There’s something about refrigerators that can be pretty daunting. How do I clean it? Where do I even start? Do I need to take all of my food out and watch all of my food go to waste? The simple answer is that we must do what we need to do to maintain all of our appliances. Refrigerators are no different in this regard. Let’s walk through some simple tips on how to care for your refrigerator.
Set the right temperature
Keeping your refrigerator at a temperature between 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit will allow the internal environment to stay consistent, providing the highest quality food preservation. Doing this will also provide a space for your food to stay better, longer. Also, make sure your freezer is set to a consistent temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Make sure the doors seal tightly
This can become an issue for many people. We take something out of our refrigerator, shut the door and think that we have fully closed it. Many times we will come back to the refrigerator 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or even an hour later to find that the door is just slightly open. Many times, this is a gasket issue. The gasket is the rubber piece that goes along the edge of the doors to seal the refrigerator so the temperature stays consistent inside. Clean the gaskets off twice a year with water and baking soda, making sure to be clear of food residue or dirt. If necessary, have a professional help you replace your gasket.
Clean out the inside
Frost, residue, or simply dirt can seem to take over your refrigerator after some time. If you are opening your refrigerator constantly, like most of us, this is a natural process. We spill, forget to close the door completely (especially with kids…), and don’t clean up after ourselves. We recommend that you clear out your refrigerator completely two times a year. Don’t buy any food to keep refrigerated for the day it takes to clean. Let the inside defrost, and then dry it up.
Once you have cleaned the inside of your refrigerator, Frigidaire’s Fridge Aid can really help deodorize and keep fresh the inside of your refrigerator once you have cleaned it inside.
Clean off condenser coils and cooler fan
Once a year, you should remove the grate on the bottom of your refrigerator and clean out underneath with a brush. Condenser coils are responsible for removing heat from refrigerators and freezers. First, make sure you have unplugged your refrigerator. This might be one of the times that you decide to clean out the whole appliance from inside out. Use a brush to get all the dirt off the coil, cooler fan, and everything else around there. There are special brushes to make this task easier. Then take a vacuum and clean up all the dirt. Follow your refrigerator’s specific instructions in the owner’s manual if you have any questions.
Keep it full!
If you keep your refrigerator empty, when you open it, there will be more places for warm air to rush into. This will reduce efficiency. Keeping it full will help with the overall maintenance and usage of your refrigerator. If you go out to eat a lot, at least fill it with liquids!