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The kitchen's workhorse, the refrigerator, probably doesn't get as much cleaning as other household surfaces.
Without routine maintenance, debris and spoiled food residue can accumulate on the exterior surfaces and within shelves and drawers.
Follow these tips for the best methods to clean a fridge to keep it in good shape and stop odors.
Assemble basic home materials and natural cleaning products, such as baking soda, water, dish soap, and dry towels.
Transfer your food to a cooler, and you're prepared to start deep cleaning the fridge. Learn how to clean your appliance in detail to have your refrigerator sparkling like new!
What Are Chores to Do to Maintain Your Refrigerator?
Your freezer will function more effectively and efficiently if it is properly maintained. It will also save you money on electricity costs and extend the shelf life of the food inside.
To make sure the door seal is sealing properly, check it occasionally. If the seal is insufficient, the fridge door could need replacing.
Regular cleaning and defrosting. Ice accumulation will reduce its effectiveness.
Ensure the safety of your young children by locking freezers.
To ensure appropriate air circulation, constantly vacuum any exposed condenser coils.
Maintain a steady temperature to prevent food from becoming bad.
This advice is general; refer to your owner's manual for further maintenance instructions.
Discarding the food and cleaning your fridge if you have recalled items is critical. The recalled food may include germs that spread to refrigerator shelves or drawers.
The 10 steps listed below should help you clean your refrigerator.
1. Establish a Staging Area
Of course, cleaning a fridge requires removing food from it. Consider using a small folding table or a few chairs if your counter space is limited.
Consider putting your food in a cooler if you intend to undertake a thorough clean. Whatever you choose, you must have at least a shelf's worth of space to store your belongings.
Ensure that the kitchen sink is also empty. Put the recycling bin nearby while you're at it since you'll probably be throwing out products whose shelf life has expired.
A go-to cleaning solution for this task is vinegar.
When added to the acid, hot water transforms into a food-safe cleanser ideal for wiping any crud accumulated on refrigerator shelves. The acid from the vinegar dissolves grease and grime.
First things first: Toss away any foodstuffs that are stale or outdated.
While you clean the rest of the fridge, remove the still-edible meals and put them in a cooler with ice to keep them cold.
4. Shelf Removal and Drawer Removal
Remove and lay away any shelves and drawers that can be removed. Metal or plastic drawers and shelves can be immediately cleaned with hot water and dish soap.
Still, glass and ceramic items must be gradually warmed to room temperature before being cleaned with hot water to avoid shattering and cracking.
5. Clean the Interior With Dish Soap or Baking Soda and Water
To stop mold inside your fridge, avoid any bleach-based cleaner. Use hot water, some mild dish soap, and a soft cloth.
To avoid dripping on already-cleaned surfaces, work from the top to the floor of the fridge.
A warm, clean towel can be placed over the spilled area for a short period if the spill is particularly stubborn or stuck. A plastic, non-abrasive scrubber may also be necessary.
Even the hidden components of the appliance, like the refrigerator coils, require periodic cleaning using a coil brush and a vacuum. (Refer to your owner's manual for assistance.)
Cleaning refrigerator coils is a little more challenging, but doing it can enhance and prolong the function of your refrigerator.
Note
Most appliance manufacturers offer their manuals online, and you can discover yours by searching for the model number.
6. Tidy Cabinets and Shelves With a Damp Microfiber Cloth
After your shelves and drawers have warmed up gradually, please thoroughly rinse and wipe dry.
When handling slippery glass shelves, use extra care. Gloves for the dishwasher could be useful in preventing breakage.
7. Dry the Fridge's Interior
To ensure the refrigerator's interior is fully dry, wipe it down with a clean cloth or towel. Remember also to dry the internal doors.
8. Replacing the Food
Restock the refrigerator with the foodstuffs. A sticky jelly jar or a crusty salad dressing lid are two containers that could be cleaned now.
When handling your jars, wear clean clothes and dry them completely.
9. Empty the Freezer
The same techniques can be used to wipe out a freezer. The beautiful thing about freezers is that they rarely spill anything and require considerably less frequent cleaning.
You might need to look for and toss away expired meals. Use the same procedures as the refrigerator if a deeper cleaning is necessary.
10. Clear the Exterior
Simply wipe with a cloth sprayed with an all-purpose cleaner, giving a little extra elbow grease to the handles where grime tends to build up.
Using hot or warm water and mild dish soap, wipe down and clean the outside surfaces of the refrigerator, beginning at the top to the floor surface.
Use a soft, non-scratching cloth, vinegar, or window spray cleaner to keep your refrigerator's stainless steel surface glossy.
Pay special attention to the rubber gaskets' seals around the doors' edges. Here, filth and muck can gather and crack the stamp. Wash them thoroughly with warm water and soap.
Simply wipe the gaskets out to remove any debris. This needs to be cleaned regularly to ensure it maintains a tight seal.
Depending on how frequently you cook, dribble hot sauce, and buy new supplies, your refrigerator may sustain significant damage.
Your refrigerator, the most significant equipment in your house, demands care and regular maintenance. Deep-clean it once every three to four months.
To do this, load up your cooler with all your meals, turn it off, remove shelves and drawers, and rinse them in hot, soapy water.
Make sure to mop up spills before they dry between cleanings and remove any foodstuffs that have gone bad or have passed their expiration dates.
Clean Out A Refrigerator FAQs
The following are the most frequent inquiries on how to clean a refrigerator inside and out:
What Is the Best Thing to Clean the Fridge Interior With?
Wipe the interior of the empty refrigerator by wiping it down with warm, soapy water and then clean water to remove the soap. Use a fresh towel to wipe dry.
Can I Use Clorox Wipes to Clean the Inside of My Fridge?
You can, indeed, if you want to give your refrigerators a thorough deep clean; Clorox wipes are not the best product to use.
The door knobs may be cleaned, or tiny spills can be cleaned quickly and easily with these useful wipes.
Your refrigerator will remain clean and odor-free for an extended period if you follow a few straightforward procedures.
Restocking the fridge with sloppy food containers or expired produce should be avoided to prevent sticky spills.
Throw away anything expired or whose freshness is in doubt right away. Any jars, bottles, or cans with drips or crusty lids can be cleaned with baking soda and water.
Wipe refrigerator items as you use them in meal preparation and cooking to make this process easier.
You can maintain a clean, odor-free, and sparkling fridge by routinely taking these items out.
