Skip the Pros: 4 DIY Appliance Cleaning Methods That Saved Me 600 Yuan

Last week my mother-in-law visited, and the moment she walked in: “Why does your AC smell musty?”

My face probably looked like I’d swallowed a fly. Honestly, that hurt more than calling me lazy.

Turns out, the AC filter and evaporator had accumulated thick layers of dust and mold. I’d been wondering why the AC always had that “old smell”—there it was.

So I researched appliance cleaning. Asked a few cleaning services—AC 150, range hood 200, washing machine 120, fridge 100… that’s 500-600 yuan for a whole-house clean. My mother-in-law added: “You could clean those yourself.”

Fine, she was right.

I spent two days cleaning all four appliances. Conclusion: you can save serious money, but you need the right methods. Today I’m sharing my trial-and-error lessons to help you save too.

AC: Focus on Two Key Areas

Many think just cleaning the filter is enough. Wrong. The real grime hides in the evaporator (those metal fins behind the filter).

My method:

1. Unplug first! Don’t skip this (learned the hard way)
2. Open the cover, remove filter, rinse clean and air dry
3. Buy AC cleaner spray (around 20 yuan), spray evaporator, wait 10 minutes for foam to “push out” the gunk
4. Run AC for 15 minutes, dirty water drains out the pipe

After cleaning, no more smell. Cooling improved too—before, 26°C took forever to feel cool, now 27°C is plenty.

Range Hood: No Steel Wool

I messed this up once. First time cleaning, I scrubbed hard with steel wool and scratched the coating—now it traps oil easier.

Correct method:

1. Remove oil cup, dump old oil, soak in hot water + dish soap for 10 minutes, rinse clean
2. Remove filter, wipe surface oil with paper towels first, then spray range hood cleaner
3. Wait a few minutes for grease to dissolve, wipe with soft cloth
4. No steel wool, no steel wool, no steel wool

Cost breakdown: Range hood cleaner 18 yuan, dish soap I already had—under 30 yuan total. Professional cleaning: 200 yuan. Win.

Washing Machine: I Completely Ignored This Before

Honestly, I never thought washing machines needed cleaning. Until one day I noticed clean clothes had that “damp towel left too long” smell.

Turns out, over time, residue builds up between inner and outer drums—skin flakes, hair, detergent gunk… without cleaning, you’re just “agitating clothes in dirty water.”

My method:

1. Buy washing machine drum cleaner (about 15 yuan per bag)
2. Pour in, select “drum self-clean” mode (or just run empty at highest water level)
3. Soak 2 hours, then run a normal cycle
4. You’ll see the drained water turn blackish-gray… that’s your machine’s “collection”

First clean, the water was unrecognizable. Now I clean every two months—no more weird smells.

Fridge: Don’t Skip the Door Seal

Fridge cleaning is straightforward, but one spot many overlook—the door seal.

That rubber strip around the door edge. If not cleaned, it molds (I found black gunk there—gross). Use cotton swabs with alcohol, or just scrub with a toothbrush.

Everything else is standard: unplug → empty → wipe with warm water + dish soap → air dry. Don’t forget to clear the drain hole in the back of the fridge compartment, or water pools.

Let’s Do the Math

AC cleaner 25 yuan + range hood cleaner 18 yuan + washing machine cleaner 15 yuan + alcohol swabs etc. 10 yuan = 68 yuan.

Professional cleaning: AC 150 + range hood 200 + washing machine 120 + fridge 100 = 570 yuan.

If that’s not saving money, what is? And honestly, my results matched professional cleaning—just took some time.

Of course, if your appliances are extremely dirty (like a range hood not cleaned in years), or you really don’t want to DIY, call the pros. But for “maintained” appliances like mine, doing it yourself works perfectly.

Oh, my mother-in-law came back later and said: “No smell this time.” I’ll take that as a compliment.