Your guide to deep cleaning your fridge: The best cleaners and effective steps

Your refrigerator needs to be cleaned, deeply and regularly, in order for it to function efficiently. However, cleaning requires following a series of steps, and it takes time. Here’s how to clean your refrigerator, inside and out, with the right detergents, as well as those used to remove odors, mold, and prevent clutter.

Step-by-step instructions for cleaning the inside of the refrigerator

Cleaning the refrigerator

The steps to clean the inside of the refrigerator begin by unplugging it from the mains, then do the following:

1. Empty the refrigerator completely, take out all the food and place it on the counter (or table), paying attention to the foods that need ice, and secure the latter, so they don’t spoil. In general, food should not be left out for more than an hour.
2. Check expiration dates and throw away any spoiled foods.
3. Hand wash any removable shelves and drawers in the sink using dishwashing liquid, warm water, and drying. Note that if your shelves or drawers are made of glass, wait until they are at room temperature before washing them, as putting cold glass under hot water can cause it to crack. If you’re not sure how to remove an ingredient, check your refrigerator’s manual.
4. If there are spills or food residue, let the shelf or drawer soak in the sink for a few minutes.
5. Mix one part baking soda powder with seven parts hot water, stirring until the powder dissolves. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, spray the inside of the refrigerator generously, and scrub every surface with a sponge or microfiber cloth, working from top to bottom. This includes walls, non-removable shelves, and the inside of the door. If the stains are stubborn, let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes before wiping it off. Another option is to use distilled white vinegar. Fill a spray bottle, up to one-third full, with water, then pour in distilled white vinegar. You can also use apple cider vinegar for this purpose.
6. It’s a good idea to dip a toothbrush in the baking soda mixture, mentioned above, to scrub any cracks and crevices you can’t reach with a sponge. Pay special attention to the rubber gasket around the refrigerator door, as well as the hinges and other hardware. After wiping down the gaskets, rub a little Vaseline or mineral oil along the rubber to moisturize it. Keeping the gasket clean helps keep the refrigerator door sealed, making it more energy efficient.
7. Once you’ve cleaned the inside of your refrigerator, dried the shelves and removable drawers, put them back in their slots, and then restock all your food and beverages. And don’t forget to plug the refrigerator back in.

How to clean the outside of the refrigerator?

Wipe the outside of the refrigerator, with warm water and dishwashing liquid, using a microfiber cloth or paper towels. If your refrigerator is stainless steel, a special stainless steel cleaner is recommended. To remove stains from stainless steel, use lemon juice for its properties. Moisten a pad with the juice, and scrub. To remove scratches from stainless steel, you can use toothpaste, apply the latter, polishing in the direction of the grain, if you polish against the grain, it will only make it worse.

Unplug the drip tray, then, if the latter is removable, and apply a mixture of one part white vinegar and two parts water, then let the solution sit for a few minutes, before scrubbing off the dirt and rinsing with clean water. Then, allow the drip tray to dry completely, before reinstalling it.

Always unplug your refrigerator before cleaning the drip tray to avoid electrocution. If the drip tray is moldy or smelly, leave the solution for a longer period of time. If the drip tray is not removable, wipe it down with an antibacterial cleaning wipe.

How to deodorize a refrigerator?

In a dish, place baking soda powder in the back of the refrigerator, as baking soda is an odor absorber. If your refrigerator has limited space, buy a refrigerator deodorizer that sticks to the side (or back) of the appliance. Other deodorizers include Activated charcoal.

Another way to get rid of refrigerator odors is to soak cotton balls in vanilla extract and leave them in the fridge for a few hours to create a pleasant smell: Soak cotton balls in vanilla extract and leave them in the fridge for a few hours to provide a pleasant odor.

The vegetable drawers at the bottom of the refrigerator are likely to develop an odor over time, especially if the fruits or vegetables start to rot. So, after cleaning the drawers, crumple newspaper, or a brown paper bag, and store inside each drawer for 48 hours. The paper should absorb the odor.

Tips to keep your refrigerator clean

• Wipe up spills as quickly as possible, using a little dishwashing liquid and water.
• Set a day, every week, to check your refrigerator and get rid of moldy food. This way, the odors will disappear before they become too strong.
• If your fridge is full, it’s hard to know when items expire or if anything has spilled. So, organize your shelves by storing similar items next to each other.