Tips for Keeping Your Fridge Clean to Prevent Bacteria and Pandemics

Every kitchen or dining area in a family cannot do without a refrigerator. It serves not only as a place to store food but also as a versatile storage hub for many homemakers. It is where every family member grabs a quick snack or makes ice.

1. Tips for Keeping Your Fridge Clean to Prevent Bacteria and Pandemics

Every kitchen or dining area in a family cannot do without a refrigerator. It serves not only as a place to store food but also as a versatile storage hub for many homemakers. It is where every family member grabs a quick snack or makes ice. Due to these characteristics, refrigerators often get messy, accumulate dirt, and develop unpleasant odors, requiring a considerable amount of time for cleaning and sanitation.

With 15 handy tips in this ideabook, you will no longer have to worry about cleaning the refrigerator. Don't miss out on these useful insights from the experts!

1. Use a soft cotton cloth

Many believe that soft cotton cloths are only suitable for wooden items, but in reality, they are an ideal material for refrigerators. The soft fabric fibers absorb more cleaning solution, saving the cleaning solution and avoiding scratches on the items you want to clean.

2. Baking soda

This is one of the commonly known cleaning powders with excellent odor-absorbing capabilities. To eliminate the unpleasant odor of the refrigerator, simply place an open container of baking soda in the fridge overnight to ensure no lingering food odors.

3. Coffee grounds

For those who love the rich aroma of coffee, prepare a small bag of coffee beans and place it in the refrigerator. The coffee aroma will replace the unpleasant smell of spices such as onions and garlic. After a while, it's advisable to replace the bag to prevent it from losing its scent.

4. Edible vinegar

However, for some strongly scented foods like durian, jackfruit, etc., you need a more potent deodorizer to completely eliminate them. The answer lies in everyday edible vinegar. Placing a small cup of vinegar in the refrigerator overnight or dabbing a bit on a cloth to wipe the fridge after removing the food will help you save time and avoid harmful chemical deodorizers.

5. Lemon/lime for cleaning

If you're preparing to clean the fridge compartments, add a bit of lemon or lime juice to the cleaning solution to make stubborn stains disappear more quickly, creating a pleasant and refreshing scent in the compartments. This is also why most cleaning solutions are derived from lemons.

6. Dried tea leaves

Green tea is a familiar beverage for every family, but did you know that jasmine-infused tea leaves can be used as an ingredient for fridge sachets or bedroom spaces? The soothing aroma of tea leaves combined with the sweet scent of jasmine will dissipate any unpleasant odors in the fridge or tobacco smells in the room.

7. Orange/mandarin/pomelo peels

After enjoying oranges, mandarins, or pomelos, don't rush to discard the peels! Instead, place them in the refrigerator for over a day and relish the fresh, fragrant aroma when opening the fridge door. When the peels dry out, simply replace them with fresh ones to maintain effectiveness. Explore more tips on quickly cleaning a spotless kitchen.

8. Toothpaste

The tricky, hard-to-clean corners in the refrigerator will succumb to the harmful weapons of a toothbrush and a bit of toothpaste. You no longer need to worry about reaching small spots, as the compounds in toothpaste effortlessly clean long-standing residues.

9. Cotton pads

For stubborn, long-standing stains and residues, refrain from using hard brushes that may leave numerous scratches, or worse, dent the fridge shelves. Instead, use cotton pads, warm saltwater mixed with edible vinegar, and gently clean. Repeat several times, and the stains will gradually disappear.

10. Regularly clean out expired food

Every morning, before placing newly bought food into the fridge, take a few minutes to check the existing items. Discard those that have been stored for too long or are no longer suitable for consumption. This step will help you save more space in the fridge, preventing unpleasant odors and avoiding consuming expired items.

11. Clean the rubber gasket sealing the fridge doors

This is a step often overlooked by many homemakers while enthusiastically cleaning the compartments and trays of the fridge. The rubber gasket serves to reduce friction each time the fridge is opened or closed, making it susceptible to bacteria and dirt, and challenging to replace. Therefore, don't forget to use a cotton pad to thoroughly clean this rubber gasket first!

12. Remove all fridge compartments for cleaning

Families with mini-fridges often skip the step of removing plastic trays when cleaning the fridge, thinking it's time-consuming. However, this is a regrettable mistake. Removing each tray not only makes the cleaning process easier but also ensures that all bacteria are completely eliminated.

13. Check the power source carefully

This is the first safety step to take before cleaning. Ensure you've unplugged the fridge carefully, wait for about 10-15 minutes to let the temperature inside rise slightly to avoid spoiling the food. After cleaning, make sure everything is thoroughly dry before plugging it back in.

14. Clean the exterior surface of the fridge

Families with fridges featuring a metal casing on the outside often worry about scratches that may damage the modern design of the door. Therefore, be gentle with the outer casing not only during the cleaning process with a soft cotton pad but also in daily usage.

15. Clean the electrical system on the fridge

Although just a small component, the plug part on the fridge plays a crucial role in its lifespan and durability. Don't let dust, thick cobwebs on the socket or behind the plug go unnoticed. Detect any rodent bites or damages promptly caused by moisture or mold.