How to Clean the Refrigerator

Hand on heart – how clean is your fridge? It's important to clean the fridge regularly since we store food there, and just like everything else that comes into contact with our food, we want the fridge to be clean and fresh.

But how do you actually make the fridge completely clean? It's some work, but the end result is really worth it. Now we're going to give our best tips on how to clean your fridge so you can have the cleanest fridge in town!

Empty the fridge

What’s so good about cleaning the fridge is that you can take the opportunity to do a little inventory of what actually is inside. Start by turning off the fridge so you don’t waste energy while cleaning. Then take out all the food and place it on the kitchen sink and take the chance to check if anything needs to be thrown away.

Tip: Even if an item has passed its best before date it may still be okay to eat. Smell and taste to see if it can stay a while longer so it gets eaten. When you put the food back in the fridge later, place items that are about to go bad at the front so you remember to eat them.

While you take all the food out of the fridge, also wipe sticky jam jars and spills on tubes with a cloth so you don’t put dirty packages back in after cleaning.

Clean the fridge shelves

If you only need to clean some individual fridge shelves you can run them in the dishwasher. But it’s not possible to run all shelves in the machine at once, because then the food has to stand out too long.

Empty the fridge of all shelves and drawers. A tip is to place them on the floor in the direction they were placed, so you don’t have to twist and turn them when putting them back. It can sometimes be difficult to see how they should be placed, you see.

Then clean the inside of the fridge using a cleaning spray and cloth. Soap mixed with water works well and has no harmful chemicals. Don’t forget the ceiling of the fridge and the grooves where the shelves usually sit. Clean the drainage hole by inserting a cotton bud into it. This prevents the hole clogging up so you avoid problems with water in the fridge.

When you have cleaned the inside of the fridge it’s time to wash the shelves and drawers. The easiest is to do this in the shower, as they are so large and cumbersome. Wash them with a scouring pad (always with a white underside) or dish brush and ordinary washing-up liquid, and be ready with a few tea towels to dry off.

Place the food correctly when cleaning the fridge

Once you have finished cleaning and it’s time to put the food back in, it can be smart to think about where in the fridge it is warmest and where it is coldest. Where you store food in the fridge affects how long it keeps.

The fridge door is the warmest place in the fridge and therefore you should avoid storing dairy products, eggs and other sensitive items there. It’s better to use the door for flavourings, sauces, juices and other items with a long shelf life.

Use instead the lower shelves for dairy products, eggs and meat, because that is where it is coldest in the fridge. The top shelf is generally a bit warmer. There you can put, for example, leftovers from dinner, fresh herbs and vegetables that are somewhat sensitive to cold.

Then we come to the vegetable drawers. These are almost always placed at the bottom of the fridge. This is actually not ideal, as it is a little too cold for fruits and vegetables there. If possible, try to move the drawers up, but otherwise you can simply avoid storing sensitive vegetables, such as tomatoes, in the fridge. Many fruits and vegetables do better at room temperature anyway.

Tip: Put some kitchen paper at the bottom of the vegetable drawers, so they are easier to keep clean!

Do not store any food on top of the fridge, as it is usually too warm there for food, even for dry goods like cornflakes and similar.

Clean the outside of the fridge

When all the food is in the right place in the fridge you’re almost done. Only the outside remains, and that goes quickly. Remove all fridge magnets and other items stuck to the fridge and wipe it thoroughly. Don’t forget to wipe the top of the fridge and the top edge of the fridge door. And the handle deserves a little extra attention, since it is touched so often. When you have cleaned the outside you are finally done!

In summary, this is how you clean the fridge

1. Turn off the fridge so no unnecessary energy is used.

2. Inventory the fridge of old food and other items.

3. Wipe jam jars and other sticky things.

4. Take out the shelves to the shower area, spray diluted soap on the shelves and scrub with a white scouring pad. Then rinse and place on a towel while you continue cleaning the rest of the fridge.

5. Then spray cleaning spray on surfaces that need cleaning and wipe with a microfiber cloth. For tougher dirt, use a scouring pad with a white underside and it will also disappear. If you have very stubborn stains you can use a so-called magic sponge.

6. Place the products in the right place. The back of the fridge is coldest and the door is normally a bit warmer.

7. Remember to put kitchen paper in the vegetable drawer, so it’s easier to keep it clean and fresh in this drawer that otherwise easily gets dirty.

10-15 minutes later you can have a clean and nice fridge and open it every time with a smile!

Did you know you should clean the fridge at least once a month? Is it hard to find the time? Why not get in touch with us for a little extra everyday luxury in the form of home cleaning once a week? Then all those cleaning projects you keep postponing can finally be done and you can enjoy a clean home!

If you want to read more about how to clean kitchen cupboards, click here!