Cleaning your refrigerator may seem like a difficult task but it isn’t. Cleaning a refrigerator from the inside out is important. By following a few simple steps, you can clean your refrigerator like a pro. Try these simple tips and tricks and make your refrigerator look sparkling clean.
1. Create a Working Space in Kitchen
Cleaning out your refrigerator doesn’t have to be as daunting as you might think if you approach it with an open mind. Play some upbeat music before you get started—you’ll add some positive, funky energy to your project!
Before you start unloading, create a workspace on your kitchen island or clear some counter space so you’ll have a place to sort food, etc. Don’t forget your sink! Make sure your sink is empty so you can place bins and racks in it for proper cleansing. Last but not least, have your garbage bin close by—you’ll need it when it comes time to ditch spoiled food.
2. Ready, Set, Empty!
Now comes the fun part—emptying the entire contents of your fridge and freezer. (Be sure not to neglect the freezer.) Take advantage of your empty counter space and group things together such as salad dressings and condiments, cheese and cold cuts, butter and dairy products, etc. If you have a slimy bottle of ketchup, rinse it in warm, soapy water before you place it on your workspace.
Check for expired items, moldy and furry produce, near-empty containers that no one will likely touch again, and anything else you know your family is not going to eat. Chuck them in that empty trash bin and get ready for step three.
3. Remove Trays and Bins
Take a look at all your empty space—now you can start to get excited! Remove any produce crispers and removable shelves/trays and place them in the warm, soapy sink. Scrub away! If you have a fridge that dispenses water and ice, when was the last time you changed your water filter? Any light bulbs burned out that need replacing? Hey, you might as well go the whole nine yards while you’re in there.
4. Attack All Surfaces
This tip doesn’t really need much explanation. With the bins and shelves out, you can get to work cleaning all the nooks, crannies, and surfaces of your fridge and freezer. This includes the outside of your unit as well. Fingerprints, hardened sauces, and smatterings of other things collect on the outside doors just as easily as the inside of your appliance. If you’re starting to lose your momentum, visualize how spectacular your food is going to look once you complete this task—it’s going to be well worth it!
5. Vacuum Condenser Coils
You’re almost done—but not until you get out your vacuum. Dust builds up underneath and behind your fridge on a part known as the condenser coils. When that happens, the unit can’t work efficiently and release the built up heat.
For some, this is removing the grille at the bottom of the fridge and accessing the coils there. With newer appliances, however, these coils are usually located in the back, so the fridge would have to be rolled out to be cleaned properly.
6. Reorganize Your Clean Space
Once your refrigerator is clean and sparkling, place the crispers and shelves back and assess your space. Think about what works for your family—can they easily access popular items like milk and condiments? Can the crispers be arranged differently so your fresh veggies don’t grow fur? This is the perfect opportunity to arrange the food and jars in a way that functions best for your family.
7. Stock Up With Fresh Food
Once the job of cleaning your fridge and freezer is over, now comes the fun part—restocking with fresh food. You may have had to ditch 50% of the items once stored in there, so make a list of what needs replacing and promise yourself you won’t purchase groceries that would just take up space and not be eaten.
This is really a wonderful opportunity to think about the recipes you’d like to serve going forward. Now you have a fresh start, so you can get creative all while keeping everything tidy and organized.
