Refrigerator cleaning

A few tips on how to clean a refrigerator

This task should not be neglected when cleaning a kitchen. Use the all-purpose cleaner to clean the doors and any other visible areas. It is important to clean the rubber seal between the door and the refrigerator, as this is where dirt accumulates. When your task requires a more thorough cleaning of the inside of the fridge, the first thing to do is to remove all the food inside. You will use an ammonia-based cleaning solution that should not come into contact with the food. Discard any food that has disappeared. However, if you are not sure, leave this task to your customer.

Once the food has been removed, fill the kitchen sink with clean hot water and a little all-purpose cleaner. Remove the shelves, clean them thoroughly and leave them to dry. While the shelves are drying, you can clean the inside of the fridge. Spray the dried stains with an ammonia-based solution and wipe the rest carefully. Once this is done, leave the door open to air for a few minutes and put the dry shelves and food back on the worktop. If the fridge smells, you can use a deodoriser, but it may cost more if you don't usually buy them as standard. You can also cut a potato in half and leave it in the fridge. This is an old-fashioned but effective way of absorbing bad smells. Leave a note for your customer explaining what you have done and why.

Steps to thoroughly clean the refrigerator

Plan ahead

The refrigerator needs a thorough cleaning every three to six months.

Start by emptying all the food in the fridge. Bacteria can multiply rapidly at room temperature, so put dairy products, meat and other foods that need to be kept refrigerated in a cooler bag filled with pre-cooled cooler bag blocks. It's a good idea to give the fridge a thorough cleaning just before you do your weekly shopping, when there will be less food in the fridge anyway.

Throw away food that has passed its use-by date.

Wash the shelves and salad drawers.

If you can, remove the salad drawers from the bottom of the fridge and all the pull-out shelves. If you don't know how to remove them, check the instruction manual before you start so you know exactly how to do it without damaging anything, it will also help you to put them back! If you can't find the instruction manual, check the manufacturer's website or visit espares.co.uk.

Next, wash the removed shelves and drawers thoroughly with washing-up liquid and hot water. If the shelves (or any other removable parts) are made of glass, it is best to leave them at room temperature first to reduce the risk of them breaking in very hot water.

Use a toothpick to remove any food debris that has accumulated at the junction between the shelf surface and the edge of the shelf. Rinse the shelves and salad bowls with clean water and leave them to dry naturally in the drainer or dry them with a clean tea towel and put them to one side if your drainer is not large enough.

If you cannot remove the shelves or drawers, wipe them with a clean cloth soaked in a cold solution of water and detergent and wrung out well.

Clean the inside

Now you can focus on the inside of the fridge. Avoid using hot water here, as it can raise the temperature of the fridge and delay the time it takes to reinsert perishable foods. Instead, prepare a solution of Milton sterilising fluid with cold water and use it to wipe the inside with a clean cloth.

Pay particular attention to the grooves on the sides of the fridge interior, where the shelves rest, as they can be magnets for dirt. A cotton swab is a handy tool for removing old food from these grooves. Cotton swabs are also useful for tricky places, such as the drip hole at the back, which can easily become clogged and dirty. Dry the inside of the fridge thoroughly with kitchen paper or a clean tea towel.

Remember the condenser coils

You have probably cleaned the inside of your refrigerator more recently than the outside. But when was the last time you cleaned the condenser coils?

Located at the back of the refrigerator, condensers are easy to clean. Simply turn off the refrigerator and vacuum the coils to remove dust. They should be cleaned at least once a year to avoid clogging, especially if your kitchen is a pet hair and dust trap.

Why bother? Clogged condensers make your fridge work harder, which increases your electricity bill. They can also shorten the life of your fridge, which can be costly to repair.

Remember to disinfect with baking soda, vinegar.