Fridge: When should you clean it out?

Your fridge is where you keep most of your perishable food stuffs so it stands to reason that you need to keep your fridge fresh and hygienically clean. A slip shod approach to fridge cleanliness can lead to odours and food contamination which places your health in jeopardy so a regular routine clean is a must.

How often should you clean your fridge?

Regardless of what you keep in your fridge, a good regular clean will keep your food safe and your fridge in good working order. Wipe up any spills immediately but do a good clean, inside and out, on your fridge about once a month. The basic routine should be:

• Remove everything from the fridge
• Thoroughly clean the inside with a suitable cleaner and be sure to get into corners etc
• Wash shelves individually in warm soapy water, then rinse and dry well before replacing
• Check and carefully clean the door seal
• Clean the outside of your fridge with a spray and a good wipe over

Many all purpose cleaners can be safely used to clean the inside of your fridge but check your cleaner first just to be on the safe side.
If you prefer, you can wipe your fridge out with bicarb and vinegar for a good natural clean. Don't use abrasives though as they can damage the surfaces of your fridge, especially the inside skin.
Cleaning the door seal though is something that many people overlook but the door seal is an important part of your fridge's operation and so it shouldn't be neglected. Fridge door seals are renowned for attracting mould which, in time, can cause the protective skin on the seal to deteriorate if left to build up. Use a good all purpose cleaner and get right into the crevices on the seal. Use a small brush like a paintbrush or toothbrush if necessary to remove any stubborn dirt or mould and then dry around the seal well with a cloth.

Eliminating fridge odours

If you have an odour in your fridge that's hard to shift, try the vinegar and bicarb method. Using two sponges, bicarb on one and vinegar on the other, wipe all over the inside of your fridge by alternating with the sponges.
Another good way to eliminate fridge odours is to wipe out the inside of your fridge with vanilla essence. Add some to a little warm water and go over the whole of the inside of your fridge. The result is a clean and fresh odour-free fridge.
To help to keep your fridge clean and free of odours between cleaning, be sure to package foods correctly before placing them in your fridge. Items with a strong smell should ideally be stored in lidded containers to prevent the smell tainting more delicate food items. From time to time you should check what's in your fridge. If it's old or it's out of date, dump it!