How To Clean Your Refrigerator The Right Way

“Did you know that a well-maintained refrigerator can actually prevent you from getting sick?”

It is highly important to clean your refrigerator regularly. At least wipe down all the spills from various perishable items in the fridge.

This helps in maintaining the fridge in proper condition and also increase its life.

When the perishables like vegetables, fruits, and other groceries decay or when food spills are not cleaned immediately, it will make room for germs/bacteria to start breeding. This allows harmful bacteria like E.Coli to develop and spread, further affecting other items in the fridge. 

In this article, I will be discussing how to clean a refrigerator the right way. Try these useful tips now and clean your refrigerator inside and out.

Step-by-Step Process of Cleaning Refrigerator

It is common for us to clean the refrigerator in a hurry. Do not! It is a step-by-step procedure, and make sure you follow each step diligently without any rush. Here’s what you should do.

Step 1: Turn off the Refrigerator

The most prominent step to begin with while cleaning the refrigerator is to switch it off. The refrigerator will consume more electricity when you keep the doors open for a long time, and you wouldn’t want that. So, it is safer to have it unplugged. If you cannot unplug or reach the socket, you better turn off the circuit breaker.

Step 2: Empty the Refrigerator

The next important step in the cleaning process to empty the refrigerator by removing the food and other items, including drinks, milk, leftovers, and other perishables kept in it. 

Put the food that is still good and other perishables like opened cartons of milk in a cooler. While you leave other items on the counter, discard the expired food in the trash. 

Step 3: Remove Shelves and Drawers

After you empty the refrigerator, the next thing is to empty the contents. Take out all removable drawers and shelves and put them aside. Wash the removable parts made of metal or plastic with hot water and dish soap. But those made of glass or ceramic, allow them to come down to room temperature and then wash with hot water. This prevents cracking and breaking. After washing set them aside to dry.

Tip: Be careful with the slippery glass shelving. Use dishwashing gloves for easy handling and to prevent breakage.

Step 4: Clean the Refrigerator Interior

The next yet crucial step is to clean the inside of the fridge. You can hot water and mild dish soap to clean. You can also use other multi-purpose cleaners. However, many people prefer using white vinegar or baking soda to clean as it absorbs odours. 

Using baking soda

• Take a spray bottle and fill it with two tablespoons of baking soda and a quarter of hot water. 
• Spray the solution to all interior surfaces of the fridge, including the walls, non-removable shelves, and the inside of the door. 
• Let it sit, and then wipe with a sponge or microfiber cloth. 
• If you notice any trouble spots, use a toothbrush or small scrub brush to scrub them. Dip the brush in the hot water, scrub the stains and then wipe with a dry cloth. 

For the stains that are stubborn to get rid of, layer them with the paste of baking soda and water. Let it sit for at least ten minutes before you wipe them up. 

Using vinegar:

• Take a spray bottle and fill it with one part of white vinegar and three parts of water. 
• Follow the same cleaning method as you did with the baking soda solution. 

Tip: Do not use bleach to deep clean your fridge unless there is a strong odour or stains that are hard to remove. Moreover, your fridge will need several hours to air out after cleaning with bleach.

Step 5: Dry the Interior of the Fridge

After you finish the task of cleaning the interior, wipe it using a clean dry cloth or towel to make sure it is completely dry. Don’t forget to dry the interior doors as well.

Step 6: Clean out the Freezer

The freezer is yet another important part of the fridge for cleaning. But the best part about it is that it rarely has any spills, and you don’t have to scrub them hard. Check for any spoiled or expired food, and remove them. If you feel the freezer requires a more thorough cleaning, you can use the same methods, as mentioned above for the refrigerator.

Step 7: Clean Exterior

Now that you finished cleaning the interiors, it is time to clean the exteriors of the fridge.

• Use a microfiber cloth or any soft cloth dampened with mild soap and warm water to wipe the doors.
• Give special attention to the areas around the handles as they may contain fingerprints on them. 
• For wiping the stainless-steel exteriors, it is preferable to use stainless-steel sprays. You can also use vinegar or a window cleaner and wipe with a soft non-scratching rag. This will help in keeping the surface shiny. 
• Do not forget the rubber gasket seal around the edges of the door. Clean the rubber gasket seal around the edges of the door using dish soap and warm water. There are more chances for the dirt and grime to get accumulated here and might as well cause the seal to crack.
• It is equally important to wipe the top of the refrigerator, as well. If not regularly, at least do it occasionally because dust gets piled up over time.

Step 7: Replace the Food

Once you finish cleaning the exteriors, it means you have come to the end of the cleaning process. All you have to do now is to replace the food in the refrigerator.

But before that, make sure the dry shelves, drawers, and other removable items of the fridge are in place. You can even adjust the shelf placement based on your requirements to make room for the large items. 

If there are any food jars or containers that need cleaning too, kindly do it. Use clean clothes or sponge or a rag dampened with hot water to wipe the food jars and dry them completely.

Step 8: Check the Drip Pan

It is essential to check the drip pans that collect the condensation. Some brands have refrigerator models that come with removable drip pans.

• Remove the grill located on top of the condenser foils of your fridge.
• You can locate the drip pan here, and after locating it, remove it by wearing gloves.
• Clean it with warm soapy water, dry and replace it along with the front grill.
• If you are not sure about the drip pan and its location, you can use the user manual as a reference and follow the instruction mentioned.

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