You’re making this big mistake while cleaning your fridge

How often do you clean your fridge? Surely not every day, you might not even clean it once every week. We do not blame you for this because cleaning your fridge is one of the most tedious tasks among the house chores. However, you should deep clean your fridge often to avoid the buildup of unhygienic elements. To deep cleanse your fridge properly, avoid this commonly made mistake.

The mistake to avoid while cleaning your fridge

To ensure that your fridge is cleaned effectively, you first need to make sure that you start with the right products. The most common cleaning mistake is using bleach to scrub your fridge. Bleach is a very effective cleaning agent, it, however, also has high chemical consistency. The bleach can corrode the surface of the shelves which can result in cracks on the surface. These cracks then accumulate dust, bacteria and much more, as per the study by French National Food Safety Agency (ANSES).

We, therefore, advise you to use warm soapy water, and if that’s not effective you can use white vinegar or baking soda mixed with water. This will help you get rid of even the most stubborn stains and odours. After applying the above mixture, rinse the surface thoroughly with water.

How to clean your fridge properly

More tips on how to clean your fridge properly

Like any other part of your home, the fridge needs regular maintenance. Even if there are no visible signs of uncleanliness, it is recommended to clean your fridge at least once or twice a month.

When cleaning your fridge, it is important to first defrost and empty the appliance. ANSES recommends:

Defrost your refrigerator regularly. This should also be done as soon as a layer of ice forms unusually quickly

It is ideal to clean your fridge before shopping so that you can get rid of the old food and create a clean space for new, fresh groceries.

Finally, once your fridge has been washed and rinsed from the inside, it is advisable to put the most perishable food in the top section (where it is colder, between 0 and 4 degrees). Leave the middle section for leftovers and pastries ideally, and leave fruit and vegetables in the bottom section, where the temperature is usually between 6 and 8 degrees.

This article is translated from Gentside FR.

Read more:

⋙ Here are 3 commonly used objects that you never clean but are very dirty

⋙ This is how often you should be cleaning your washing machine

⋙ Smartphones are one of the dirtiest objects, this is how often you should clean them