Table of contents:
- The refrigerator is a home for bacteria that enter through vegetables, fruit, or raw food
- What products should be used to clean the refrigerator?
- The best way to clean the refrigerator
Keeping the cleanliness of everyday objects that you use is the first step in efforts to improve health. Because, there are many germs attached to these objects that can affect your health. One of the things that you must keep clean is the refrigerator. Actually, how often do we have to clean the refrigerator? Find the answer here.
The refrigerator is a home for bacteria that enter through vegetables, fruit, or raw food
The refrigerator is one of the hardest working items in your kitchen. Its job is to keep your food supplies fresh and durable. So, it is only natural that this refrigerator is also cared for properly.
A refrigerator that is always clean is not only pleasing to the eye but also able to preserve food well because it functions optimally. So, how often should you clean the refrigerator?
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends lightly cleaning the refrigerator once a week. This includes looking at the shelf life and condition of the food you store in it. That way you minimize the risk of food poisoning and bad odors in the refrigerator.
When cleaning the refrigerator every week, you also need to clean up food spills on the refrigerator shelves so as not to cause bacterial contamination of other foods. Likewise with the refrigerator door handle. You need to clean it regularly because this area is susceptible to germs.
If you regularly clean the refrigerator every week, it doesn't mean that you don't need to clean it thoroughly. Without you knowing, the refrigerator is a home for bacteria that enter through vegetables, fruit, or raw food stored in it. The refrigerator should be cleaned 3 to 6 months or at least four times a year. Thoroughly cleaning the refrigerator is necessary.
When doing so, you will need to unplug everything in the refrigerator and turn off the electricity, including by removing all expired food and cleaning the outside of the refrigerator.
What products should be used to clean the refrigerator?
You can clean the surface of the refrigerator and its shelves with a clean sponge, baking soda, and water. Or you can use a natural cleanser in the form of a mixture of vinegar, lemon, and water.
It's also a good idea to keep an open bottle of baking soda powder on one of the shelves of the refrigerator. This will keep the refrigerator from smelling bad. Change the baking soda every three months to keep it fresh.
Actually, products that are suitable for cleaning the refrigerator are products that you usually use in the kitchen. Liquid dish soap is safer to use than other cleaning products such as detergents.
Dishwashing liquid is designed for washing eating and cooking utensils. We can put the refrigerator into this category because it comes in contact with food and food ingredients. The cloth you use should also be a special and clean one. A soft dishwasher sponge or a soft cloth napkin are options.
The best way to clean the refrigerator
After all the cleaning products and supplies are ready, it's time to think about how to clean the refrigerator. Following are the steps that can guide you in cleaning your refrigerator.
- As trivial as it may sound, remove all food before you start cleaning the fridge. Even if you use natural products, you don't want your cleaning activities to be unrestricted. An empty refrigerator makes the job of cleaning easier and reduces the chance of contamination.
- Remove all removable parts, such as drawers and shelves. Fill a basin with warm water and dish soap to soak the parts before wiping and rinsing.
- Wipe the entire outside and inside of the refrigerator using a damp paper towel or clean cloth dampened with a mixture of dish soap and warm water. Use a quality microfiber cloth or sponge so you don't leave flakes of lint in the refrigerator.
- For stubborn stains, mix a little baking soda powder with a little water to make a thick mixture. Apply this mixture to the stain and let it sit for an hour before wiping it off with a damp sponge or cloth. The baking soda powder makes the stain easier to wipe clean.
