Cleaning a newly purchased refrigerator or a refrigerator that has been used for a long time is essential to ensuring the safety of food for the family. Here are the steps to quickly clean the refrigerator with simple items at home.
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The refrigerator is a food storage place for the family, so it should be kept clean
Steps to clean the refrigerator at home
Step 1: Prepare the necessary items.
First, you need to prepare the necessary items to make the refrigerator easier to clean. Such items include:
- Bags (bags) of trash.
- Warm water, soap.
- Clean towel.
- Vinegar.
Step 2: Turn off the power and remove everything in the refrigerator.
Before you begin cleaning the refrigerator, you need to make sure your refrigerator is not currently connected to any power source. This is for your safety.
If it is a newly purchased refrigerator, there will be some papers inside the product information, instructions for use, notes for use, ... You need to remove all leftovers from the refrigerator and put it in the garbage bag.
For a refrigerator that has been used for a long time, please gather everything inside to make the cleaning process easier. Sort the foods inside the refrigerator. Moldy, obsolete foods should be placed in the garbage bag. In particular, for perishable foods when stored in the outside environment such as dairy products (milk, yogurt, whey, ...), it is necessary to immediately put in a cool, insulated box or in an ice box. .
You need to put all of the food out before cleaning
Step 3: Wash the parts inside the refrigerator
After you've removed everything inside the refrigerator, remove the portable parts of the refrigerator like shelves and drawers. Next, wash them with soap and water. You need to let them dry completely before assembling them.
Use a clean towel that has been soaked in hot water to cool to pre-wipe the entire interior of the refrigerator. Alternatively, if you want to be more thorough then you can use a dry cloth to wipe first. However, at this step you should be careful not to use hot water. The reason is that if there is a sudden change in the temperature inside the refrigerator, these parts can be compromised. Therefore, you should only use warm water if you want to be cleaner, or just use cold water is enough.
Step 4: Clean the refrigerator with vinegar
The most easy-to-find ingredient in cleaning your refrigerator at home is vinegar. The vinegar kills mold, bacteria and odors from the food inside the refrigerator. What's special about this ingredient is that you can use whatever vinegar you currently have at home. They are easy to find and buy at any grocery store, market or supermarket.
Get a can of pure vinegar spray and wipe the inside of the refrigerator. You need to pay close attention between niches and wipe even on the door. Next, you use a clean towel to briefly wipe the entire cabinet.
In addition to vinegar, you can also use lemon or special cleaning solutions.
Step 5: Assemble the parts back
Once everything is dry, reassemble everything as it was. You should not re-refrigerate it immediately, but wait 30 minutes after plugging it in. Note, before you put food in the fridge, make sure to dry the fridge body as well as the food containers that will be placed in the refrigerator.
You need to let the inside of the refrigerator really dry before you put everything back in.
Step 6: Clean the outside of the refrigerator
Don't forget to clean the outside of the refrigerator. Sometimes the outside of the refrigerator is where the most debris is. Spray on the vinegar, wait 1-2 minutes, then use a clean, dry cloth to thoroughly wipe the refrigerator doors and handles.
You can use a special solution or a warm washcloth to clean the outside of the refrigerator.
Note when cleaning the refrigerator
Cleaning time
You should clean the refrigerator 1 time / month. At the same time, you should also check food every week to eliminate unused foods. Avoid exposing them to overdue or moldy things, causing odors and bacteria to stay inside the refrigerator.
Do not use harsh detergents
When cleaning the refrigerator at home, you should use specialized cleaners, do not use harsh detergents. If not, you can use vinegar as mentioned above or fresh lemon juice instead.
How to make the refrigerator have a pleasant scent
Since the refrigerator is a storage place for both raw and main items, in addition to regular cleaning of the refrigerator, you can also use natural ingredients to remove and add a pleasant fragrance to the refrigerator. You can use vanilla branches, dried laurel, tea leaves, lavender or pureed fresh coffee, ... put in a small bag placed in the refrigerator wing.
Cleaning the refrigerator at home regularly not only helps to eliminate odors but also ensures food hygiene and safety for the whole family. You should clean both the inside and outside of the refrigerator. Besides, you should also pay attention to some points to make the refrigerator clean better.
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