The refrigerator should be washed once or twice a month.

To keep the refrigerator working properly, from time to time arrange a "bath" day for it. While the unit is free of frost, you figure out how to wash the refrigerator inside.

Do I need to wash my new refrigerator?

Necessarily . Factory dust and chemical residues settle on it. To exclude the mistress's mistaken actions, the instructions contain recommendations for choosing the means for the first wash.

Discard abrasives and strong liquids. You will need warm water, a sponge, and baking soda:

    In a liter of water, dilute 1-2 tbsp. tablespoons of soda.

    Remove shelves, pallets, containers and racks.

    Dip a sponge in the solution and run it over the interior surfaces.

    Remove traces of baking soda with a generously dampened cloth.

    Treat the removable parts with a baking soda solution and rinse in the sink or bathtub.

    Wipe all items dry or let them dry without closing the door.

Before using it for the first time (after water treatment), plug the refrigerator into the mains and let it “draw in” the cold before you load the food.

How and how to wash the refrigerator inside

The surest and most effective way to clean the refrigerator is with a baking soda solution.

Since the manufacturers of such equipment themselves advise using baking soda, the wheel should hardly be reinvented. Baking soda is harmless, inexpensive, and effective.

Table vinegar can come to the rescue of sodium bicarbonate. He will not only clean, but also disinfect all plastic parts. It is enough to add 2 tablespoons to a liter of water.

You can use dishwashing liquids. It's great if they are organic.

Avoid washing powder: it is not easily washed off and then gets on the food... Also exclude bleach and harsh drugs - they will damage polymer and rubber parts.

Do not use gels and solutions saturated with aromatic additives: the smells will be transferred to the food. Old dirt is soaked, and then vigorously wiped off with a cloth with damp soda.

If you are going to use a special refrigerator cleaning paste, follow the usual procedure:

    Spread it on the inner surfaces.

    After a few minutes, use a sponge to wipe down the trays, shelves and chamber walls.

    Rinse with water and wipe dry.

If you do not have perishable provisions, it is better to perform such manipulations in the evening, so that the refrigerator can rest and ventilate at night.

How often and what is the best way to wash the refrigerator? Video tip:

How to get rid of the smell

A pill will save you from the smell activated carbon or coffee beans.

The disgusting "odors" in the refrigerator are generated by bacteria: they hide in narrow crevices and unwashed depressions. Your task is to expel them from there. There are many ways.

Baking soda

Dissolve 2 tablespoons in a liter of water. Rinse the refrigerator with all the elements.

Lemon juice

Cut the fruit into 2 pieces. Wipe the walls and parts with each half. After two hours, remove the residue with a damp cloth.

Hydrogen peroxide

Wash the fridge the traditional way... Then wipe the camera with a sponge dipped in peroxide.

Vinegar

Dilute it with water in equal parts. Dip a soft cloth and wipe all problem areas.

Mint toothpaste

Squeeze it out onto a piece of cloth and wipe it where required. Remove traces of paste with a wet sponge.

Oven cleaner

This industrial product is one of the few that can be recommended for refrigerator cleaning. The liquid removes dirt and grease and absorbs odors.

Spray the inner surface with the solution. After a quarter of an hour, remove the product with a sponge, and then with water and a napkin.

How to get rid of mold

In order not to devastate the family budget, first try to withdraw mold fungi laundry soap. Without regret, rub it on a sponge and walk it around the entire interior of the refrigerator. Try to let the foam flow into all the shallow grooves.

Do I need to remind you that by this moment the unit should be turned off and the products removed from it? Let the lather work for about thirty minutes, after which it can be washed off with water.

If harmful mold has dug in and stubbornly does not want to leave, large artillery goes into battle - any household antiseptic with antifungal action. Read the annotation carefully and follow the instructions. If you are afraid that the plastic will stain, put a little of the drug on the back of the container and see the consequences.

An ultraviolet lamp will help to fight mold: it is irradiated inner lining refrigerator.

When working with a germicidal lamp, you need to protect your eyes: try not to look at its light and wear, for example, sunglasses with powerful UV protection.

After defrosting

Do not use a knife to scrape off the ice crust from the refrigerator compartment walls.

Never defrost a running unit: before disconnecting it from the mains, set the thermostat to zero. The following actions:

    Open the doors and take out all the provisions. If there is no container for collecting melt water, substitute any convenient utensils from below.

