The refrigerator is the heart of the kitchen, where food is stored at low temperatures, but this is where bacteria and foreign odors often accumulate. Regular cleaning is necessary not only for aesthetics, but also for the safety of your health, since old dirt can become a source of mold. Many housewives are looking for an answer to the question of how to clean the refrigerator so as not to damage the plastic and effectively remove grease.
The use of aggressive chemicals is not always justified, especially if there are children or allergy sufferers in the house. Folk remedies they often cope with contaminants no worse than store-bought sprays, while remaining completely safe. In this article we will analyze time-tested methods for cleaning various surfaces of the refrigeration chamber.
Before starting active actions, it is important to properly prepare the unit for washing. This will prevent food spoilage and provide access to hard-to-reach places where dirt is usually hidden. Proper preparation is the key to quick and high-quality cleaning.
Preparing the refrigerator for washing
The first step should always be complete turning off the device from the power supply. This is a safety requirement that cannot be ignored, as moisture on electrical contacts can cause a short circuit. After turning off, you need to take out all the products and put them in a cool place or in a thermal bag.
Next, you should remove all removable elements: shelves, drawers, containers for vegetables and bottle holders. It is more convenient to wash them separately in a bathtub or large basin using warm water and detergent. It is better not to expose plastic parts to sudden temperature changes to avoid cracks.
⚠️ Attention: Never use hot water to defrost the freezer if the instructions for your model Indesit or Atlant do not provide for this. Sudden heating can damage the evaporator.
Leave the doors open for a while to allow room temperature to settle inside. This will also help remove stale air. While the defrosting process is in progress, you can prepare cleaning solutions from available materials.
☑️ Preparing for washing
Baking soda: a universal abrasive
Baking soda is perhaps the most popular and affordable means for cleaning kitchen appliances. It has a mild abrasive effect, which allows you to remove dried-on dirt without scratching the glossy plastic. In addition, soda perfectly neutralizes unpleasant odors by absorbing their molecules.
To prepare a cleaning paste, mix soda with a small amount of water until the consistency of thick sour cream. Apply the resulting mixture to contaminated areas and leave for 10-15 minutes. After this, wipe the surface with a damp sponge and a dry rag.
Soda is especially effective when cleaning rubber seals on doors, where black deposits often accumulate. Sodium bicarbonate gently whitens rubber without destroying its structure. To enhance the effect, you can add a drop of any essential oil.
Do not forget that soda can leave whitish stains on dark plastic if it is difficult to wash off. Therefore, final wiping with clean water is a mandatory step. Rinse the sponge thoroughly as you work.
Vinegar and citric acid: fighting grease
If you are faced with the task of removing greasy stains or traces of spilled milk, it is best to use an acidic environment. Table vinegar (9%) or citric acid solution perfectly breaks down fatty deposits and disinfects the surface. This is especially true for refrigerators where meat or fish were stored.
Mix vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio for daily cleaning, or use an undiluted solution for heavy stains. Wipe down the interior walls with the solution, paying particular attention to corners and seams. The acid will also help remove limescale if you have hard water.
- 🍋 Lemon juice can be used instead of vinegar if you don't like its strong smell.
- 🧼 For tough stains, apply the vinegar solution and leave for 5 minutes before wiping.
- 🌬️ After treating with vinegar, be sure to ventilate the chamber so that the specific aroma disappears.
Powdered citric acid is also effective: dissolve 1-2 teaspoons in a glass of warm water. This solution is safe for food surfaces and does not require thorough rinsing, unlike chemicals. However, if you have a coated model Anti-Bacteria, it is better to consult the instructions.
How to remove the smell of vinegar?
To get rid of the smell of vinegar after cleaning, wipe the surfaces with water adding a couple of drops of mint or citrus essential oil. You can also leave an open container of ground coffee or activated carbon in the refrigerator overnight.
Removing yellowness and difficult stains
Over time, the white plastic in refrigerators can turn yellow, especially when exposed to light or contact with certain foods. Whitening components, which can be found in every home, help restore the original whiteness. It is important to act carefully so as not to damage the texture of the material.
