How To Maintain Your Fridge And Fridge Freezer

Proper maintenance will keep your kitchen appliances in working order for many years to come. Here are tips for maintaining your fridges and fridge freezers.

Start by setting your freezer to 0 degrees Fahrenheit so that contents stay frozen. Also, keep your refrigerator at the coolest temperature possible without liquids freezing. Preventing food spoilage will guarantee a fresh smell and limit the growth of mould and other bacteria.

Once a week, wipe the shelves of your fridge with a damp cloth, taking time to remove any spills that may have occurred. Promptly cleaning spills will make cleaning much easier.

Baking soda is the ideal cleaning solution for inside shelves and walls of fridges and fridge freezers. Add a small amount of water to the powder to create a scouring paste. Using a natural cleaner like baking soda eliminates the smell of strong cleaning agents inside the unit which might affect the taste or smell of the food inside of the unit. Baking soda is a great cleaning agent for all kitchen appliances. Remember to also wipe the seal of the fridges and fridge freezers in your home. This will eliminate the spread of mould. It is costly to replace a fridge or fridge freezer seal.

Fridge freezers operate most efficiently when they are full. The frozen food keeps the unit cold and allows the air compressor to run less. Keeping your freezer full is also a good idea if you live in an area that frequently loses power during storms, as a full freezer will keep food cold longer after the power is out.

Because freezer door shelves are typically a few degrees warmer than the inside, do not put meat on door shelves. Ideal freezer door shelf items include coffee, waffles, bread and frozen items that are frequently used and replaced.

Shelf doors on fridges are also slightly warmer than the innermost part of the fridge. While some companies encourage the storage of milk on the fridge door by creating large shelves to hold cartons, it is best to keep milk, and all other dairy products, on an inside shelf for maximum freshness.

Many people put soda and water in the bottom "crisper" drawers of fridges, but these are ideal for produce. These drawers are ideal for vegetables and fruits due to the humidity level, not temperature as many think. Meat drawers are typically located in the centre of the fridge, which is the coldest area.

If frost starts to build up on the inside of your freezer, refer to the manual as to the best way to defrost the unit. If you are defrosting a freezer because you plan to turn the unit off and keep it in storage, keep the doors on the unit completely open to allow air circulation while in storage. Leaving doors shut encourages mould growth inside the unit. It's also a good idea to open a fresh box of baking soda a fridge or fridge freezer that is not being used.