An essential part of our home cleaning session is cleaning the fridge and decluttering it. A clean refrigerator is a key essential for keeping the health of family members safe and sound. This electrical appliance that accommodates numerous jars, cans, raw and processed food items, and leftovers needs to be cleaned every once in a while. Letting it be the way it is forever can cause bacteria and mould to grow, especially in the cold temperature inside the fridge.
Getting ready with the cleaning products and gloves, you might be a little taken aback once you open your fridge. From relocating the articles there to realising the need to take care of every nook and corner, the job might seem a herculean task at first. But, in this article, we will help you learn and understand how to clean refrigerator.
Well, we are here to make your work easier with a comprehensive and easy step-by-step process for cleaning fridge. In fact, we will inform you about how to clean inside of a refrigerator as well as the exteriors.
Why Should We Clean Our Fridge?
People cleaning the refrigerator for the first time often wonder how to clean a fridge? Well, a clean refrigerator is a home to better health of family members. A fridge should be kept clean, not just keeping in mind hygiene issues but also organisational convenience. As mentioned above, shifting food in the refrigerator can often cause spillovers. If not cleaned properly, it will serve as a breeding ground for germs.
Cleaning fridge is a tedious task but it can be managed if planned well. But, before proceeding ahead, there is an obvious question i.e. how to clean fridge inside? How to clean fridge outside? Well, fret no more. Because we have got this covered.
Cleaning the exterior of a refrigerator also enhances the look of your kitchen. Besides, a clean refrigerator not only helps in meal planning but also in organising your kitchen better since you will be able to spot the ingredients better when it is time to throw away expired products, saving you space. Deep cleaning fridge not only means cleaning it but also being able to set the existing items in the fridge in a better way.
Now, who would not like a fresh-smelling fridge?
How Often Should We Clean Our Fridge?
We often think about how to clean refrigerator. Depending on the size of the refrigerator, it must be cleaned normally every few weeks. But when it comes to deep cleaning the fridge, it should be done every six months. A good rule of thumb is during spring cleaning and again before festivities or special occasions like weddings when your fridge will most likely be packed with leftovers.
Before starting, you must be sure to do it only when you can give at least one or two hours because emptying the fridge and then cleaning it will take time, and you would not want to leave food unrefrigerated.
If you can, schedule your cleaning for a time when your fridge is empty, such as right before your weekly grocery run. Read more and know about how to clean a fridge.
Step 1 for Fridge Cleaning: Turn Off the Refrigerator
Before learning how to clean a fridge, we must take all safety precautions since a refrigerator is an electrical appliance. To avoid any mishap, make sure you turn your refrigerator off by switching it off and removing the plug from the switchboard.
Turning the refrigerator off is also important because it will help you save electricity since there are chances that the refrigerator will remain open for a long time while cleaning the interiors. This step will also be helpful if you are using a vacuum cleaner to clean visible dust from the crevices.
After you are done cleaning fridge, ensure that the plug is dry before you plug it in again.
Step 2 for Fridge Cleaning: Empty the Refrigerator
The next step towards a clean refrigerator involves removing all articles from the refrigerator. You will mostly have perishable items in your fridge, so you must store the items carefully while you are cleaning the fridge.
This might be just the right time to declutter and get rid of one-time purchases that are not used or no one likes. Dispose off the old leftovers and expired foods. Rotting biodegradable food items can be used as compost.
Try to store meat as well as dairy products in a freezer bag. Some refrigerators have cooling blocks in them which makes it easy to store fresh food items between them. Don't forget to dispose off condiments that have been sitting out for too long and are beginning to crust.
Do not leave the food out for more than an hour.
Step 3 for Fridge Cleaning: Clean the Removable Refrigerator Parts
It is important to clean the body of the fridge, the articles therein, and the shelves since food spills on them. Consult the instruction manual if you are unsure about how to remove them. Once detached, you can clean them more thoroughly.
Wondering how to clean the refrigerator’s shelves? Simply grab some warm water and fragrance-free dish soap solution. As you would when hand-washing dishes, clean the items using a dish sponge. Alternatively, they can be run through the dishwasher or run through hot water and dish detergent. Use a toothpick or a gentle pointed brush to clean the areas where the moving parts slip. Make sure there is no leftover dishwashing liquid while rinsing. If the shelves are made of glass, wait until they are at room temperature before removing them to avoid breakage due to hot water.
