Where to start washing the refrigerator? Defrost, of course!
To do this, firstly, we turn off the household appliance from the mains, because this is required by elementary safety rules. If you have a refrigerator with two compressors, then you can defrost and wash its chambers in turn.
At the same time, the problem of where to put the products from the freezer is being solved: shift to a working refrigerator.
How to wash the refrigerator without problems?
We release the refrigerator and freezer from food and leave the doors open to reach room temperature.
If you have a refrigerator with the No Frost system, then this does not mean at all that not a single piece of ice or frost has formed there during operation. Just in this case, the defrosting process will go faster.
Do not try to speed up defrosting with heaters or try to scrape off ice crusts with a knife. The fan copes well with this task, the airflow from which can be directed to the freezer.
Shelves, trays, and grates are soaked in hot water separately to wash the refrigerator freely.
Secondly, while the refrigerator is defrosting, there is time to wash all its sliding parts: shelves, grates, cells, and drawers. To do this, we soak all this stuff in hot water in the sink, a large bowl, or, in extreme cases, in the bath. Add a mild detergent for dishes or a dishwasher and leave for 15 minutes. This time is enough to soak out possible stains from soups, sauces, and other food.
Carefully wash all accessories with a clean cloth or kitchen sponge, rinse thoroughly with cold water, wipe dry, or arrange to dry.
How to wash the refrigerator inside?
Thirdly, when the refrigerator is defrosted, we select the remaining melt water and start washing.
Even if you are adept at cleanliness and instantly remove every stain from dishes or food, there is still a chance that some organic residues will hide from your keen eye. And this creates a favorable environment for the development of bacteria that easily tolerate low temperatures. And as a result - an unpleasant smell in the refrigerator and a reduction in the storage time of ready meals, especially in unclosed containers.
How to clean the refrigerator?
Specialized products that are sold in household appliance stores. They are specially designed for refrigerators and freezers. Their use does not harm metal and plastic parts, they are non-toxic and do not pose a threat to products.
Dishwashing liquid is also acceptable for the refrigerator. It is better to pre-dilute them in water, making a soapy solution than to apply directly to the sponge. So the concentration will be less, and it will be easier to wash them off.
Recommended products for washing the refrigerator
Baking soda is a versatile product that is used in almost all areas of the household. It is considered absolutely harmless by supporters of ecological theories. In some ways, they are right, soda is not as toxic as most, albeit proven, household chemicals. But do not forget that soda is an abrasive substance, and can leave small scratches on glass, plastic, and even metal surfaces. Therefore, it is better to dilute it with warm water to a creamy state and only then wash it off, especially with heavy pollution.
An aqueous solution of ammonia (ammonia) in a ratio of 1: 7 will help remove old and dried stains. When treating the internal surfaces of the refrigerator with such a tool, do not forget about gloves to avoid skin irritation on your hands. To allow in fresh air, open a window. After applying the solution, leave the refrigerator for 30 minutes, then rinse with clean water and let stand with the door open for some time so that the ammonia residues completely disappear.
Folk remedies: lemon, and coffee grounds can also help clean the refrigerator.
What not to use to clean the refrigerator
Each household has its own arsenal of favorite household chemicals. And it's worth remembering that a great toilet or sink cleaner can be bad for your refrigerator.
For the refrigerator, you should not use products that contain chlorine, aggressive acids, and the like.
Be careful with cleaning products: large abrasive particles damage surfaces. Subsequently, dirt settles in these scratches.
Eliminate metal tools that damage plastic from your arsenal. And, refrain from removing stains with melamine sponges, especially those made in China.
What to pay special attention to?
Pay enough attention to the rubber seals and the drain hole.
Don't forget about the exterior surfaces, especially the rear panel where the grilled compressor sits. A lot of dust collects in this place, which makes it difficult for the unit to work and can lead to its failure.
So, the refrigerator is washed, and dried: can you put food and plug it into an outlet?
You can, if you don’t have another typical problem for refrigerators - smell.
How to get rid of an offensive refrigerator odor
Sometimes, unused products in time deteriorate in the refrigerator, and it is not possible to get rid of the unpleasant odor even after thorough washing.
Some smells from quite fresh dishes, when mixed, give an unexpected, unpleasant result.
What to do in this case?
Arrange on the shelves small open containers with dry baking soda, activated or crushed charcoal. These substances are excellent adsorbents that absorb any odors. It is worth replacing the contents of such containers every 2-3 months.
They absorb foreign odors and crushed grains of rice, black bread, orange peels, and lemon slices well.
If folk methods seem doubtful to you or do not give the expected result, then you can try industrial odor absorbers.
To avoid the aforementioned problem in the future, do not forget to use food stocks on time. Store food in tightly sealed containers. Do not use the refrigerator to store medicines, cosmetics, and other chemicals.