Deep Fridge Cleaning Tips & DIY

It is impossible to imagine a kitchen without a refrigerator; this is the most important household appliance for storing food. In order for it to serve for a long time, it is necessary to properly care for it and clean it in a timely manner.

Even a new household appliance is unsuitable for use until it is washed. And this is not about the appearance, because it will be impeccable and without visible pollution. But still, you can’t immediately start storing products in a new 30-inch deep fridge. It was in the store for a long time, strangers opened and closed it, it attracted a lot of bacteria, so after the purchase, it is important not to connect the refrigerator to the network right away, but first let it stand a little and then wash it properly inside and outside with home remedies or special chemical solutions.

There is a wide variety of tools that will help get rid of pollution in the refrigerator.

You can purchase special cleaning solutions in the store. Usually, they are sold in the form of a spray, which significantly saves time and effort. Each shelf does not need to be pulled out, you just spray the product onto all shelves and walls in the refrigerator and wipe them with a sponge.

Some housewives use a spray with antibacterial action, which effectively disinfects all surfaces of the refrigerator.

But you can make great washing solutions at home. You can use soda, which effectively eliminates both internal and external pollution. It is good at conducting the first cleaning of a new household appliance immediately after purchase.

If it is not possible to wash the dirt off with a soapy solution, you can try to use a dishwashing liquid.

• Lemon will help get rid of unpleasant odors. Cut it into several slices and then rub the surface of the refrigerator with it. Not only the unpleasant odor will disappear, but harmful bacteria will also be destroyed.
• Everyone probably has vinegar at home. It can be used as a cleaning agent for the refrigerator, but not in its pure form, but dissolved in water. Vinegar cleans both internal and external surfaces, even the freezer. At the same time, do not forget about safety, and work only with rubber gloves.
• Ordinary hydrogen peroxide can do miracles. It perfectly fights not only against pollution but also against unpleasant odors.
• If the dirt in the refrigerator is old, then ordinary soda is unlikely to help here, and ammonia will come in handy. It just needs to be diluted in hot water in a ratio of 1: 7, moisten the fabric in this solution (you need to use rubber gloves), put it on the stain and wait half an hour. After that, the stain can be easily wiped off with a soft sponge.
• Toothpaste also removes old pollution. Sponge with toothpaste wipes stains from shelves, drawers, and pallets. After the procedure, the surfaces are wiped dry with a cloth.
• If there is apple cider at home, it can also be used as a cleanser. One glass of apple cider is diluted in 1 liter of warm water, a sponge is moistened in it and the surface of the refrigerator is washed with this solution.

Despite the variety of different store tools, it is better to use folk remedies to clean the refrigerator inside without resorting to aggressive substances.

Types of pollution

Various types of pollution can form in the refrigerator, each of which has its own cleaning agent.

• Traces of fat will be effectively eliminated by soda, it must be applied to a sponge moistened with water, and then wipe the contaminated areas with it. Clean it with a damp cloth. 
• There are always stickers on a new fridge that can be easily removed. To do this, just use a hairdryer. Direct hot air to the sticker and then remove it with smooth movements. If after removing the stickers there was a trace of glue, it is necessary to moisten the cotton pad with sunflower oil and rub the surface.
• Yellowness is another enemy of the refrigerator. You can mix apple cider vinegar with water, apply the solution to a sponge and wipe the yellowness with it. The product does not need to be washed off, just hold the refrigerator door open for a while.
• Lemon juice in the amount of two tablespoons mixed with ammonia can save from yellowness. The prepared solution is poured with water and applied to a sponge. This tool will be effective for odor elimination, too. It also does not need to be washed off.
• Instead of ammonia, you can use vodka. To do this, mix 100 ml of lemon juice and vodka in an amount of 200 ml, and apply this composition to the yellowed areas with a sponge.

Ammonia and vinegar can also be used as independent cleaners, without mixing them with anything.

Another unpleasant problem that may appear in the refrigerator is mold. It may appear due to high humidity and products that have long been spoiled. To prevent this from happening, you need to throw away food with an expired shelf life in time and also close each pot with a lid to avoid increasing humidity. But if mold has already appeared, then special cleaning products will help get rid of it.

