
The refrigerator is one of the kitchen appliances that needs to be cleaned regularly for better operation and extended lifespan. Here are 5 cleaning mistakes that not everyone knows about, turning your appliance into a breeding ground for bacteria.
1. Not Cleaning the Door Handle Daily
You might not clean the refrigerator every day, but cleaning the door handle is essential. As you enter the kitchen, you frequently open and close the fridge door, taking food in and out. If your hands are dirty, like handling raw meat, for example, not cleaning the door handle can quickly spread bacteria.

Moreover, wiping the door handle is quick and doesn't take much time. You can spray a disinfectant on the door handle and wipe it clean.
2. Letting Food Spill Before Cleaning the Fridge Shelves
When starting to clean the inside of your refrigerator, take out all the food first before wiping the shelves and drawers. This will ensure the inside of the fridge is completely clean in every nook and cranny.

In case you can't empty the fridge, you can empty one compartment at a time, then clean it before moving on to the next step.
For pickles or jam jars, you should also use a soft cloth soaked in disinfectant to wipe the outside before putting them in the refrigerator.
3. Confusing between the concepts of cleaning and disinfecting
Many people often think that cleaning and disinfecting are the same. In reality, these two concepts are different. Cleaning means removing dirt and dust. However, this action cannot completely eradicate bacteria, germs, viruses. Disinfection is the process of killing bacteria after cleaning, helping the inside of the refrigerator to be airy, and protecting the health of users.

Refrigerator shelves are one of the places where bacteria grow and thrive the most, so pay attention to thorough cleaning to ensure no harm to health when using food inside the fridge.
You should remove the food from the refrigerator and then use a clean cloth soaked in disinfectant to wipe. You should disinfect the fridge once a week to ensure cleanliness.
4. No way to prevent bacteria growth
You need to carefully check the condition of the food before putting it in the fridge. You should only put fresh food in the fridge, if you put spoiled food inside, it will affect other foods. You should also cover the food containers tightly to ensure that air cannot penetrate inside, causing spoilage. Note, never overcrowd the fridge as it will affect the preservation process.
5. Leaving spoiled food for long periods without disposing of it
You should check periodically to see which foods are expired and which ones cannot be used anymore. Spoiled meat, fish, and vegetables, if not disposed of, will create a breeding ground for bacteria to grow and multiply.
Here are 5 mistakes that few people know when cleaning the refrigerator. Quickly take note to try applying them. Don't forget to follow Media Mart to update the most useful information.
