by Milcarsky's Staff | Jul 30, 2019 | Appliances
For many families, the kitchen is the heart of their home. It’s where food is cooked and enjoyed and where family and friends hang out. But the unfortunate fact remains that the kitchen is also one of the most dangerous places in the house. Here are three common kitchen hazards:
Sharp Objects
The number of sharp objects found in the kitchen seems endless.They include not only knives; forks; and kitchen shears; but also mandolines; pantry cutters; pizza wheels; the blades of blenders, garbage disposals, and food processors; skewers; and those corn-shaped picks that hold corn on the cob. The shards of dropped plates and glasses are a serious danger to bare feet. A lid from a freshly opened can could deliver a nasty cut. Even the edges of a counter can be sharp.
Mitigate the risk of injury by putting sharp things back in their place when they’re not in use and never letting younger children handle them without supervision. Children and adults should know the proper way to handle sharp objects, according to Plan to Eat. You should also make sure that broken glass or ceramics should be swept up and never handled.
Hot Surfaces
Injuries caused by heat aren’t just limited to putting a hand on a hot stove burner, a hot oven grill or a hot pot or pan. Grease fires can shoot up in an instant. In some homes, the water that comes from the hot water faucet can cause injuries. According to GBW.Law, coffee makers contain scalding hot liquids that can result in life-altering injuries if spilled.
To lower the risk of injuries caused by heat, turn the handles of pots and pans inward so they aren’t bumped into or grabbed by curious children. If a pot or pan comes out of the oven, leave a dish towel on the handle or the lid to indicate that it’s hot. Don’t allow anything flammable near a heat source.
Hazardous Materials
Some cleansers kept in the kitchen are especially dangerous because they smell good to children and pets. One way to lower the risk of hazardous materials according to My Rolling Hills Farm is to keep them in a separate cabinet away from any food or cooking equipment and to put a lock on the cabinet doors where they’re kept. They must always be kept in their original container or in a container that’s clearly marked.
The kitchen can be a scary place, but it shouldn’t be. Things that cut and slice, poison, and burn are everywhere. But a few simple precautions can make sure the kitchen remains the warm and welcoming place it was meant to be.
A great part of an inviting kitchen is new appliances. Check out our selection of cooking appliances today!
The Milcarsky's Appliance Centre' team wants to help answer any questions you may have. We'd also like to let you know when we publish a new blog post or have some great news to share.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jun 17, 2019 | Appliances
Ask anyone who has ever gone through a kitchen fire, and they do will tell you that it is an extremely traumatic experience. Moreover, they will also tell you that it was completely unexpected. Indeed, no one starts cooking for their family thinking, “I’m about to have a kitchen fire that will destroy my wall or most of my kitchen.” However, it does happen. Thankfully, with a little bit of advance planning and some organization, there are a number of things you can do in order to guard against this happening to you.
Watch Out for Grease
Grease is very flammable, and it is a fire that can happen fairly quickly. The good news is that grease fires can be smothered fairly quickly as long as you know what you are doing. Obviously, throwing water on a grease fire is a big no-no. Instead, you should immediately turn off the heat source, and then quell the fire with a large lid.
Invest in Fire-Retardant Materials
One of the best ways to avoid or to minimize a fire would be through surrounding yourself with fire-retardant materials. One example of a substance that resists burning is the roof of your home. For example, homes with metal roofs tend to fare better against fires than homes with more conventional roofs. Moreover, simply using fire-resistant cookware will go a long way to keeping flames from spreading throughout your kitchen and then your home.
Don’t Leave Your Heat Source
When you begin cooking your meal, it can be tempting to go and briefly check your ball game or to watch the last part of your favorite television show. Don’t do it! About 10% of homes were estimated to have experienced kitchen fires. Leaving your stove unattended for even five minutes can easily have a fire on your hands that could spark travel literally anywhere.
Keep Certain Items Away From the Stove
You might be surprised at just what is considered flammable, so you should do your best to make sure that everything is kept away from the burners on the stove. Items like paper towels, dish towels, potholders, and other combustibles could easily cause a house fire. Kitchen fires are an unfortunate incident in many households. However, if you follow these tips, you will significantly decrease your chances of falling prone to these terrible kitchen fires. Safety counts in the kitchen!
