How To Clean The Refrigerator

A neglected ref becomes a cluttered ref which delays and hampers kitchen work.  And a cluttered ref soon becomes a dirty ref which could become a breeding ground for microbes.  The importance of cleaning a ref thus cannot be overemphasized.  Here are the steps in cleaning that hardworking appliance we call the ref.

Remove all the contents.

It is easy to clean the ref when it is empty of all contents.  Have a trash basket nearby where you can dump all rotten produce, spoiled food, plastic wrappers and empty cartons.  It also helps to have a cooler with ice where you can temporarily chill frozen foods.

Remove shelves and drawers.

You have to remove all shelves and drawers so they can also be washed and also to make cleaning of the interiors much easier.  Just set them aside on a table, a countertop or directly on the sink.  Let glass surfaces cool down first before washing them later in hot water.

Clean the interiors.

Before setting out to clean the interiors, you need to prepare some cleaning tools.  You need to have a bucket containing a solution of warm water and dish detergent, several pieces of clean wiping cloth,a non- abrasive scrubber and a clean, dry dish towel. 

• Remember to work from the top going down.  A good cleaning sequence would be to start with the freezer (if your ref is the newer, no-defrost type), the insides and finally, the interior door.
• For older types of ref which need defrosting, clean the freezer last to give time to defrost.
• Wipe in downward strokes, washing your wiping cloth in the bucket as you go. 
• Change to new wiping cloths whenever a cloth gets too dirty.
• For tough stains, use the non-abrasive scrubber. 
• Pay special attention to crevices where stains could collect.
• When you’re through cleaning the interiors, wipe everything down with a clean and dry towel.
 

Clean the shelves and drawers.

Turn your attention to the shelves and drawers that you have previously removed to the countertop or sink.  Wash each thoroughly like you would ordinary plates and set aside to drip-dry.

Return the shelves and drawers as well as the food.

With the interiors sparkling clean, it is a delight to return the shelves and drawers and arrange the food items back in.  This is also the best time to wipe down the outside surfaces of jars, bottles and plastic food keepers.  For easier viewing, organize the items in such a way that the taller ones are behind the shorter ones.  You may also want to put in an opened box of baking soda to serve as ref deodorizer.

Wipe down the exteriors.

Do this one last finishing touch of wiping down the outside surfaces of the ref.  Starting from the top, wipe down all exterior surfaces with a clean cloth soaked in a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.  Finally, wipe with a clean dish towel.