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How to Clean Your Refrigerator

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Cleaning your fridge might be the last thing on your mind--until you open your refrigerator door and see unrecognizable food inside of containers, mystery spills on shelves and sticky smudges on the outside.

Spring cleaning is the best time to give your fridge the deep scrubbing it may need, and once you finish, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

What You'll Need:

  • Sponge

  • Dish Soap

  • Dish Towels

  • Glass Cleaner

  • Counter Space

  • Trash Can

Instructions

  1. Unplug your fridge. Save some energy while you're cleaning, you won't be unplugged long enough to damage any of the foods.

    • If your interior doesn't need to be seriously cleaned, then you can skip this step and just be sure to close the door every time you grab a shelf/drawer to clean

  2. Empty the contents of your fridge.

    • You could empty the entire refrigerator at once or you can do it in stages

    • Throw away anything that's passed its expiration date and condense any doubles you may have.

TIP: This is also a good time to start organizing items--all your dressings in one section, condiments in another

  1. Repeat step 2 with the contents of your freezer.

    • Anything that is unrecognizable, severely freezer burned or has passed its expiration date should be thrown away

  2. Remove all shelves and drawers. Wash them in warm soapy water.

    • If they don't fit in your sink, bring them to your bathtub and wash them there

    • Dry them with the dishtowels and set them aside

    • At this point you can spray any glass shelves with glass cleaner for an extra squeaky clean

  3. While the fridge and freezer are empty, wipe down the sides and other interior spaces with a damp towel or sponge.

TIP: If you're looking to get under any shelf seams or rubber seals, use an old toothbrush

  1. Put the shelves and drawers back in once they've dried.

  2. Begin replacing your food.

    • Wipe down any sticky or messy jars before putting them into your newly cleaned refrigerator

    • Put similar items together in the drawers and baskets

    • Put in a new box of baking soda to help minimize any odors from food

  3. Plug your refrigerator back in.

  4. Don't forget to clean the outside!

    • Take off any magnets, papers, etc. that may be on your fridge and wipe it down using the product of your choice (stainless steel cleaner, multipurpose cleaner, etc.)

    • Throw away any expired coupons and replace the magnets on your fridge door

  5. Stand back, and admire your newly-cleaned fridge!

Tips for an Ongoing Clean

  • Clean spills as they happen to prevent them from becoming bigger messes later

  • Throw out expired food as soon as you find it

  • Take note of what foods you have in your fridge to avoid buying doubles

  • Change the baking soda box every one or two months to prevent odors from building up.
Getting into a regular habit of cleaning out your fridge will save you time and money in the long run. Not only will you get rid of old, expired and dangerous foods, but the more often you clean it, you'll have less to do when giving it a deeper clean every few months.

Ana M. Ferrer  Posted by Ana M. Ferrer on April 10, 2014

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