Keys for Cleaning Your Refrigerator

Keeping your refrigerator clean sometimes seems like a full-time job. This important appliance likely gets more use than any other appliance in your kitchen. Every member of your family probably opens and closes the fridge several times each day.

Daily Cleaning
Each time your refrigerator is opened or closed, there is a chance that something will spill, drip, or slosh, making for a mess that will only get worse if you don’t clean it up right away. While you shouldn’t cry over spilled milk, it’s also very important to avoid letting it build up on the shelves of your fridge. Doing so leads to creating a smelly mess that can make your food stink and become very hard to clean up.

As soon as you notice a spill in your refrigerator, you should wipe it up. Some spills may wipe right up with a damp cloth or spoon, and others may need a little bit more effort. You can often get spills cleaned up with minimal effort by spraying them with a kitchen cleaning product and wiping them away. More stubborn stains may require scrubbing with a brush or an abrasive cleaning pad, such as a Scotch Brite sponge.

Deep Cleaning
Even if you do a great job keeping spills wiped clean, it’s inevitable that your refrigerator will periodically need to be thoroughly scrubbed down. When it’s time to give your fridge a top to bottom bath, the first thing you need to do is remove all the foods and beverages from the appliance. Once you have done that, you will need to take the shelves and drawers out as well.

The best way to clean the inside of your refrigerator is by using a spray cleaner designed for the kitchen, or an all natural mixture of vinegar and water. You can make your own vinegar and water cleaner simply by adding 1/4 cup of vinegar to a gallon of warm water and stirring.

If the refrigerator drawers have stubborn stains, the easiest way to get them clean is to fill them with water and add liquid dish washing soap. Allowing them to soak for 15 minutes or so will make it fairly easy for you to wash away any stubborn sticky spots.

Preventive Maintenance 
When your refrigerator is completely cleared out, you will be able  thoroughly clean every nook and cranny, getting rid of every particle that might cause a smelly environment inside the appliance.

Once you clean your fridge, place a fresh and open box of baking soda inside the appliance, to keep smells at bay so your family’s food stays fresh as long as possible.