Many people who are worried about kitchen fires choose to use electric range tops, but if you want something different, Milcarsky’s Appliance Center has many other options as well!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Apr 22, 2019 | Appliances
Your kitchen is the heart of your home, so you should love spending time there. Therefore, it’s worth investing in tools that will help you make the most of this space. With the right accessories and appliances, your kitchen can become one of your favorite rooms in your house.
A Pot Filler Faucet
For a handy second faucet, place a pot filler over your stove. One of the most obvious uses for this type of faucet is for filling pots on the stove, especially large stock pots. That’s not all the things you can do with a pot filler, though. You can also fill flower vases, water bottles, your coffeemaker, a tea kettle, and more.
A Pull-Out Spice Rack
Have you ever grabbed one bottle out of your spice cabinet and knocked over four others in the process? If so, you would benefit from the convenience of a pull-out spice rack. It will put all your spices within easy view so that you can easily grab one at a time. This kind of spice rack will also save you cabinet space. In fact, you can install a narrow spice rack in what would otherwise be wasted space in your cabinet layout.
A French Door Refrigerator
For a modern kitchen design, look no further than the sleek look of a French door refrigerator. Not only does this style look nice, but it can also help you organize your storage space since you’ll have plenty of door racks as well as spacious interior shelving. Purchasing a new refrigerator may also save you on energy costs for years to come. A French door unit can be particularly beneficial for energy savings since you can leave one door shut while quickly grabbing items out of the refrigerator.
A Built-In Electric Cooktop
There’s no fixed rule that stoves and ovens always have to go together. You can increase the flexibility of your kitchen layout by installing a built-in electric cooktop and a separate oven. Cooktops give your home a contemporary look. Even better, their smooth surfaces are easy to clean. You could even include your cooktop in your kitchen island layout. That way, you can see what’s going on around you and converse with your family as you work at the stove.
These four upgrades will take your kitchen from good to fantastic. You’ll find that they improve both the convenience and the appearance of your kitchen.
The Milcarsky's Appliance Centre' team wants to help answer any questions you may have. We'd also like to let you know when we publish a new blog post or have some great news to share.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jan 21, 2019 | Appliances
There may be times during your life when you want to put your appliances in storage. You may be moving, but the new place is not ready yet. Alternatively, you may be doing a kitchen remodel, and you want to install the same appliances when you are done. Regardless of the reason that you are putting your appliances in storage, here are some tips you will want to remember.
The Oven
Start by washing your stove with dishwashing soap and hot water. Then, make a paste of baking soda and water. Scrub the stove with the paste until you have it clean. Pull out the racks and store them separately. Use some strong tape to keep the doors closed while transporting. If you have a gas stove, turn off the knob at the wall disconnecting the gas from the unit. If you have an electric one, then unplug it. Once the stove is in storage, use an old sheet and a tie-down strap to keep the stove covered and protected from insects while allowing air to circulate.
The Refrigerator
If you are going to store your refrigerator, then make sure that you clean it first. Then, defrost it. The trick to completely defrosting a refrigerator is to unplug the refrigerator and leave the door open. Completely defrosting a refrigerator takes about seven days. If your refrigerator has a drain plug, remove it and walk away for several hours. Come back and clean up any remaining water. Make sure that you do not leave any moisture inside because it can mold. Pull the fridge out from the wall and unhook the drain line. Let the water drain from the unit. Place a chain and lock around the refrigerator so that the door cannot be opened while the refrigerator is in storage.
The Microwave
Cut a lemon into slices and put in a large bowl of water. Sit the bowl in the microwave, and turn it on long enough for the water to come to a boil. Carefully remove the bowl. Use a wet paper towel soaked in vinegar to wipe down the inside of the microwave. Remove the glass turntable, wrap it in bubble wrap and store it separately in a box. Always keep the microwave right side up and do not put anything heavy on top of it.
The Dishwasher
Bacteria, fungi, and mold can easily grow inside an unclean dishwasher. That’s why it’s so important to clean your dishwasher before storing it by putting one cup of vinegar in a bowl on the top rack. Then, run it through a cycle using hot water. Once the cycle is complete, wipe down the trays and the inside of the unit. The most important part of storing a dishwasher is to remove the water lines. Leaving even a little bit of water in them can eventually ruin the dishwasher.
Cleaning your kitchen appliances before moving them has them ready to be reinstalled when you are ready. Then, make sure that they are dry. Finally, store shelves, racks and other parts separately.
The Milcarsky's Appliance Centre' team wants to help answer any questions you may have. We'd also like to let you know when we publish a new blog post or have some great news to share.
