What Is the Proper Way to Clean and Sanitize Your Refrigerator?
Let’s face it. We’ve all opened our fridges to find that mysterious sticky spot or forgotten container of leftovers that’s now growing its own ecosystem. Regular cleaning isn’t just about keeping things looking nice; it’s about preventing harmful bacteria from making themselves at home with your food. This step-by-step guide will help you give your fridge the deep clean it’s probably been needing for a while.
Start With a Clean Slate
First, go ahead and turn off your fridge or unplug it if you can. Then take everything out. Yup, all of it. Put any perishables into a cooler with some ice packs to keep them safe. While you’re at it, this is your golden chance to check those expiration dates and ditch anything sketchy. That half-empty jar of who-knows-what from 2019? Time to let it go.
Tackle the Removable Parts First
Take out all the shelves, drawers, and other removable pieces from your fridge. Wash them in warm, soapy water using regular dish soap. If you run into stubborn stains, let those parts soak for a few minutes. Just be careful not to use extremely hot water on cold glass shelves, as a quick change in temperature could cause them to crack.
Clean the Interior Surfaces
To clean the inside of your fridge, mix two tablespoons of baking soda with one quart of warm water. This gentle solution gets the job done without using any harsh chemicals that could contaminate your food. With your solution, wipe down every surface, including the ceiling, walls, and door gaskets. And don’t forget the door shelves where sticky spills like to hide!
Sanitize Properly
Once everything’s clean, it’s time to sanitize. Mix one tablespoon of bleach with one gallon of water, then use that to wipe down all the surfaces. Let it sit for a few minutes so it can do its job, then wipe everything with clean water and dry it off with a fresh towel. If you prefer to avoid bleach, white vinegar also works well.
Don’t Forget the Exterior
It’s easy to focus just on the inside, but don’t forget to clean the outside of your fridge. The handles especially deserve a good clean since they get touched all the time and collect germs. If your fridge has a stainless-steel finish, use special stainless cleaners to keep things looking shiny and streak-free.
Preventative Measures
When you bring home fresh produce, try rinsing it with a vinegar and water solution to significantly extend its shelf life before mold appears. Making this simple practice a habit can help preserve the freshness of all the fruits and vegetables that make their way into your refrigerator.
Keep in mind that bacterial and mold contamination can easily spread between items in your fridge. As food deteriorates, it releases moisture that creates the perfect environment for bacteria and mold to thrive… not exactly what you want near your fresh foods! Additionally, certain fruits like apples, bananas, and avocados naturally emit ethylene gas during ripening. This gas acts as a ripening accelerator for nearby foods, potentially causing them to spoil more quickly than you’d expect.
Odors can transfer too. Even if your fruit is still safe to eat, you probably don’t want to eat blueberries that taste like onions. Keep an open box of baking soda inside to absorb odors, or use an odor neutralizer made for refrigerators.
Aim to deep clean your refrigerator every three to four months, with quick spot cleans as needed. Your food will stay fresher, your fridge will run more efficiently, and those science experiments in the back corner will become a thing of the past!