    It is not necessary to speed up the thawing by placing inside the bowl with hot water... The sharp temperature contrast contributes to the overheating of the device.

    With a soda solution (a tablespoon per liter of water), rinse all removed shelves and containers. Rinse and wipe dry.

    With the same solution, wash the walls of the device. After the final operation - removing water droplets with a dry towel - leave the refrigerator open until it is completely dry.

    Connect it to the network without food, so that it produces the necessary supply of cold to receive food. Otherwise, the compressor will run into wear and tear, while simultaneously cooling the food and the interior.

The peak summer months are not suitable for defrosting. It is better if the difference between the temperature of the refrigerator compartment and the temperature of the room does not exceed 20 degrees Celsius.

Know frost

Defrost refrigerators with the no-frost system once a year.

Manufacturers of such equipment assure that it does not need defrosting. In practice, everything looks different: automatic defrosting does not exclude your intervention. You should defrost such devices once a year, even if there is no ice..

The process is pretty simple:

    With 2 cooling circuits, one of the chambers is defrosted. With one circuit - the unit is disconnected from the network. Remove food by leaving the doors open.

    When cleaning the inside, do not forget about the outside and move the refrigerator away from the wall.

    A household hairdryer will help to force the melting. With its help, not only the temperature inside is evened out, but also the wet walls dry. Do not scrape them with spatulas and knives; you will scratch the paint and may touch the wires.

    Contamination is removed after the complete disappearance of ice and frost. First clean ventilation holes in chambers (refrigerating and freezing) with cotton swabs dipped in a soda solution. Do not remove the panels covering the ventilation. If the equipment breaks down, you will be denied free service due to violation of the warranty agreement.

    The inner lining is washed with the same soda solution, wiped with a clean wet and then dry rags.

    After waiting some time until it dries completely, the shelves are put in place, the doors are closed and the refrigerator is returned to its original position.

In No Frost refrigerators, place food in containers immediately after connecting to the network: No Frost appliances instantly pick up cold.

Other nuances

It is absolutely impossible to wash the outside of the refrigerator with hard sponges!

When asked "can the refrigerator shelves be washed in the dishwasher?" there is one answer - yes, you can. Inexperienced housewives are sometimes interested in how to clean the freezer. It is washed in the same way as the refrigerator. If you are wondering how often to wash your refrigerator, proceed from the degree of dirt and icing. A common answer is once every six months, but refrigeration repair technicians advise you to defrost twice as often - once a quarter.

The refrigerator, feeling your relentless concern, will run smoothly and for a very long time.

« How to wash a new refrigerator and should I do it before using it for the first time?"- a question that every housewife asks at least once. The fact is that after being manufactured at the factory, household appliances are almost immediately packed into tight boxes without normal access to fresh air. During its stay in the box, the refrigerator acquires a rather unpleasant smell of plastic with an admixture of the aroma of production.

Many people ask whether it is necessary to wash the new refrigerator inside and out before using it for the first time, and the answer is unequivocally yes. Household appliances don't just need to be washed, they need to be disinfected. In the process of washing, the unpleasant odor will also go away.

Reasons to wash your new refrigerator:

  • pollution that appeared during transportation household appliances;
  • specific smell of a new product;
  • industrial dust and dirt resulting from production.

In the article we will look at how and with what you can wash a new refrigerator at home with household chemicals and improvised means.

Washing my new refrigerator before turning it on for the first time

It is quite easy to wash a new refrigerator before using it for the first time, because only the purchased equipment does not have serious contamination received during operation. That is why it is quite easy to clean household appliances.

Household chemicals

Today there are a lot of different household chemicals that are commonly used for cleaning different surfaces in the House. In the store, you can even buy special detergents exclusively for the refrigerator. This product can also be used to clean household appliances before using for the first time.

The instructions for use are identical for almost all detergents:

  1. The first step is to install the refrigerator and clean it with a dry cloth from dust and small debris, if any.
  2. Next, you should dilute the purchased product in warm water. We collect liquid in a small basin, add detergent and stir it.
  3. With a soft sponge or cloth dipped in soapy water, we thoroughly process all surfaces inside the refrigerator, wiping plastic trays and shelves from all sides with high quality.
  4. After cleaning with detergent, the new refrigerator must be additionally rinsed with clean water to get rid of soapy streaks.
  5. At the final stage, wipe the walls and shelves with a dry towel so that there is no water left.

