Cleaning the Fridge – Avoid water damage

1/2/2018 (Permalink)

The household refrigerator is a major appliance that is often forgotten about when cleaning the kitchen. It is important to keep up to date on a cleaning schedule because it can cause major problems to the home. Mold can form inside and around the fridge where there is moisture, the hose to the water dispenser can leak, the ice dispenser can harbor mold and yeast—keep your family safe by following these cleaning tips:

Inside:

Shelves and drawers—

• Remove items from the shelves and drawers.
• Wipe down all shelves as well as any sticky and drippy containers with baking soda and water solution. Dry and return items.
• Get rid of any food that has gone bad or that will not be consumed.

Gasket(rim around doors that helps seal the cold in)—

• Wipe the gasket/seal with a mild detergent solution. Dry with a clean cloth.

Outside:

Doors—

• Wipe down the doors, edges, handle and top of the refrigerator with mild detergent solution. Dry.
• For stainless steel refrigerators, apply coconut oil with a soft cloth. Buff to remove excess.

Water dispenser—

• Because yeast and mold can build up on the dispenser spout, it should be cleaned every month or as needed.
• For added safety, make sure to replace external water filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Make sure the water line leading to the water dispenser is attached properly to avoid water damage.

Ice dispenser—

• The ice dispenser drawer actually can harbor mold and yeast.
• To clean the ice bin, turn the ice-maker off, remove the bin and discard the ice. Using lukewarm water and a mild dish detergent, wash the bin, rinse well and then dry.

Back of fridge—

• Vacuum under fridge and the coils on the back. Be careful not to puncture the coils.