The fridge is probably the most important appliance in our home whether it’s a single door or a double door fridge since it does the most important job: storing our food. We all know food is quite sensitive and if we don’t maintain proper hygiene in our fridges the food can easily turn toxic.
Preventive Measures:
- Clean up spills immediately they happen to avoid cross contamination and bad odours.
- Always be vigilant on the expiry date of all the food items in the fridge and dispose any item that has gone bad immediately to avoid mould( your worst enemy) which can lead to cross contamination.
- Keep a box of baking soda at the bottom corner of your fridge to absorb bad/ strong odours which in turn maintain a fresh smell throughout your fridge. Be sure to change the baking soda every 2 months, that’s about the time its odour-absorbing capabilities diminish.
- Always put meat in a sealable bag or container, don’t store directly inside the fridge to avoid the spills.
Once you’ve taken all the preventive measures stated above, you still need to clean your fridge from time to time. When it comes to cleaning your fridge and how often you should do it, there is no one answer but rather a series of answers.
- Always Clean Always
A good rule is to constantly wipe down your milk containers, soda bottles and any other spills that occur immediately to avoid bad odours and cross contamination.
- Once a Week
Once a week, make a habit of scanning the items in your fridge for expired foods. Don’t let spoilt food get to a point it’s starting to grow mold. Some foods mold can cause food poisoning and even allergic reactions.
Once you’re done getting rid of old food, wipe down the door of the fridge, the shelves and the vegetable drawer/ box.
- After every 3 months
This is when a thorough deep clean should be done. The best way to go about it is:
- Unplug the Fridge
- Switch off the main power and unplug from the socket.
- Remove all the items in your fridge paying close attention to the expiry dates of the food items or any of the food that has gone bad and throw them away.
- Remove the shelves, trays, vegetable and meat box. Fill a basin with preferably warm water mixed with soap of your choice. Soak the items in the warm water.
- While the items are soaking. Take a cloth and dip it in warm water mixed with soap or preferably vinegar or baking soda for stubborn stains.
- Wipe down the door panels thoroughly, the interior of the fridge, shelves and the door seals.
- Then, take a dry micro-fibre cloth and wipe down the interior to dry it out.
- Take out the items that were soaked, rinse then dry them with a dry clean cloth.
- Remember to place a freshly opened box of baking soda on the bottom shelf to maintain the fresh smell.
- Finally, rinse the vegetables and put back all your good food.
- Vacuum the Coils
Most refrigerators have coils on the outside that function as the cooling system. These coils can accumulate pet hair, dust and food particles.
Vacuuming the coils 2 – 3 times per year keeps the fridge running efficiently.
What should I use to clean my fridge
- A micro fiber cloth or kitchen sponge would do.
- Mix warm water with dish washing soap.
- For stubborn stains, mix a solution of 2 tablespoons baking soda to 1 liter of warm water.
Or
- Mix water and vinegar to a ratio of 1:1
- For stubborn stains, mix a small amount of baking soda with a little water to produce a thick paste. Apply the paste to the stain and leave for an hour before wiping with a damp sponge or cloth. The baking soda should loosen the stain, making it easy to wipe away.
Conclusion:
As we have seen keeping your fridge clean is not a hard job to do but it’s undoubtedly an important job for your safety and that of those you love. Happy cleaning!