Refrigerators are indispensable appliances in modern households, playing a pivotal role in preserving and prolonging the shelf life of perishable food items. These innovative machines operate on the principle of maintaining a controlled, low-temperature environment to slow down the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. By keeping food fresh and safe to consume for longer periods, refrigerators not only reduce food waste but also enhance convenience in meal planning.
Despite the storage of food, overflowing refrigerators are a common problem. With the storage of food come all the stains, grime, and residues. Besides, all these lead to the pop of odour that stands unbearable. Thus, cleaning the fridge thoroughly comes to the rescue. Although it is not your favourite chore, it is necessary to keep your food fresh and your kitchen smelling pleasant. But what is the best way to clean the refrigerator?
Here are several tips and tricks with which you can easily clean your fridge. Take a look at them:
- Empty The Fridge
Before starting the cleaning process, remove all the food from the fridge. Rather than doing it in parts, removing all the items from the fridge is an easier process. Take the detachable fridge shelves and soak them in warm, soapy water to loosen any grime. In the meantime, start cleaning the inside of the fridge with a duster cloth.
- Baking Soda Or Vinegar For Stains
For the stubborn stains here and there in the refrigerator, make a mixture of baking soda or vinegar with water on a wiping cloth. This mixture works wonders. Gently rub it over the stains and all across the interiors of the fridge to get rid of them.
- Wipe Down Bottles And Jars
Take out the sticky bottles and jars and give them a proper wipe-down. Stains that accumulate over time become harder to clean, but a mixture of equal parts baking soda and cooking oil can give them a nice clean. Applying it to the stains and scrubbing gently can make the stains disappear.
- Use Shelf Liners
To protect the shelves from occasional spills and messes, make use of placemats or liners. They're easy to remove, clean, or replace as needed. Once the cleaning is done, attach the shelves back and line them with the mats. For fresh spills, a lemon or baking soda with water can work wonders.
- Fight Fridge Odour
Often, food spills lead to a bad odour as soon as we open the fridge. However, we have an amazing hack to get rid of it. Keep half-cut lemons in any corner of the fridge to keep the smell away. Another option is to use essential oil. For a long-lasting, fresh fragrance, dip a cotton ball in a fragrant essential oil of your choice and place it on every shelf. Vanilla essential oil is a fantastic option. Make sure the oils are pure or of food-grade quality.
- DIY Cleaning Spray
This cleaning spray will give you the ultimate cleaning of your fridge. Mix one cup lukewarm water, ½ cup white vinegar, and 2 tsp vanilla extract in a large spray bottle. Spray and wipe away all the stains and grime resting in your fridge. This spray also makes your fridge smell good, thanks to the vanilla extract.
- Regular Cleaning Routine
This is a general cleaning process for the fridge that you must follow. Don’t wait too long between cleanings. Practice a regular schedule to clean your fridge once every 15 days at the very least. You can use cleaning spray between routine cleanings. This will keep the fridge in tip-top shape.