Cleaning your refrigerator can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. For the ultimate guide to cleaning your refrigerator, keep reading! This guide will help you clean out your refrigerator’s shelves, spills, and messes in no time at all!
Why It’s Important to Clean Out Your Fridge
The best way to keep your fridge clean is by cleaning it regularly. This helps prevent bacteria and mold from growing in your refrigerator, which can lead to food spoilage. By cleaning out your fridge regularly, you can keep you and your family safe by keeping the food you prepare and eat fresh and healthy. These factors result in having a better quality of life, both for yourself and others in your household.
Remove Everything in The Fridge
You might think you’re being frugal, but I can almost guarantee that your fridge is holding some food items that have outlived their shelf lives. Every time you open your refrigerator door and grab an item, you’re at risk of consuming something stale or spoiled. That’s why it’s important to do a thorough cleaning at least once a month—you never know what could be lurking in there.
Start by removing everything from your refrigerator; then check expiration dates on all products and throw away anything questionable (or expired). Don’t forget to also check the expiration and freshness dates on all of the condiments, too!
Now that the fridge is empty, you can easily start cleaning it.
Clean Removable Shelves
Remove your fridge’s removable shelves and thoroughly clean them in hot soapy water. If the shelves are extra dirty and caked up with grime, let them soak in hot, soapy water until the grime is easier to remove. To go an extra step, once the fridge shelves are cleaned with dish soap, use a disinfectant spray to get any remaining germs or bacteria off the surface.
If the shelves cannot be removed, then you may need to give them a good scrub with some cleaning products while still in the fridge. You can still use a sponge and dish soap to clean off the shelves or use paper towels and disinfectant spray.
You might be able to put the shelves in the dishwasher to make it even easier to clean but always double-check your refrigerator manual to make sure they are safe to put in the dishwasher.
Clean Removable Drawers
Removable fridge drawers can also be soaked in the soak in hot, soapy water to remove any grime. Scrub them down with a sponge or other dish scrubber. This will help you clean and sanitize your drawer at once. To clean even further, use an all-purpose cleaner or a disinfectant spray and wipe down all sides of your removable drawer as well as along any inner nooks and crannies (e.g., cracks where food gets trapped).
If the drawers are small enough, you might be able to run them through the dishwasher cycle to ensure they are ultra-clean. Just check the refrigerator manual to see if the drawers are able to be put in the dishwasher, first.
Clean the Interior of the Fridge
Use an all-purpose cleaning spray or a disinfecting spray to thoroughly spray the sides and all surfaces of the refrigerator. Don’t forget the shelves in the fridge door too!
If you have time, consider letting it sit for several minutes before wiping it down with a clean towel. The cleaner can do its job while you get busy scrubbing out other items in your kitchen or bathroom such as faucets, toilets, and shower doors.
Microfiber cloths are also a great tool to use along with the disinfectant or cleaning spray to get it extra clean. Microfiber cloths won’t leave behind any dust particles in your fridge and they can be used over and over again.
Replace Shelves, Drawers, and Food
Once you have wiped down the interior and removed all of the dirt and grime, replace the shelves and drawers. Then you can replace all of your food and enjoy your clean fridge! You should clean out your fridge at least once a month to ensure that you don’t eat spoiled or expired food. It’s also important to clean the refrigerator out at least once a month to kill and prevent any bacteria from growing where your store your food!
Hire A Professional Cleaning Service
If your refrigerator is a mess and your schedule is too busy, don’t sweat it. You can have it professionally cleaned by hiring a cleaning service who can take care of the hard work.
Give Sparkling Clean Pro a call today to set up your cleaning service at (415) 742-4869 or. visit sparklingcleanpro.com! Sparkling Clean Pro services the San Francisco area, including San Mateo, San Rafael, Palo Alto, Redwood City, and Burlingame