• In addition to household chemicals, you can use simple laundry soap. It must be grated and added to warm water. Moisten a sponge in this foamy solution and wipe each shelf, tray, and chamber with it. Remove soap stains with a damp cloth.
• Vinegar with soda will also help. On a hard brush, apply soda dissolved in water and thoroughly wipe all areas with mold. Then remove the stains with a dry cloth. And after that, wipe the refrigerator with 6% vinegar, the smell of which will disappear on its own in a little bit.

Dirt from markers is inevitable if there are children in the house. Soda in tandem with toothpaste can help here. Wipe the traces with this solution and then clean with a dry cloth. You can also use an eraser dipped in water. Another option is to remove stains with sunscreen, which is applied to the contaminated area and then removed with a damp cloth.

The freezer after defrosting also needs to be cleaned. You can wipe it with vinegar, ammonia, soda, laundry soap or dishwashing detergents.

Sometimes a new refrigerator may smell like plastic, metal or grease. You can get rid of this smell by wiping the product with a damp cloth.

It is important to regularly clean the refrigerator inside and out, observing the following sequence of actions:

• First, you need to free the chambers, sort out the products, throw away all the excess food. Frozen foods need coolness; you should not put them in a warm place.
• Before washing the refrigerator, it must be disconnected from the mains or set the temperature mode to 0 C / 32 F.
• Defrost the chambers, usually, it takes from three to ten hours.
• After defrosting, each shelf, each side rack and the container is removed from the refrigerator and can be cleaned in the sink or in the bathroom.
• The selected product (store-bought or homemade) will help you clean the appliance. It is better to use the same product for internal and external cleansing.
• Outside, not only plastic is wiped but also seals. It is better not to use vinegar for the seals, a soapy solution is enough.
• It is important to clean the rear wall capacitor which collects dust. Here you can use a vacuum cleaner or a brush.
• The pallet (or tray) also needs to be cleaned, but first, you need to free it from meltwater.
• Glass shelves must not be washed with hot water. Cracks may form on the glass due to a quick change in temperature. To quickly wash the glass, use warm or cool water. If the shelf is not washed in the refrigerator itself and you will take it out, then you need to give it some time to warm up to room temperature, and then you can use hot water on it.
• It is necessary to effectively wash every wall, the corners between the rubber sealing, each recess, without missing hard-to-reach spots. This refers to a drain hole that may become clogged. You can clean it with a thin long wire. You need to make a loop at its end, insert it into the drain hole and twist it. In that way, you can pull out the dirt from it.
• After the refrigerator is completely washed, you need to wait until it dries, and then put the products back in.

In order not to engage in frequent cleaning of the refrigerator, follow these recommendations:

• To avoid unpleasant odors, ventilate the refrigerator regularly. It must be in the off state so that you can keep the door open for several hours.
• It is important to conduct an “audit” in the refrigerator (preferably every day).
• To prevent smells from mixing in the refrigerator, it is important to store cooked food in pots under the covers or lids.
• The dishes that are placed in the refrigerator must be clean.
• It is advisable to immediately get rid of even minor contaminants.
• No need to wait until the dirt in the refrigerator is hard to wash, it is better to carry out preventive cleaning at least once every week.
• General, overall cleaning should also be conducted once in a while. To do this, the appliance is defrosted, each shelf and box, seals on the door, spirals, and pallets are washed.
• It is important to defrost the refrigerator regularly, especially during the hot season. If ice is frozen on the walls, then defrosting is necessary. The unit needs to be shut down and all products removed. To speed up the process, you can put a pot of hot water in the refrigerator (put it on a wooden board or a plate), and the steam will make the ice melt quicker. Meltwater must be removed.
• Activated charcoal or baking soda will help get rid of unwanted odors. To do this, grind activated carbon, put it into a container and place inside the refrigerator. The same is done with soda, but it does not need to be ground. These substances are effective sorbents that will absorb odors, preventing them from spreading.
• Some people use a tea bag (one or several) for these purposes; it also helps eliminate unpleasant and harsh aromas.

Following these tips, you can quickly and effectively clean the refrigerator, thereby prolonging its life.