Every so often, a refrigerator needs to be cleaned
from the inside out. The shelves have to be washed down from milk spills, and
food must be tossed out if it has outlived its shelf life. Though it’s not the
most pleasant task, knowing how to do it efficiently and effectively will save
you plenty of time and hassle.
from the inside out. The shelves have to be washed down from milk spills, and
food must be tossed out if it has outlived its shelf life. Though it’s not the
most pleasant task, knowing how to do it efficiently and effectively will save
you plenty of time and hassle.
1 Take all your food out of the fridge.
Place it on a table or counter so the refrigerator is completely emptied out.
You’ll want to have empty space so that you can survey the damage.
Place it on a table or counter so the refrigerator is completely emptied out.
You’ll want to have empty space so that you can survey the damage.
2 Throw out any aged, moldy or inedible food,
bagging securely to prevent leakage or mold distribution. The yearly or
quarterly refrigerator clean often alerts us to items we’ve completely
forgotten about, and which have sadly lost their inevitable fight with Time.
Discard hastily or restock at your own risk.
bagging securely to prevent leakage or mold distribution. The yearly or
quarterly refrigerator clean often alerts us to items we’ve completely
forgotten about, and which have sadly lost their inevitable fight with Time.
Discard hastily or restock at your own risk.
o Don’t be bashful about throwing away the items that
you never use. Those pickles that have been sitting in the back of the fridge
before grandma got her dentures probably got to go, unless you accidentally
want to invite disaster.
you never use. Those pickles that have been sitting in the back of the fridge
before grandma got her dentures probably got to go, unless you accidentally
want to invite disaster.
3 Take
out any shelving, drawers (e.g. crispers), or other removable surface areas
from the refrigerator. Sticking your head into the belly of the
refrigerator in order to clean it isn’t very pleasant, and it sure isn’t that
effective. In order to get the job done quicker, you’ll probably want to remove
shelving and the like and place it near the kitchen sink, where it will be much
easier to clean.
out any shelving, drawers (e.g. crispers), or other removable surface areas
from the refrigerator. Sticking your head into the belly of the
refrigerator in order to clean it isn’t very pleasant, and it sure isn’t that
effective. In order to get the job done quicker, you’ll probably want to remove
shelving and the like and place it near the kitchen sink, where it will be much
easier to clean.
4 Wash
the shelving, drawers, and other surfaces by hand. Most of what you took out of
your fridge either won’t fit or shouldn’t be placed in a dishwasher. Instead,
lather up some suds, get a nice brush or sponge to scrub with, and start going
at the removable items from your fridge. This is where the rubber meets the
road.
the shelving, drawers, and other surfaces by hand. Most of what you took out of
your fridge either won’t fit or shouldn’t be placed in a dishwasher. Instead,
lather up some suds, get a nice brush or sponge to scrub with, and start going
at the removable items from your fridge. This is where the rubber meets the
road.
o Never wash a cold glass shelf with hot water. The
sudden temperature change could shatter the glass. Instead, use cold water or
remove the shelf and let it come up to room temperature before washing it.
sudden temperature change could shatter the glass. Instead, use cold water or
remove the shelf and let it come up to room temperature before washing it.
o For heavy-duty spills and/or stains, don’t be
afraid to use the power of hot water and ammonia. Dilute a little bit of
ammonia in hot water (1:5 ratio should be plenty) and let the item(s) soak
before scrubbing.
afraid to use the power of hot water and ammonia. Dilute a little bit of
ammonia in hot water (1:5 ratio should be plenty) and let the item(s) soak
before scrubbing.
o Be sure to let the shelving, grill, etc. dry out
completely on a drying rack before inserting back into the refrigerator.
completely on a drying rack before inserting back into the refrigerator.
5 Wipe
the inside of the refrigerator with your preferred cleaning solution.
Attack any big or stubborn stains and hit all the remaining surfaces with a
clean cloth or sponge.
the inside of the refrigerator with your preferred cleaning solution.