One effective method is to use toothpaste. Apply a small amount of paste to a soft brush or sponge and work in circular motions over the yellowed areas. The abrasive particles in the paste work like a polish, removing a thin oxidized layer.
Another powerful tool is hydrogen peroxide. Soak a cotton pad in a 3% peroxide solution and wipe the problem areas. To enhance the effect, you can make a compress: a napkin soaked in peroxide is placed on the stain and left for 30-40 minutes.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use chlorine-containing bleaches (for example, “Whiteness”) in their pure form. Chlorine vapors are toxic, and the aggressive composition can make the plastic brittle and brittle.
If yellowness appears on the handles or protruding parts, this may be a consequence of oxidation of the plastic from ultraviolet radiation. In such cases, folk remedies can only temporarily mask the defect. Mechanical damage or a deep chemical reaction requires a more serious approach or replacement of the part.
| Type of contamination | Best remedy | Time effects | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grease stains | Vinegar 9% or citric acid | 5-10 minutes | Requires ventilation |
| Old plaque | Soda paste | 15-20 minutes | You need to rinse thoroughly |
| Yellowness of plastic | Toothpaste or peroxide | 30-40 minutes | Rub without strong pressure |
| Mold in the seal | Soda + vinegar (reaction) | 10 minutes | Abundant foam pushes out dirt |
How to remove an unpleasant odor
Even after thorough washing, a specific odor may remain inside. This often happens if the food has spoiled or the refrigerator has been turned off for a long time. Popular wisdom suggests several ways to neutralize odors without using aerosols.
The simplest method is to place odor absorbers. Black bread, cut into pieces, perfectly absorbs foreign odors. Place the slices on shelves and leave for a day. Rice poured into a small bowl has a similar effect.
Activated carbon is also an excellent sorbent. Grind 10-15 tablets and scatter the powder into containers, placing them at different levels of the chamber. After a day or two, the smell should disappear. This method is especially good after defrosting.
- ☕ Ground coffee or coffee grounds are a powerful remedy against fish and meat odors.
- 🍊 Citrus peel (orange, lemon) not only eliminates odors, but also flavors the chamber.
- 🧂 Salt calcined in a frying pan also helps freshen the air inside.
If the smell is very persistent, for example, from spilled milk that got into hard-to-reach crevices, re-treatment with vinegar may be necessary. Sometimes flushing the drainage hole helps if it is clogged with mucus.
Cleaning the external surface and seals
Appearance The refrigerator also requires care, especially if you have a model with coating Stainless Steel (stainless steel) or glossy plastic. Fingers, drops of grease and dust catch the eye and spoil the overall impression of the kitchen.
A solution of laundry soap is ideal for matte surfaces. Grate a little soap, dissolve it in warm water and wipe the body with a soft cloth. This will remove greasy hand marks near the handle and at the bottom of the door.
It is better to wipe glossy surfaces and stainless steel with special wipes for glass or a solution of water and ammonia (in a ratio of 1:10). Movements must be strictly vertical or horizontal to avoid leaving streaks and circles.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that the cleaning agent does not come into contact with the labeling and energy efficiency stickers. Solvents can erase important information about the model.
Pay special attention to the magnetic seal. This is where mold most often settles. Wipe the folds of the seal with a cotton swab dipped in vinegar or peroxide. Regular maintenance will extend the life of the rubber and ensure a tight fit of the door.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Can you wash the refrigerator with soap?
Yes, ordinary laundry or baby soap is safe for internal surfaces. The main thing is to thoroughly rinse the soap solution with clean water so that the remaining alkali does not react with the food.
How often should you wash the refrigerator?
It is recommended to carry out general cleaning with defrosting once every 3-4 months. However, it is worth wiping the shelves and checking food for freshness weekly to avoid the appearance of persistent odors.
What should you not wash the refrigerator with?
You should absolutely not use abrasive powders (such as pemoxol), hard metal brushes, acetone, gasoline and bleach. These substances destroy the plastic, scratch the coating and can be toxic.
What to do if the smell remains after washing?
If the smell does not go away after washing and airing, the source may be in the drainage hole or under the casing. Try cleaning the drain with a brush and pouring a little soda solution into it. In difficult cases, you may need to call a specialist.