10 smart tips for cleaning the refrigerator: advice from professional cleaners

You will find hundreds of tips on the Internet for maintaining your refrigerator: defrost and clean the freezer periodically, check and clean the filtration system, use special stainless steel cleaners, wipe the refrigerator door seals with a soft cloth, etc. However, says Peter Hansen, director of a home management company, they all only work in one case – if you clean your fridge regularly.

“People usually remember that this should be done when an unpleasant odor appears, but it is better not to let it appear. Once every two weeks or months, remove everything from the shelves, check the expiration date of products in the refrigerator and remove expired ones, wipe the surfaces – this will not allow bacteria and mold to grow and you won’t find yourself in a situation where every stain has to be removed for a long time with a metal scraper,” says Hansen.

Clean food scraps and spills from your fridge regularly, they say! But here’s the thing: there are not many housewives in this world who manage to find time in their schedule to take out all the pots and containers and clean the shelf immediately after noticing that the pack of chicken fled.

However, it is very important to immediately eliminate the consequences of such accidents. Antibacterial refrigerator mats will make this task easier and minimize the time needed to complete it: removing one only takes a few seconds. Get a bonus: no more pans will scratch the glass.

“Remove all removable parts and wash them separately” is the first advice you hear when it comes to deep cleaning your refrigerator. However, according to Peter, there is no need to scrub the shelves and drawers with your hands: it is much easier to put them in the dishwasher and start the disinfection cycle. (Never do this with cold glass: let it warm to room temperature first.)

Use a toothbrush to clean tight crevices and hard-to-reach areas: it’s the perfect tool for removing stuck crumbs, according to professional cleaner Katie Cohun. This will also help tidy up the often forgotten rubber seals: spray them with a mixture of 9% white vinegar and water from a spray bottle, then run a brush over the seals.

Another way to remove all dirt particles is to use a vacuum cleaner: take the narrowest nozzle or make a disposable one from a roll of toilet paper: stick it on the pipe and flatten it ‘end. Remember that the bag must be thrown away immediately, otherwise the remaining food will begin to rot and the vacuum cleaner will be saturated with an unpleasant odor.

Use a microfiber cloth for more effective cleaning: studies show that its fibers are best at picking up and retaining bacteria and dirt. But Katie advises drying the shelves and drawers of the refrigerator with disposable paper towels: on the one hand, it is quick, and on the other hand, it is safe, because unlike fabric, dirt particles that can scratch the plastic certainly won’t get stuck in it.

By the way, about the sprays! Use a mixture of water and vinegar to eliminate odors: spray it on the inside of the refrigerator, wait five minutes, then wipe away the remaining product with a damp cloth. To prevent unpleasant aromas from appearing again, place an opened pack of soda on the shelf – you can add five to ten drops of your favorite essential oil there. Another excellent odor absorber is activated carbon: put 10 tablets in a canvas bag and place it on the shelf.

It’s rare for anyone to keep refrigerator instructions for years, let alone read them before cleaning it. However, this is not particularly necessary: ​​as Jennifer Parnell, co-founder of a company that produces environmentally friendly cleaning products, explains, any refrigerator can be washed with warm water to which a little dishwashing detergent has been added.

“If there are no unpleasant odors or stubborn stains, then you don’t need big guns like vinegar or baking soda. Wipe the inside of the refrigerator with dish detergent diluted with water – start cleaning from the top shelves and work your way to the bottom. Then apply the same mixture to the exterior sides. Are there any divorces left? If this happens, wipe the exterior of the refrigerator with window cleaner or use vinegar spray, apply it, then buff the refrigerator with paper towels,” advises Jennifer.

Don’t forget to dust the back wall and air vents of the refrigerator. If you can’t move it away from the wall, use a ruler wrapped in a cloth. (Be sure to unplug the refrigerator before doing this.) Can the appliance be moved? In this case, use a vacuum cleaner first. A similar rule applies to the floor under the refrigerator.

According to Parnell, the number one mistake people make when cleaning stains on a refrigerator is using bleach. “I can’t say that this is a clear taboo, but few people wash the remains of the product thoroughly enough – and this is very important, because its vapors can penetrate into food. Instead of bleach, I recommend using a hydrogen peroxide solution to remove stains and bacteria: apply it to a sponge and scrub the dirt,” advises the expert.

It is very important to dry wet surfaces thoroughly after cleaning to avoid the formation of mold and unpleasant odors, because moisture is the best friend of fungi and bacteria. Katie prefers to use paper towels to dry the fridge, Peter thinks the seal can be blown out with hot air from a hair dryer and Jennifer is sure the best way is to take the time to put the food back and let the device dry. all alone.

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