The refrigerator is one of your home’s most important and frequently used appliances. Because you count on it to prevent food from spoiling, it’s important to give it a good cleaning once in a while.
Knowing how to keep your refrigerator clean not only prevents funky odors and stains — it also helps protect your family from illness and helps ensure the fridge will last as long as possible. Read on for more information about how to keep your fridge smelling fresh and performing at its best.
How Often Should You Clean the Fridge?
As with anything, there’s a difference between a deep clean and the day-to-day maintenance that comes with regular use. To prevent cross-contamination and reduce the risk of food poisoning, it’s important to follow a regular schedule for cleaning your fridge.- Every day: Wipe up any spills that occur as soon as they happen, before they have a chance to drip down onto other items or spoil. Just about everyone in your home touches the refrigerator door handles all day long, so give them a quick swipe with disposable wipes or paper towels and cleanser.
- Every week: Get rid of any old or expired foods. This routine ensures that you and your family will be protected against illnesses caused by bacteria and mold. Once you’ve done this, wash your shelves and any fridge organization containers such as bins and drawers.
- A few times a year: Every three or four months, perform a deep cleaning of the entire unit. Take everything out and wash all the shelves, walls, bins, and drawers. This is also the time to take care of the grille and condenser coils on the back or underneath the appliance. They collect dust and hair, which can impact the refrigerator’s efficiency and shorten its lifespan. Unplug the fridge, then use a coil-cleaning brush to remove buildup from the coils and vacuum the resulting mess off the floor.
What Will You Need?
The cleaning supplies that keep your fridge spotless are the same ones you use elsewhere in your kitchen. You should have a good supply of cloths or paper towels to wash and dry the inside of the unit. When it comes to cleansers, ordinary dish soap and water should be fine, although you may need to use a solution of bleach and water to handle any stubborn stains. To combat unpleasant odors that may accumulate from storing foods together, placing and leaving an open box of baking soda in the fridge usually does the job. Consider having a cooler handy to stash any food you pull out while cleaning so you won’t have to worry about spoilage.
Save Yourself Some Hassle
Keeping your refrigerator clean can help prevent it from breaking down, and can save you money on repairs. When it does need to be fixed, however, an appliance plan from Pivotal Home Solutions can prevent you from having to take the cost out of your savings. Enter your ZIP code into the box above to find out what coverage options we offer in your area, then contact us to get started.