The refrigerator is definitely a place that you want to keep clean, tidy and organized to store your food healthily. We do not want food that we are going to consume shortly to be stored in a dirty place or to end up contaminated by dirt and mold previously left behind. Despite our good care, we sometimes find ourselves with rotten fruits or vegetables or sticky stains when a drink leaks due to a poorly closed bottle. However, it is not desirable to use toxic chemicals that will come into contact with food. So forget about bleach, which also risks permanently damaging the refrigerator’s seals. So how do you clean each compartment? What should you use to disinfect it? Here is the ideal preparation to make a very effective fridge cleaner!
What you need to make your fridge cleaner:
- water
- 2 tablespoons of baking soda
- Juice of half a fresh squeezed lemon
- 5 drops of lemon (or tea tree) essential oil
- Sponge or soft cloth (microfiber for example)
Fridge cleaner step by step:
1) Fill a bowl halfway with clean water.
2) Then add your two spoons of baking soda and stir to encourage the incorporation of this powder.
3) Continue with the lemon juice and mix again.
4) Finally, pour 5 droplets of lemon essential oil. Your eco-friendly fridge cleaner based on natural products will be ready to be used for deodorize, clean well, degrease and remove germs on each shelf of your household appliance!
5) You can apply it to the dirt on all surfaces of the device, walls included, with a clean cloth or sponge, it is as you wish. A toothbrush will be able to rub and scrub the gaps between the removable compartments as well as the joints that we often forget. If it’s easier, remove the shelves, drawers and crisper and clean them in the sink.
Note that one of the advantages of this homemade detergent is that it does not need to be rinsed. Just let it dry. It’s very practical for cleaning quickly and efficiently!
Other possible cleaning products for the fridge?
Don’t want to try out mixtures to clean the inside of the fridge? There is no shortage of cleaning products! You can also use household alcohol or white vinegar (heated if necessary for stubborn stains). It is also possible to mix equal parts lemon juice and vinegar in a spray bottle and carefully scrub the inside of the fridge with a microfiber cloth. You’ll see: it’s magical!
Otherwise, head for soapy water with simple dishwashing liquid or black soap and very hot water or soda crystals diluted in water and applied with a damp sponge. All you have to do is clean your fridge regularly to avoid the accumulation of residue and the proliferation of bacteria. With this big cleaning, toxic household products and bad odors in the fridge are forgotten!
How to keep a refrigerator clean and odor-free for longer? Here are tips in addition to our fridge cleaner!
Maintaining a clean, odor-free refrigerator is essential to ensuring the freshness of your food and creating a healthy kitchen environment. Here are some tips to keep your fridge clean and free of unpleasant odors!
A good sorting
First of all, we advise you to empty your household appliance regularly. You will be able to sort to eliminate expired foods, forgotten leftovers and products that are no longer good. When sorting, beware of perishable foods. Put those with an early expiration date at the front to consume them as soon as possible.
Optimal storage
Above all, avoid storing odorous foods such as cut onions, strong cheese or leftover highly fragrant and spicy foods without wrapping them well. To do this, use airtight boxes. However, this applies to all foods and particularly fragile foodstuffs. Ideally, the outer packaging, which is often dirty and covered in bacteria, should be removed and the food placed in airtight containers to avoid unwanted odors and prevent them from spreading to other foods. Just make sure the date is marked correctly.
Hunting stains and odors by cleaning your fridge thoroughly
If our tips and cleaner aren’t enough, place odor absorbers in the fridge. Of the baking soda cups or pieces of activated charcoalor even commercial odor absorbers can indeed help eliminate unwanted odors. Moreover, wipe up marks and spills quickly. If something spills in the refrigerator, clean it immediately to prevent odors or stubborn stains from setting in.
Latest recommendations
If your refrigerator has a freezer compartment, you will need to defrost it regularly to avoid the accumulation of ice which causes overconsumption and bad odors. Furthermore, carefully monitor the temperature of your household appliances. Make sure the refrigerator temperature is set correctly (usually between 0 and 4°C) to maintain food freshness and prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria.