How To Clean Refrigerator With Ease (Guide)

We keep all kinds of food and drinks in our refrigerators. Hence we must always keep it clean and sanitize it regularly. This is simply because drippings and remnants left behind cause harmful bacteria to form, as well as moulds. We must be vigilant to keep our food safe and avoid illnesses caused by poor handling of food.

Cleaning the refrigerator is not as easy as we may think, and certain products should not be used to clean the fridge. All the same, cleaning our fridge need not be a daunting process. This article explains how to clean refrigerators and what products we should and should not use.

Products We Can Use to Clean and Sanitize Our Refrigerator

We should be cautious about how we clean and sanitize our refrigerators and the products we use. The big question here is, should we or should we not use ordinary products we use to clean our kitchens? Some products are okay to use inside a fridge, but some are to be avoided. This is because while most of the products we use to clean our kitchen are strong and they help kill germs found in the kitchen, we should never allow these products anywhere near our food. Remember, although we know that we can always rinse the fridge after using these cleaning products, we run the risk of some chemicals being left behind that could cause contamination.

Instead, there are dishwashing soaps made just for this purpose that we can use to wipe the inside shelves of our refrigerators. Use specially-formulated regular dishwashing liquid and warm water to clean the insides of the fridge, and then soak the removable drawers and shelves. For any cleaning products we use, we must always remember to follow the instructions on the label.

Check out “10 natural cleaners to save you money“ for a guide on cleaners you have laying around your kitchen that you didn’t even know about.

Is it Okay to Use Disinfectant to Clean and Sanitize Our Refrigerator?

Disinfectants are just as harmful, and we should never use them to clean the inside of our fridge. They contain strong chemicals that are bound to come into contact with our food, and if this happens, people could get ill. Always use products made specifically for refrigerator-cleaning or natural solutions.

Natural solutions are a great way to go because then we need not worry about chemicals. Natural refrigerator-cleaning solutions include:

1. Baking soda

Baking soda can remove grease, and it has antibacterial properties. Also, leftover food often sticks on the inside of the frige, and we can remove this using baking soda. Also, baking soda will neutralize all unpleasant odors inside our fridge.

2. Lemon juice

Lemon juice contains natural acids that help in getting rid of dirt and bacteria, making this a very powerful refrigerator-cleaning aid. Also, lemon juice has natural properties that ensure that there is no odor, and the surface of your fridge looks flawless.

3. White vinegar

This cleaning product is eco-friendly and it is able to remove grease. It is also suitable for disinfecting and removing food spills on the surfaces.

Other home-made cleaners include olive oil and lemon, and tea tree oil.

A Simple Method to Use For Cleaning Our Refrigerator

1. Empty the refrigerator

First, remove all the food inside your refrigerator so that you can inspect all the items in your fridge. Discard anything that smells bad, looks like it is going bad, or has expired. Ensure that you keep all the food safe while cleaning.

Even when using natural solutions for cleaning, avoid moving things around, trying to clean. So, empty the fridge off all contents. This way, the process is more straightforward, and the food is safe from getting contaminated.

For the foods that must be kept refrigerated, we can move them into another fridge, if we have one. Alternatively, put ice packs in a cooler and keep the food there. Place condiments on the kitchen counter while you quickly clean your fridge. They will be fine for a short period.

2. Clean the inside

Before beginning to clean inside the refrigerator, soak all the removable parts, shelves, and drawers in some dishwashing soap and warm water for a while. Finish cleaning the rest of your refrigerator, then wipe and rinse these soaked removable parts and let them air-dry. Alternatively, wash them in the sink with warm water and dishwashing soap.

Clean the surface areas with dishwashing soap and warm water. Use a microfiber cloth or a good-quality sponge to wipe the surfaces. We use a microfiber cloth or good-quality sponge because they never fall apart and leave particles in the fridge. Commercial wipes are also suitable to use.

3. Clean the outside

Wash the entire outside, or at least all the parts reachable. Refrigerators have rubber seals with folds that could easily be forgotten when we are doing our cleaning, so be sure to reach between these and clean well. Wipe or vacuum the grill. Most air grills tend to be at the back of the fridge, and an easy way to clean them is to vacuum using a brush attachment.

When you have stains that will not come off, use baking soda. Make a paste by adding a little water to the baking soda and apply onto the stain. Let it sit for at least one hour before wiping it off with a damp cloth. Baking soda helps to make the stain lose enough to wipe off.

Be sure to also check out “Best Kitchen Cleaning Routine“ for more helpful info on the best cleaning methods for your kitchen.

How to Sanitize Our Refrigerator With Ease

Now that the shelves, drawers, and racks of your refrigerator are clean, we can then sanitize using a sanitizing spray. You can also put some chlorine bleach in water in the ratio of 1:4 and use this to sanitize. Let the drawers air-dry, and then rinse and dry them.

We can also use natural sanitizing solution. To make one, mix some white vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:1. Dip a cloth in the solution and wipe the refrigerator in and out. Do not forget to wipe the handles thoroughly, both in and out. For the areas, you are unable to reach, use an old toothbrush. After cleaning it thoroughly, let it air-dry.

Thank you for reading with us today on how to clean and sanitize your refrigerator. Be sure to also check out similar content like “12 Ways to Get Your Kids to Help Clean“ or “10 Steps to Clean Window Tracks with Ease“ to keep your home nice and tidy and clean.

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