over the next few years, Outback Steakhouse restaurants were opened across Aruba, Brazil, China, Guam, Mexico, and South Korea. By the end of the decade, there were at least 40 Outback Steakhouses opened outside the United States.The steady growth of Outback Steakhouses continued beyond 2000, as the franchise was purely focusing on international expansion. They developed and went ahead with additional restaurant concepts, experimenting with smaller versions to its flagship chain, located in alternative locations such as airports. The Outback Steakhouse went past $1 billion revenue mark by the end of the millennium.