Because your refrigerator is the focal point of your home, keeping it clean is more than just a matter of appearance. Taking the required steps to maintain this essential appliance can help to ensure that all of your groceries remain edible while saving you money on repairs. (or a whole new fridge).
If you're anything like me, you adapt when it comes to cleaning the refrigerator. When the doors appear streaky or the inside is sticky or smelly, simply wipe them with whatever is available. A careless cleaning approach may solve the issue at hand, but if you want to protect the functionality of your refrigerator, you may be skipping some important steps or using products or methods that could harm it.
Here's some additional information about the eight mistakes listed:
1. Failure to sanitize your door gasket: This is important because the door gasket can harbor bacteria and other germs. To sanitize it, use a mixture of water and vinegar or a mild bleach solution, and wipe the gasket thoroughly. Make sure to dry it well afterward.
2. In the fridge, use a wet cleaning cloth: This is important because using a dry cloth can cause dust and debris to fly around and settle back onto the surfaces you just cleaned. Make sure to wring out the cloth well so that it's only damp, and wipe down all the surfaces in the fridge.
3. Using harsh solvents to clean: This can damage the surfaces of your fridge and potentially leave harmful chemicals behind. Instead, use a mild solution of soap and water or a vinegar solution to clean.
4. Failure to clean up spills promptly: Spills can lead to unpleasant odors and can also attract insects and other pests. Clean up spills as soon as you notice them to prevent this from happening.
5. Failure to dry after washing: This can lead to water spots and streaks, which can be unsightly. Make sure to dry all surfaces well after washing them.
6. Leaving out the condenser coils: The condenser coils at the back of the fridge can collect dust and debris, which can cause the fridge to work less efficiently. Make sure to clean these coils regularly with a vacuum or a brush.
7. And there's no drip receptacle: If your fridge has a drip receptacle, make sure to empty it regularly to prevent it from overflowing and causing a mess.
8. Failure to disconnect the refrigerator before cleaning: This is important for safety reasons. Make sure to unplug the fridge before cleaning it, and never use water or other liquids near the electrical components.
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