Smart Ways to Clean a Fridge Inside and Out

You rely on your refrigerator to store all kinds of foodstuff, but do you take good care of this most frequently used home appliance? If your answer is no, then you are putting your family at a big risk of suffering from diseases due to food contamination through a dirty fridge. Fridge or refrigerator cleaning should be a regular thing, no matter whether you clean it yourself or book refrigerator cleaning services for it. 

So, how to clean the fridge? There are multiple hacks to help you clean your refrigerator inside and outside. 

Let us acquaint you with the smart ways of refrigerator cleaning through this post. 

Why Clean Refrigerators?

Before we dive into understanding the best ways to clean the fridge, we want you to know the reasons to do so. So, here are the main benefits or say reasons why you must regularly clean your fridge:

• Minimizes the risk of germ breeding
• Cleans the stains of curries and sauces before they become tough to clean
• Helps discard rotten fruits and vegetables before stocking fresh ones
• Removes foul odors or stinking food
• Helps figure out the groceries that are running short

How to Clean a Fridge at Home?

Unlike other home appliances, a refrigerator is an appliance that can be cleaned only at home by self or with the help of deep cleaning professionals. The following are the tips to clean the fridge at home without much difficulty:

1. Switch Off the Refrigerator
2. Empty Your Refrigerator
3. Cleaning the Stubborn Stains Inside or Outside the Fridge
4. Cleaning the Bad Smell of the Refrigerator

1. Switch Off the Refrigerator

The first important step to ensure when you indulge in fridge cleaning must be switching off the refrigerator. Never clean your fridge when it is on, as it may lead to electric shock. Turning off the main plug and unplugging the switch is the safest approach to fridge cleaning.

2. Empty Your Refrigerator

The second step that makes sense when it comes to cleaning the refrigerator is to empty the appliance. Remove all the food items stocked inside the fridge and store them somewhere safe until you finish cleaning the fridge from the inside and outside. Try perishable food items in a cool box so that they don’t decay.

3. Cleaning the Stubborn Stains Inside or Outside the Fridge

The biggest challenge faced in refrigerator cleaning is removing the stubborn stains inside and outside the appliance. For this, you can use the powerful solution of 2 tbsp of baking soda mixed with an equal quantity of vinegar. Use a sponge to apply this solution and wipe gently.

4. Cleaning the Bad Smell of the Refrigerator

How to remove the smell from the fridge? It is the most common problem faced by many people. For this, try the home remedy of keeping a bowl filled with baking soda inside the fridge for a few hours. You may also try inserting some fresh coffee grounds for a few hours to see how they turn the bad smell into a pleasant one automatically. 

How to Clean a Fridge Outside?

Let us begin by first sharing some useful tips to clean the outside of the fridge to make it look like new. Listed below are some easy ways to clean the outside of the refrigerator:

1. Cleaning the Fridge Door Handles
2. Cleaning the Exterior Body
3. Cleaning the Backside Coils

1. Cleaning the Fridge Door Handles

The part of the fridge that is most vulnerable to germs and stains is the door handle. All kinds of hands touch these handles, and they get easily dirty and stained. Clean it with a soft cloth dipped in a solution of vinegar and dishwashing liquid mixed in some warm water. 

2. Cleaning the Exterior Body

Once the handles are cleaned, you must focus on cleaning the exterior body of the refrigerator. For this, prepare a mixture of dishwashing liquid and vinegar in warm water. Spray this solution outside the fridge and scrub it gently using a microfiber cloth to avoid any chances of scratches on the exterior body of the refrigerator. 

3. Cleaning the Backside Coils

The toughest part to clean when it comes to refrigerator exteriors are its backside coils. Make sure to clean it after switching it off the fridge. Use a brush to clean the dust and dirt accumulated in between these coils. Do not spray any cleaning solution, or else it may lead to malfunctioning when you switch it on. 

How to Clean the Inside of the Refrigerator?

After learning how to clean the outside of the fridge, you must be eager to know how to clean the inside of the fridge. So, here are some smart ways you can try to clean your appliance from the inside:

1. Cleaning the Fruit and Vegetable Basket
2. Cleaning the Non-Removable Shelves and Trays
3. Cleaning the Removable Shelves and Trays

1. Cleaning the Fruit and Vegetable Basket

The dirtiest part inside the refrigerator is often the fruit and vegetable basket. We tend to keep stocking it again and again without removing the decaying stuff. So, put some warm water in a container and mix it with dish soap. Then, take a dish sponge and use it to clean the fruit and vegetable basket, just as you would do when washing dishes. Finally, rinse the basket thoroughly.

2. Cleaning the Non-Removable Shelves and Trays

The most difficult part involved in cleaning a refrigerator is cleaning the non-removable shelves and trays. You can not wash them to clean them, so what to do? Try cleaning them using a readymade kitchen cleaning solution or baking soda mixed in vinegar. This solution will effortlessly cut the grease marks. 

3. Cleaning the Removable Shelves and Trays

Try removing the removable shelves and trays carefully for a proper clean-up. Wash them using a good dishwashing liquid and insert them back when they are completely dry and clean. 

How to Maintain the Fridge After Cleaning?

Once cleaned, try the following hacks to maintain a clean and hygienic fridge:

1. Place a brown paper in the vegetable basket to absorb all the excess moisture and odor
2. Do not over-stack your fridge with grocery
3. Circulate the older stock on top and the fresh one separately so that they don’t decay
4. Stock leftover foods especially curries in closed containers so that they don’t spill
5. Keep all your prepared food items covered to prevent the occurrence of bad aromas inside the fridge

Conclusion

If you are short of time and don’t want to waste your efforts on refrigerator cleaning, then what would you do? Will you leave your fridge dirty? No, with the presence of a leading digital hygiene company like HiCare, you can get your refrigerator cleaned with a professional approach. Book home cleaning services from HiCare.