After rinsing, leave household appliances alone for a few hours by opening the freezer and refrigerator doors. In this case, household appliances will ventilate by themselves, and the unpleasant smell of new plastic will disappear. Until this moment, you should not plug the household appliance into the network and certainly should not put food on the shelves.

There are three main types of household chemicals for the refrigerator: liquid, helium and pasty. Do not use acid-containing abrasive detergents. This can damage the plastic walls of the refrigerator.

Folk remedies

You can also rinse and disinfect the refrigerator after purchase with the help of folk remedies. The simplest and effective method Is the use of baking soda. Such a detergent is available and completely safe, as it is not an allergen.

To properly handle your refrigerator with baking soda, follow these step-by-step instructions:

  1. First of all, as in the case of household chemicals, the refrigerator must be cleaned of dirt and dust with a dry cloth.
  2. Pour a liter of warm water into a small enamel basin, add about one hundred grams of baking soda to the liquid, stir the liquid thoroughly.
  3. If the refrigerator is equipped with shelves that can be removed, then we do this and wash the elements of household appliances separately. Use a new, soft sponge or flannel cloth to clean the walls and shelves.
  4. Be sure to wipe the inside of the refrigerator with a dry cloth to get rid of excess water.

After processing with soda, you do not need to rinse household appliances with clean water, but you can do this if you wish. We ventilate the refrigerator for several hours, and then plug it in and use it as intended.

Baking soda is a versatile detergent that not only rinses and disinfects the inside of the refrigerator, but also completely absorbs unpleasant odors.

Note! While rinsing the refrigerator and freezers You should wash the rubber seals very carefully to avoid damaging them. Otherwise, you can spoil the household appliances even before the first use.

A solution of nine percent vinegar will help to cope with the unpleasant smell in the new refrigerator. In a liter of water at room temperature, we dilute several tablespoons of vinegar, after which we process the shelves and walls of household appliances with liquid from the inside. The acid will eliminate all unpleasant technical odors, and airing will help eliminate the smell of the vinegar itself.

Do not put food in the refrigerator immediately after turning it on. Wait for the temperature in the cells to return to normal, which can take about half an hour. Then fill the refrigerator with food.

Remember! If, when choosing a refrigerator, you feel that a very strong and persistent aroma comes from household appliances, this is definitely a reason to abandon the chosen model. In this case, the manufacturer used low-quality materials to reduce the cost of production. Surely you will not be able to get rid of the persistent technical aroma even after several years of using this technique.

Having studied the proposed material, now you know how and with what you can properly wash a new refrigerator at home before using it for the first time and whether it needs to be done.

The refrigerator compartment stores many foods, both raw and cooked. Not always, when placing containers, we follow all the recommendations of the manufacturers, aromas are mixed if stored improperly. In addition, spilled liquid or expired food may be overlooked. All these factors become sources of unpleasant odors. Any housewife should know how to wash the refrigerator inside to eliminate the smell. Today, as always, the editorial staff of Homius.ru will offer better ways solutions to this problem.

It is important to identify the source of the unpleasant odor

1 Why a smell can appear in the refrigerator: the main reasons

2 How can you wash a new refrigerator before first use: features of different models

2.1 Features of cleaning the chamber with the "No Frost" system

2.2 How to wash the inside of a regular refrigerator

3 What chemical means you can wash the inside of the refrigerator to eliminate the smell

4 How to quickly get rid of the smell in the refrigerator using folk remedies

4.1 How to remove stale bad odors from the refrigerator using vinegar or baking soda

4.2 How to get rid of a strong unpleasant smell in the refrigerator: ammonia or lemon juice- the best means

4.2.1 Ammonium

4.2.2 Lemon

4.3 How to Quickly Eliminate Mold Odor in Your Refrigerator Using Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide

4.3.1 Hydrogen peroxide

4.3.2 Laundry soap

5 What is the best way to wash the freezer compartment of the refrigerator after defrosting and what to look for

6 How to remove odor from the refrigerator with natural and industrial odor absorbers

7 Frequency of cleaning and odor prevention

8 Conclusion

Why the refrigerator can smell: the main reasons

In order to effectively and quickly remove the smell from the refrigerator, it is advisable to understand the reason for its origin. Two main groups can be distinguished:

Factory - manufacturers warn about this in the instructions, in addition, there are also recommendations for its elimination. It is often enough to wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth using any detergent composition;

Domestic reasons - the smell appears due to the storage of products that have passed the expiration date, as well as if the food is uncovered with a film, spilled and uncleaned liquids.

