Refrigerators are among the most overlooked kitchen appliances when it comes to cleaning. Unlike other kitchen items, such as dishes that pile up in plain sight over the course of the day, your fridge often goes unnoticed.

After finding your favorite cold snack or gathering ingredients for your next meal, you probably close the fridge without peeking around much. While a refrigerator can seem clean at first glance, food spills and sticky goo could lurk in hard-to-spot spaces.

In this handy refrigerator cleaning guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to keep your fridge clean all year round.

Why Should You Clean Your Fridge Regularly?

Cleaning your refrigerator is essential for several sensible reasons. For example, refrigerators can be ideal breeding grounds for mold and bacteria like salmonella, E.coli, listeria and others that can make you sick.

Beyond harboring potentially dangerous bacteria, cleaning your fridge may save you money. If you have a habit of buying fresh produce that gets left to wilt away at the back of your fridge, weekly cleaning can help you prevent overstocking on groceries that will go to waste.

Additionally, gunk buildup beneath and behind your fridge can impact its function. The condenser coils, which regulate temperature and prevent the appliance from freezing over, are located beneath or behind refrigerators. When they collect dirt and dust, they become less efficient. When a fridge freezes over, the sides will ice over, and food products near the sides will freeze unevenly.

Dirty condenser coils often cause homeowners and residents to believe their fridge is broken. Instead of tossing the fridge and investing in a new one, cleaning the coils — and keeping them clean — can restore function.

How Often Should You Clean Your Fridge?

Devoting some time to keeping your fridge clean once a week can make a significant difference. You’ll want to deep clean your fridge once every two to three months to remove old food items and wipe the compartments and shelves. Moreover, you can devote time to cleaning behind and beneath your fridge every six months.

How to Clean Your Refrigerator

Keeping a clean home is more manageable when you break tasks down into manageable bites and plan ahead. For example, when it comes to the fridge, wiping jam and sauce bottles before putting them back in the fridge can prevent any leakage from the lids dripping down and leaving a sticky mess.

Storing food items correctly can also make a difference. Pack fresh produce in the bottom drawers, also known as crisper drawers. These compartments are designed to store fresh fruits and vegetables. The space offers a more humid environment than the rest of the fridge, so produce stays fresher for longer.

Another helpful habit to adopt is wiping up spills as soon as they occur. For example, when thawing meat in your fridge, place the meat in a container to prevent contamination from dripping juices.

Weekly

Once a week, sift through your fridge and check the expiration dates on all food items. Remove food that is old or about to rot. While fruit and vegetables with visible mold growth should be thrown away or used as compost, you might be able to use other old items.

As an example, you can use stale bread to make croutons. You can also use the shells of old eggs as a natural fertilizer for plants and use expired butter as grease for squeaky hinges around the house. It’s also possible to salvage fruits and vegetables that have passed their prime. Old tomatoes make rich pasta sauce, and frozen overripe grapes and berries are perfect for smoothies. Blend wilted herbs into a paste and add a teaspoon to marinades and sauces for extra flavor.

Once you have cleared out your fridge, wipe the shelves and repack everything neatly. You can also place a bowl of baking soda at the back of your fridge to keep it smelling fresh.

Every Two to Three Months

Empty your fridge and remove the shelves, crisper and meat drawers. Wash these items with dish soap, warm water and a cloth, and set them aside. Then, remove any ice buildup at the back of your fridge using a cloth and hot water.

Wipe the fridge’s interior walls, floor and ceiling with warm, soapy water and a cloth. Clean the inside of the fridge door, paying special attention to the corners of the door shelving. After that, use warm water and a clean cloth to remove soap residue. Dry the interior of your fridge with a dry cloth before replacing your bowl of baking soda to keep odors at bay.

Close the fridge and use a damp cloth to wipe the outside of your fridge. Be sure to also clean the top of your fridge with soapy water to remove dust and dirt.

Every Six Months

Unplug your fridge and move it forward to access the back. Grab your vacuum cleaner, fit it with a brush or hose attachment, and vacuum all dust and dirt from beneath and behind the fridge. Make sure to remove all dust and dirt from the condenser coils and the base grille. Then, wipe the parts with a dry cloth to remove any leftover dust. Sweep and mop the floor, then move your fridge back into place and plug it in.

The Benefits of Cleaning Your Fridge

The benefits of regular fridge cleaning include staying healthy and eliminating potentially dangerous bacteria. You’ll also save money by reducing food waste since routinely taking stock of your inventory can help you avoid overstocking your fridge.

Additionally, a clean fridge works more efficiently. Keeping the condenser coils clean and maintaining organization ensures your fridge can regulate temperature properly, meaning there’s less risk of food spoilage caused by freezing over or temperature loss.

Contact Rent Maids for Quality Cleaning Services

Maintaining a clean living environment is essential to your health and well-being. However, if you’re dreading the effort required to deep clean your kitchen, you’re not alone. Cleaning any kitchen can take time, and deep cleaning will take even longer. We can help you save time.

With Rent Maids kitchen cleaning services in the DMV area, you can rest assured your kitchen and all of its appliances remain clean. Our add-on services include interior window, oven and fridge cleaning options. Contact us online to get a quote or schedule a cleaning service!