A clean, fresh-smelling, and organised fridge interior is the dream of every household. Unfortunately, in our daily rush, it often happens that our fridge becomes home to leftovers that are no longer fresh. An unpleasant smell appears, and the shelves are covered with dried stains from spilled food. So, how can you clean the fridge inside to make it look and smell like new?
What will you learn from this article?
- How to clean the fridge using household products.
- The steps involved in this process.
- What "regular fridge cleaning" means.
Thorough Cleaning of the Fridge Step by Step
How should you properly clean the fridge? It's worth checking the manufacturer's recommendations found in your fridge's user manual to see if there are any special guidelines. The basic fridge cleaning process looks like this:
- Start cleaning the fridge by unplugging it.
- Remove all contents of the fridge, all food items. This is the time to segregate and discard expired or spoiled products and rotting vegetables to get rid of unpleasant odours.
- Take out all removable elements, such as shelves and drawers, and leave the door open.
- Soak all drawers, shelves, and containers for a while in warm water with dishwashing liquid, then wipe them down. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a paper towel.
- Clean the inside of the fridge with a damp cloth soaked in the prepared cleaning solution. Make sure to clean all corners; this will help eliminate bad smells. Wipe with warm water and then dry with a cloth.
- Cleaning the fridge also includes the external elements and the all-important rubber seal on the door, as dirt can collect there, emitting unpleasant odours.
- Then leave the fridge open for at least half an hour to dry thoroughly.
- Finally, put the dried components back into the fridge. It's best to clean the fridge regularly, wiping away any dirt with lukewarm water once a week.
- Follow the same process for the freezer. Modern freezers are frost-free, so cleaning them is no longer a major issue.
- It's also worth ensuring that all items placed in the fridge are packed in containers, covered with lids, or wrapped in food wrap. This will keep the fridge clean for much longer.
What Products to Use to Thoroughly Clean the Fridge?
There are many interesting products available on the market that can be used to clean the fridge. Eco-friendly products seem to be a much better solution. Why? Because they do not pose a risk to food products compared to those containing strong chemical compounds. However, all eco-friendly products are significantly more expensive, which not everyone can afford. So, what in this situation? How to clean the fridge?
The optimal solution in this situation is to prepare your own eco-friendly cleaning agent from ingredients that most of us always have at home. The most popular mixture is a blend of water and baking soda or water and vinegar. The recipe is incredibly simple. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of soda or 3 tablespoons of vinegar in a litre of warm water. You can also prepare cleaning solutions based on citric acid or alcohol. Cleaning the fridge with vinegar always works everywhere. They are very safe for our health and for our food products. Besides, they are excellent odour absorbers.
How to Clean Your Fridge Daily?
There are a few basic rules that will allow us to maintain the cleanliness of the fridge for longer. At least once a week, check the expiry dates of the food products in the fridge. Carefully examine fruits and vegetables, as they spoil the fastest. If there are stains, remember to clean the fridge. Ensure the ventilation channels are clear, as proper circulation is essential for maintaining the appropriate microclimate in the fridge. To do this:
- avoid resting products on the fridge walls,
- clean the drip channel; it must always remain clear for the fridge to function properly,
- regularly check if food residues have entered the drain.
Regularly replace the water filter if your fridge has a built-in ice maker with a water dispenser. Take care of the regular cleaning of your fridge, and it will serve you for many years. We also recommend checking out the blog, from which you can learn, for example, what light to choose for the kitchen.
Additional Tips for Cleaning the Fridge
If you have a fridge with No Frost technology, you might wonder how to clean a No Frost fridge. The process is similar to standard cleaning, but it's crucial to regularly remove small dirt so the frost-free system works efficiently – just warm water with a little baking soda will work. Meanwhile, if you have a silver fridge and wonder how to clean it, we recommend using a soft cloth with water and mild detergent, and for stubborn stains – a paste made of baking soda, which won't scratch the surface.
An important, often overlooked element is the back of the fridge. How to clean the back of the fridge? Use a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle to remove dust from the grille and condenser, improving device efficiency – do this every few months. As for the freezer, how to clean the freezer? A vinegar-water solution works well, which not only cleans but also disinfects, eliminating bacteria.
A common problem is mould on the seals. How to remove mould from the fridge seal? Prepare a vinegar (1:1) and water mixture, apply to the seal with a toothbrush, and after a few minutes, wipe dry – this is an effective and natural method. Finally, how to clean the inside of the fridge in daily practice? Regularly wipe shelves with a damp sponge and baking soda to prevent dirt from accumulating. With these simple tricks, your fridge will always be hygienic and ready to use!