How to (Really) Clean Your Refrigerator

For some it is the microwave. For others it is the underside of the bathroom sink. For me? It is the fridge. I am referring of course to the part of the house that I routinely forget to clean.

How often should a fridge be cleaned? For me, it is cleaned whenever it becomes noticeably in need of a wipe down (and let's be honest, sometimes about a week or two even after that), but there are certain parts of a refrigerator that should be cleaned annually to ensure it will run most efficiently.

1. Remove food-pull everything out and discard what's expired.

2. Remove shelves and drawers-it's easy to clean around the shelves and doors in your fridge, but until you really pull them out, you'll never get that bit of spilled Diet Coke out of the rails and then you'll never be able to open your vegetable crisper without first playing tug of war (I know this from experience!)

3. Wipe it all down-use a clean cloth and a mild detergent, or mix your own baking soda/hot water elixir. Be as thorough as you can be, and remember the hotter the water, the easier spills will come up.

Related: Why you need to clean your washing machine

4. Clean shelves and drawers-be very careful when handling slippery, heavy glass shelves, and be sure to get into every small crevice.

5. Dry everything-haul out a clean, dry cloth for this job.

6. Wipe down food-seriously! Clean your food. This is a silly idea that is entirely necessary.

7. Put food back in the fridge-and pat yourself on the back. But you know your work is not really done until your food is arranged by color, location in the food pyramid, and/or alphabetically.

Remember to keep some baking soda in the fridge and freezer to keep odors from overwhelming, and always remember to seal your food tightly before sending it to cold storage. Always, always wipe up spills promptly.

If you use ice cube trays (i.e. you don't have an ice machine), try to keep the ice fresh. Old ice is a known harbor for smells. And always wipe down your jar of jam before sending him back home to the condiment tray. Jam gloop is THE WORST!

MORE ON BABBLE

12 elegant ways to decorate with pumpkins
24 stunning decorations made with sharpies
20 gorgeous fall wreathes anyone can make
10 everyday items that can organize your life
21 unexpected ways to use spray paint

Get updated on design & DIY, all on a budget. Follow The New Home Ec on Facebook and Twitter.