Cleaning Out The Fridge
July 25, 2008
If, you have been living with untidy roommates, cleaning the fridge may seem like a daunting task, especially if one is afraid of what is lurking in the back of it. However, tackled in an orderly way, it could be easy as pie. Here’s an easy five step guide with tips on how to give your fridge a thorough clean out without fainting at the thought of what you are faced with.
Step One
Cleaning the freezer: For cleaning out the freezer, you will need to unplug the fridge. Clean the freezer bottom, removing side shelves for cleaning if possible. You will also need to remove the ice trays, dump out the ice, and defrost the freezer, placing a pan of hot water in it to help defrost faster, or use a hair dryer on low temperature settings. A word of caution, sharp instruments should not be used to scrape or remove ice from a frozen freezer, as doing so will seriously damage the freezer unit. Allow the ice to melt, while keeping a flat pan under the freezer to catch the drips.
Step Two
Plug back the fridge and raise the cool bar before beginning to unload the fridge, as you will have the door open sometime or the other during the cleaning process. This is to prevent the fridge from getting too warm. Remove all the food and conduct a freshness audit. Throw anything that seems remotely foul smelling, check food labels for expiration dates, especially for products that are used infrequently and may have spoiled.
Step Three
Remove all the shelving, crisper drawers, including anything that lifts or pops out, and be especially careful with any glass, of course. Use a clean soapy rag to wipe out the inside of the fridge and rinse frequently. Don’t use any chemicals cleaners, since food is stored in this compact space and can damage it. Remember, if you can’t use the cleaner to clean dishes, then it can’t be used to clean the fridge! Get to the top, bottom, sides, the crevices e.g. butter bins, egg holders, etc. and clean them thoroughly.
Step Four
Mix a gallon of water with two cups of vinegar and use this mixture to wipe of the inside of the fridge to ensure no soap residue is left behind. This vinegar-water solution will also help to make your fridge smell clean without your having to use harsh cleaning agents that can make food unsafe for consumption.
Step Five
Rinse and wipe everything i.e. shelves, drawers, etc. first with soap, then with the vinegar-water solution before re-inserting them in the refrigerator. Replace all the food promptly and return dial to a normal cooling setting. To keep your fridge smelling fresh and clean, add a newly opened box of baking soda to absorb future odours
Step Six
When done with the inside, it is now time to clean the exterior of the fridge, top, front, sides, and even door bottoms. Wipe the grooves where the door meets the fridge frame with soapy water followed by vinegar water. Dust the coils on the back of the fridge, and if you can move the whole unit and clean the floor underneath.
Now, that you have a clean refrigerator, it won’t be such a chore cleaning the fridge out, as long as you give it a quick once over every week, including defrosting it whenever you see the ice accumulating.
Do you have a question? Ask here or add your Comments below.
Have You Read These Related Stories?
Recent Articles
Out With the Old In With the New
Is your mascara goopy or your toothbrush seem a little flat? Your makeup and other every day items don’t always come with an expiration date
For Young Parents To Maintain Healthy Child
We are living in the age where everything moves at frenetic pace, particularly, to the young working parents who can hardly afford to spend time with their kids. Taking out time is the biggest challenge lying ahead of them.
How to make each day seem longer
Certainly there are 24 hours in every day. For most of us, these are all pretty much accounted for, so making time to think
Its Essential To Keep Warm During Winter
When winter arrives the most common thing we think of is cloths. Yes, it’s the season full of mists and mellows. So we all must know
Famous golf courses
Golf is the passion of many people, if not of all. Golf fans are even ready to sacrifice their morning sleep for playing golf.
Comments
Got something to say? Join the conversation and leave a comment below.
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!