Step 4 for Fridge Cleaning: Clean the Refrigerator's Interior
How to clean fridge inside? The interiors of a fridge must be handled more carefully than its exteriors. Use cold water instead of hot to prevent the fridge from heating up and reducing the life of perishable items. Take a store-bought sterilised cleaning liquid, dilute it with some cold water, and clean the walls, non-removable parts and sides of the fridge. Pay close attention to any filth that may be present in the grooves where the shelves are positioned. For this, cotton plugs turn out to be very handy.
So, how to clean fridge inside? When it comes to cleaning the inside of a refrigerator, one must also clean the condensation hole at the back, which is difficult to access and prone to clogging. Use a microfiber towel, a paper towel or a clean cloth to thoroughly dry the interior of the refrigerator.
Now that you know how to clean fridge inside, it’s time to learn how to clean fridge outside.
Step 5 for Fridge Cleaning: Clean the Refrigerator’s Exterior
A lot of people touch refrigerator handles. Thus, it is not only important to clean them but also sterilise them to avoid infections. However, one must ensure not to use harsh cleaning liquids since they may corrode the metallic body of their refrigerator. A better alternative is baking soda, which helps remove the smell of dirty hands on the handles. Gently clean the exteriors with a damp cloth soaked in warm water and a mild soap solution. Do not forget to clean the refrigerator's top.
After this, gently dust the condenser coils using a coil-cleaning brush. The drip pan should also be cleaned and dried. When considering how to clean fridge outside properly, use a hose attachment and vacuum anywhere it is possible around and underneath the refrigerator since a lot of dirt and trash accumulates there.
The above-mentioned steps explain how to clean inside of a refrigerator as well as on the outside. So, it’s time to bring it into action.
How to Clean a Refrigerator that Smells
The biggest turn-off for a dirty refrigerator is that fetid smell that fills our noses whenever we open the fridge. Luckily, it can be easily removed during deep cleaning.
Here are a few tips to get rid of bad odour. This will also help you to learn how to clean inside of a refrigerator.
● Take a lemon and cut it into two halves. Place it in a way that it faces down. In case, lemons are not there, then one can also use a grapefruit or an orange for a citrusy fragrance.
● Activated charcoal or dissolved oatmeal left open also helps remove foul smell.
● Take a jar and put some soda bicarbonate in it. Now, place that jar inside the fridge, without the lid. This will absorb all the types of smells. You can also add a soothing essential oil for a better aroma.
● Cotton wool soaked in vanilla will impart a sweet vanilla aroma.
● Ground coffee left in an open tray will absorb unpleasant smells and give an amazing coffee aroma.
Fridge Cleaning Hacks
Here are some amazing additional hacks on how to clean a fridge like a professional cleaning service:
● Try using toothpaste, which has a moderate abrasive, to scrape difficult stains.
● Line vegetable drawers with paper towels or brown paper to reduce moisture and odours.
● Spills in your refrigerator should be cleaned up right once to prevent them from drying and congealing.
● Do not keep your fridge cluttered; there will be no airflow.
● Ensure that bottles with liquid or semi-liquid items are dry before they go into the fridge to avoid stains.
● To prevent spillage or leaking while defrosting goods like frozen meat lay them on a baking sheet or dish with a rim.
Conclusion
We hope these tips have been handy for you in understanding the cleaning needs of your fridge better. Now that you know why it is important to clean your fridge regularly, follow the steps and hacks above to keep it spotlessly clean and organised. These tips will not only help you save time but also help you avoid the cost of hiring a regular cleaning professional.
FAQs
What should be placed on a fridge's top shelf after cleaning?
The top shelf must be spared for milk, Tupperware boxes or water jars.
How should eggs be stored in a fridge?
Always remove the egg carton's expiration date label and put it alongside the eggs. You will constantly be aware of their usage limitations in this manner.
What should one look for before buying a cleaner for cleaning a fridge?
It must be ensured that they are non-toxic and food-safe so as not to harm the food products.
What must be kept in mind before restacking the fridge?
The fridge must be switched on. You must give it some time to reach its regular temperature to avoid food spoilage later.
What is a top tip for cleaning door handles?
For the door seal, it must be ensured that they are dry and then greased with a few drops of oil to keep them soft.