How to wash a new refrigerator before first use: features of different models

Many believe that new technique does not need cleaning, but it is not. The manufacture of refrigerators is not considered to be sterile, in addition, storage and transportation leave their mark. Therefore, almost every new equipment has a specific smell. If you do not get rid of it before use, the aroma will be absorbed into the food, which will later be stored in the chamber.

Features of cleaning the chamber with the "No Frost" system

The modern "No Frost" system is freezing without ice, the equipment is equipped with innovative ventilation, which removes the problem of defrosting. But no matter how good the system is, many users are faced with the real problem of how to remove the bad smell in a new refrigerator. The main reason is the condensate tray, it is located in a hard-to-reach place, sometimes it is necessary to dismantle the back panel of the refrigerator to clean it. Appliance owners should keep track of the expiration dates of the products. It is necessary to defrost such a unit twice a year.

For the "No Frost" system, it is desirable to clean surfaces using folk recipes

How to clean the inside of a regular refrigerator

You can use the following tips on how to clean the refrigerator so that there is no smell:

use a detergent to wipe the surfaces: shelves, drawers and grates;

do not forget about cleaning the back panel and the freezer compartment;

pay more attention to the door, especially the trays and containers that are placed on it;

after cleaning, rinse the surfaces with water and wipe dry;

if after the manipulations the smell has not gone away, you need to wipe the surfaces with soda powder, lemon or vinegar;

You can connect the refrigerator and lay out the products in it after 4 hours; in summer, the time for its complete drying is reduced to 1-2 hours.

Pay attention to the little things during the first cleaning.

What chemicals can I wash the inside of the refrigerator to eliminate the smell

Today, the trade network offers a wide range of household chemicals that effectively remove the smell in the refrigerator at home. But before making a purchase, you can use any liquid that is intended for washing dishes. In its composition there is an odorant, sometimes just such a method is enough. If you wish, you can buy any drug. In most cases, they are available as a spray for more convenient use. Additionally, there is a flavoring agent in the composition, which helps to destroy bacteria.

How to quickly get rid of the smell in the refrigerator using folk remedies

In the event of a “scent” emerging from the cell, there is no need to rush to the store for household chemicals. To cope with this will help folk recipes... Before removing the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, you should disconnect the device from the power supply, empty it from the contents, and in addition, take an inventory of products.

How to use vinegar or baking soda to remove stale fridge odors

Soda is first aid for many difficult situations in the kitchen, it should be in the arsenal of every housewife. Before removing the smell from the refrigerator, you need to follow these steps:

Prepare a mixture at the rate of 80 g of powder per 1 liter of water.

Take out the racks and shelves and wipe them with the mixture, as well as treat the inner surfaces and the refrigerator door.

Dry everything with a towel.

Vinegar also provides invaluable odor control. First, dilute the 9% solution with water in equal proportions, then treat the entire chamber with the composition and wipe it dry.

Faithful helpers in the fight against odor

How to get rid of a strong unpleasant smell in the refrigerator: ammonia or lemon juice are the best remedies

Strong odor can be eliminated with the following homemade recipes.

Ammonia

Add 1 ml of ammonia to 100 ml of water, then rinse the inner surfaces with the ready-made composition. Then dry everything, and leave the refrigerator open for a while for airing.

Salmon is diluted in a ratio of 1: 100 Lemon

Squeeze out the juice of half of the fruit, dilute it in 1 liter of water. Wipe the inside of the chamber with the resulting solution. At the end of the process, be sure to dry everything.

Lemon perfectly removes odor and deodorizes the camera

How to Quickly Remove Mold Odor in Your Refrigerator Using Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide

If you are faced with the question of how to clean the refrigerator from the mold smell that could arise from condensation or spoiled product, hydrogen peroxide or soap will come to the rescue.

Hydrogen peroxide

Can be diluted in 1 liter of oxen 1 tsp. peroxide. To enhance the effect, add 1 tsp to the composition. vinegar. Thoroughly treat all surfaces with the prepared solution, not forgetting about the accessories, drawers and grates.

Laundry soap

Everyone is familiar with the destructive effect of an alkaline environment on any microorganisms, including fungus and mold. The procedure is as follows:

Coarsely grate a little laundry soap.

