As you are aware, the refrigerator is a key appliance within your kitchen. It not only preserves the freshness and taste of your food, but it also aids in saving costs by minimizing waste. Maintaining the cleanliness of your refrigerator’s interior is crucial for its continued efficient performance.
Here are some tips on how to clean the inside of your fridge.
Key Points
- Before starting to clean the refrigerator, make sure to turn off the power to avoid damaging it.
- Empty the fridge and set everything aside in a cool, dry place. Consider putting some food in a cooler if needed.
- Start by cleaning the removable parts of the fridge, such as shelves and drawers. Most can be cleaned with hot soapy water.
- Once those are clean, move on to wiping down the interior walls of the fridge with hot soapy water—getting into all nooks and crannies! You can use a mild disinfectant for hard-to-reach places or areas prone to spills.
- Wipe down the exterior surfaces of your refrigerator—being careful not to touch any electrical components!
Table of Contents
Turn Off the Refrigerator
Before you start cleaning, make sure to turn off the power to your fridge. This step is important for two reasons. First, it keeps the food inside from getting warm while you’re cleaning. Second, it prevents you from accidentally damaging the fridge by getting water or cleaning solutions on electrical components.
Empty the Refrigerator
It’s much easier to clean the inside of your fridge when it’s empty. So, take everything out and set it aside in a cool, dry place.
To speed up the process, you can put some of the food in a cooler. This way, you won’t have to worry about it going bad while you’re cleaning. However, don’t put any perishable food in the cooler for more than two hours.
Clean the Removable Refrigerator Parts
These parts include shelves, drawers, and racks. Most can be cleaned in your sink with hot, soapy water. If they’re particularly dirty, you may need to soak them for a few minutes first.
Once they’re clean, rinse them thoroughly and dry them before putting them back in the fridge.
Clean the Refrigerator Interior
Start by wiping down the interior walls with a sponge or cloth dipped in hot, soapy water. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies! Once you’ve wiped down the walls, move on to cleaning the floor of the fridge (yes, there’s probably dirt and grime down there!).
You can use a mild disinfectant on hard-to-reach places like under the crisper drawer or in corners where spills are likely to happen.
Clean the Refrigerator Exterior
The outside of your fridge probably doesn’t need to be cleaned as often as the inside, but it’s still a good idea to give it a once-over every now and then. Wipe down the door gaskets (the rubber seals around the edges of the doors) with a damp cloth to remove any food particles or grease that might be clinging to them.
Use a mild all-purpose cleaner or stainless steel cleaner on the rest of the exterior surface, being careful not to get any cleaner on electrical components like light switches or control panels.
FAQs about Cleaning the Inside of Your Fridge
Now that you know how to clean the inside of your fridge, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about this task.
How often should I clean my fridge?
It’s a good idea to give your fridge a deep cleaning every 3-4 months. In between deep cleanings, you should aim to do a quick wipe-down of the interior walls and shelves at least once a month.
What are the best cleaning products to use on my fridge?
For most areas of the fridge, hot, soapy water is all you need. However, you may want to use a mild disinfectant on hard-to-reach places or areas that are prone to spills.
Can I hire a professional to clean my fridge?
Yes, there are professional cleaning service company that will clean your fridge for you. This is a good option if you don’t have the time or energy to do it yourself.
Wrapping it up
Now that you know how to clean the inside of your fridge, it’s a good idea to get started on this task. It may seem like a daunting job, but by following the tips we’ve provided, you can make quick work of it.
Be sure to empty the fridge first so that you have less stuff to move around, and use hot, soapy water and a mild disinfectant to clean all areas of the refrigerator. Don’t forget to wipe down the exterior surface and door gaskets!
If you need help, there are professional cleaning services that can take care of this job for you.