HOW TO CLEAN A REFRIGERATOR

A refrigerator is the hub of our kitchen. We depend on it to safely store all of our perishable foods until we're ready to use them. Unfortunately the refrigerator takes a lot of abuse. We stuff it full. We forget about leftovers. We leave spills until they've crystalized. Then we complain when there's even the slightest unpleasant odour.

Find out all the steps you need  to know to clean your refrigerator.

1. Remove the Food

Toss any old or expired food into the trash. Remove the food that is still good to a cooler with ice to keep it safe and cold while you clean the remainder of the refrigerator.

2. Remove Shelves and Drawers

Take out all removable drawers and shelves and set them aside. Drawers and shelves that are made of metal or plastic can actually be washed with hot water and dish soap right away, but glass and ceramic pieces need to gradually warm up to room temperature before being washed with hot water to prevent cracking and breaking

3.Wipe Down Refrigerator Interior

Use a clean cloth with hot water and a mild detergent like dish soap. Work from top to bottom to prevent dripping on surfaces that are already clean. Tough stuck on spills may need a plastic, non-abrasive scrubber. Another option, is to lay a warm wet cloth over the spilled area for a few minutes. The spilled area will be softer and easier to wipe away. Rinse cloths thoroughly and/or use multiple cloths to insure cleanliness. Pay special attention to the bottom crevices and back of the refrigerator where spills tend to migrate. Finally wipe down the interior doors.

4.Clean Shelves and Drawers

Now that your shelves and drawers have had time to warm up gradually, take a few moments and clean and dry them thoroughly. Be careful, especially when handling slippery glass shelving. Dishwashing gloves may be helpful to prevent breakage.

5. Dry Interior

Using a clean dry cloth or towel. Wipe down the interior of the refrigerator to make sure it is completely dry. Don't forget to dry the interior doors as well

6. Replace the Food

Put the food back into the refrigerator. Now is also a good time to wipe off any jars or containers of food that may need it, like a sticky jelly jar or a crusty salad dressing lid. Take care to use clean cloths when working with your food jars and dry them throughly as well


7. Clean Out the Freezer

Use the same methods listed above to clean out a freezer. The great thing about freezers is that they rarely have spills and need to be scrubbed out much less often. You may need to only check for and remove expired food. If the freezer does require more thorough cleaning, you can use the same methods used in the refrigerator

8. Clean the Outside

Starting from the top, wipe down and clean the exterior of the refrigerator using hot/warm water and a mild dish soap. If you have a stainless steel refrigerator, you'll need to use a soft non-scratching rag, and vinegar or a window cleaner to keep the surface shiny. Don't forget to clean the rubber gasket seal around the edges of the door using dish soap and warm water. Dirt and grime can collect here and cause the seal to crack.


Tips:
1.Wiping up spills as they occur, and throwing out old food every week, will go a long way to keeping your refrigerator clean.



2.Adding a box of baking soda can work wonder for eliminating odors in the refrigerator and freezer. This is great if you don't want your butter to taste bad.