Attack any big or stubborn stains and hit all the remaining surfaces with a
clean cloth or sponge.
o You probably don’t want to use soap or a chemical
cleaner on the inside of the fridge, as food will absorb the smell. Instead,
use one of the following natural cleaning solutions:
cleaner on the inside of the fridge, as food will absorb the smell. Instead,
use one of the following natural cleaning solutions:
§ 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart hot water
§ 1 part apple cider vinegar to 3 parts hot water
o For really stubborn stains or buildups, try using a
dab of white toothpaste. It serves as an abrasive cleanser and it smells mighty
fine to boot.
dab of white toothpaste. It serves as an abrasive cleanser and it smells mighty
fine to boot.
6 Make
sure to clean the fridge doors. If your refrigerator door has shelving
space and is regularly used, make sure to hit that area too, either with a
chemical cleaner or a gentler one.
sure to clean the fridge doors. If your refrigerator door has shelving
space and is regularly used, make sure to hit that area too, either with a
chemical cleaner or a gentler one.
7 Dry off shelving before putting it back in its
home in the refrigerator. With a clean cloth, wipe off any excess water
from your removable shelving and place it back in the refrigerator.
home in the refrigerator. With a clean cloth, wipe off any excess water
from your removable shelving and place it back in the refrigerator.
8 Reintroduce the food into the refrigerator.
Wipe off any jars, bottles, or tupperware and place them back into the
refrigerator. Double-check the expiration dates on any perishable items before
placing them back.
Wipe off any jars, bottles, or tupperware and place them back into the
refrigerator. Double-check the expiration dates on any perishable items before
placing them back.
9. Do a seasonal (quarterly) pass through your refrigerator to keep it
smelling fresh and looking good. Every three months, remove most or all of your food from the fridge and
wipe all the surfaces with a baking soda or vinegar solution. Regular
maintenance will save you time and energy in the future.
smelling fresh and looking good. Every three months, remove most or all of your food from the fridge and
wipe all the surfaces with a baking soda or vinegar solution. Regular
maintenance will save you time and energy in the future.
o This almost goes without saying, but if you notice
a spill or stain in the fridge, try to clean it up quickly and remove the
source of the stain. Spills or stains that aren’t cleaned quickly can set and
become harder to remove in the future.
a spill or stain in the fridge, try to clean it up quickly and remove the
source of the stain. Spills or stains that aren’t cleaned quickly can set and
become harder to remove in the future.
10 Use a homemade air freshener to absorb
unpleasant smells and keep your fridge odor-free. Before food goes bad, and
starts coating the inside of your fridge with regular blasts of malodor, it’s
time to act. Here’s what you can equip your fridge with to combat these smells:
unpleasant smells and keep your fridge odor-free. Before food goes bad, and
starts coating the inside of your fridge with regular blasts of malodor, it’s
time to act. Here’s what you can equip your fridge with to combat these smells:
o A clean sock filled with activated charcoal — from
an aquarium store, not from your bbq briquettes. The charcoal absorbs bad odors
for up to three months.
an aquarium store, not from your bbq briquettes. The charcoal absorbs bad odors
for up to three months.
o An opened box of baking soda. Baking soda is
another expert odor absorber. Most baking soda packages say you should change
your baking soda out every 30 days, but you can probably get away with 60 to 90
days of use before exchanging.
another expert odor absorber. Most baking soda packages say you should change
your baking soda out every 30 days, but you can probably get away with 60 to 90
days of use before exchanging.
o Freshly ground coffee, placed in a small dish at
the back of the fridge, also works very well at absorbing odors.
the back of the fridge, also works very well at absorbing odors.
o Unscented chlorophyll cat litter is yet another
odor buster. 1/2″ kitty litter in a shallow pan at the back of the
refrigerator should eliminate most offending smells.
odor buster. 1/2″ kitty litter in a shallow pan at the back of the
refrigerator should eliminate most offending smells.