Cleaning Your Refrigerator and Freezer

How is the state of your refrigerator and freezer? If you notice that your milk is curdled, that green moss is starting to grow up the walls and that you have to toss everything that you take out of the freezer because the food has freezer burn, it is definitely time to take a stab at cleaning your refrigerator and freezer.

Examine the Food
The first step in cleaning your refrigerator is to take all of the food out. Look at the condition of everything. Toss anything that has expired, including those items that you don't remember putting in the fridge. You want to start with a clean slate, so anything that looks odd, smells bad or isn't fresh should be thrown out.

In addition to looking at the condition of the food, look at the appearance of the food containers. Any jars or containers that are sticky on the outside but still have good food on the inside, should have their outsides washed before being put back in your refrigerator.

Cleaning Your Refrigerator
Remove all of the racks and drawers in your refrigerator. Wash everything down, using a mild detergent and warm water. Pay particular attention to the undersides of the drawers and racks, as that is where liquids tend to coagulate. If you can't get the food off the first time, let the racks and drawers sit for a few minutes and then wash again. Do not use a scrubber, as it may harm finishes. When the racks and drawers are clean, rinse them off and set them aside to dry.

Wipe out the inside of your refrigerator, starting at the top and working down to the bottom. You can use warm water and a mild detergent or warm water and baking soda. Rinse with fresh water when done and then let dry.
If you are using towels or rags to clean your refrigerator, make sure that you rinse them frequently. You can bypass this by using paper towels instead.

Cleaning your Freezer
Cleaning your freezer is similar to cleaning your refrigerator. You need to take out all the food, check the foods for freezer burn and either save or discard them. Clean the racks and interior as you would with your refrigerator.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the periods that foods can be safely used when properly wrapped and frozen at 0 degrees Fahrenheit include:

• Beef steaks or roasts: 6 to 12 months
• Chicken parts: 9 months
• Salmon: 3 to 4 months
• Whole chicken: 1 year
• Ice cream: 2 to 4 months
• Cooked leftovers (meat): 2 to 3 months
• Butter: 6 to 9 months

The key words here are "zero degrees." If the temperature in your freezer is above zero, your food is going to deteriorate faster.

Cleaning Your Refrigerator Coils
If you have a side-by-side or built-in refrigerator, you should clean your refrigerator coils about every six months. In order to clean your coils, you should:

• Unplug your refrigerator or turn off your refrigerator's circuit breaker.
• Pry off the cover panel located at the bottom of your refrigerator, underneath the doors.
• Vacuum any dust or dirt from the area around the coils using a narrow nozzle attachment.
• Put the cover back on.
• Turn your refrigerator back on.

Tips for Cleaning Your Refrigerator and Freezer

• Try to clean your refrigerator and freezer before a major shopping trip. You are much more likely to be on the empty side as far as food, leading to a faster cleanup job.
• If you are short on counter space, clean out your refrigerator and freezer a shelf at a time, starting at the top and working down.
• Keep an ice cooler handy to help keep cold foods cold and frozen foods frozen while you are cleaning.
• Try using baking soda on sponges to get rid of tough food residue.
• Use toothpicks to clean out corners.
• Wait until your freezer has been running about half and hour before you return any frozen items.
• Clean out frost-free refrigerators every four to six months, more if your refrigerator gets dirty more quickly.
• If you have to manually defrost your freezer, clean your freezer and refrigerator when the frost and ice get to be about half an inch thick.
• Wipe up any spills in or on your refrigerator right away.
• Don't forget to put a new open box of baking soda in your refrigerator and freezer to help control odors as a finishing touch.

After the insides are done, all that is left is to wipe off the exterior of your refrigerator. You now have a clean, sparkling appliance.