Dissolve the gruel in a little warm water.

In the evening, treat all surfaces with the composition and leave to act until morning.

Rinse everything with clean water and wipe dry.

To clean it is enough to rub on a grater half a bar of soap.

What is the best way to wash the freezer of the refrigerator after defrosting and what to look for

The appearance of an unpleasant odor in the freezer can provoke a sudden power outage at a time when the owners were absent. All food will go bad after defrosting. Before removing the smell in the refrigerator, you need to turn off the equipment, defrost it and throw away anything that has managed to deteriorate. For cleaning, you can use any of the above options, paying special attention to the places where liquid from defrosted food could have flowed. Treat all gum and crevices, then rinse with clean water and wipe the camera dry. And only after that the question about the smell will be removed.

The camera must be defrosted beforehand.

How to remove odor from the refrigerator with natural and industrial odor absorbers

You can make a do-it-yourself odor absorber for the refrigerator from available tools.

Recipe composition

Cooking method

Activated carbon

Grind several tablets, pour into small containers and place on the shelves.

Household appliances need regular maintenance. However, it is the refrigerator that requires cleaning and proper operation almost more than others. It contains food that exudes a wide variety of aromas. All these odors are absorbed by the surfaces inside the unit. Over time, an unpleasant "background" is created from a mixture of aromas, which is not always pleasant. This means that sooner or later you will have to decide how to wash the refrigerator inside. Maintenance of equipment is performed regularly, and not as needed.

For cleaning, special chemical compositions... Dishwashing detergent is suitable. You can also use substances that are almost always in the house: vinegar, lemon, soda, ammonia. There are many recipes based on these ingredients.

Some of the popular solutions:

  1. A solution based on vinegar essence is being prepared. The substance must be diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio. For example, it is enough to take 100 ml of vinegar and the same amount of clean liquid. If the question of how to wash the refrigerator inside is being decided, you should know that a solution of this consistency is enough to remove extraneous aromas of finished food, as well as to avoid the appearance of a persistent smell of essence. All surfaces are treated with the resulting liquid using a dishwashing sponge or rags.
  2. Soda solution. It is prepared on the basis of baking soda (2 tablespoons) and pure water (0.5 liters). Stir the specified amount of baking soda in warm water. How to properly wash the refrigerator with such a tool? It is necessary to moisten a rag in the prepared liquid, and wipe the unit from the inside.
  3. Salt-based solution. To prepare the product, you need to prepare 30 ml of ammonia. The substance is diluted in water. To obtain a solution with the desired properties, it is recommended to take 300 ml of liquid. When deciding what to wash the refrigerator after, you can use this recipe. Such a tool allows you to remove odors, disinfects, removes dirt well.
  4. Lemon juice solution. It will take 2 tbsp. l. juice and 0.5 liters of water. The product mixes well. It moistens the rags and you can start processing the surfaces of the unit. When deciding what is the best way to wash the refrigerator inside and remove the smell, you can use this particular tool, as it will provide a pleasant aroma. However, after washing the walls and shelves, the aroma will soon disappear. To prolong the effect of the remedy, you can put 1-2 saucers with lemon zest in the refrigerator.

Tip: It is better to use products that will not only help clean the shelves and walls of the chamber, but also disinfect all surfaces, for example, baking soda, ammonia are well suited for this purpose.

Sequence of actions for cleaning inside and outside

From time to time it is necessary to perform a thorough cleaning of all chambers, in addition to this, the outside of the unit should be looked after. To do all the work as efficiently as possible and in a short time, you need to know how to properly wash the refrigerator. Instructions:


Commissioning a new refrigerator: washing, connecting

Before connecting the unit to the network, you need to give it time to stand at rest. This is more important in winter. When the refrigerator is brought in from the cold, it should stand for several hours. In the summer, 1 hour is enough. Then you need to decide what to wash your new refrigerator with before using it for the first time. To do this, use special chemicals or home remedies. It is prohibited to use abrasive compounds. Given that there is no smell inside the new unit, it is not necessary to use odor-removing agents.

In this case, how can you wash a new refrigerator before turning it on? For these purposes, a soda solution is perfect. Clean all chambers with detergent. Removable elements (side racks, containers, shelves) are also treated with a solution before installation. After finishing washing, wipe all surfaces with a dry cloth. After making sure that the refrigerator is completely dry, you can connect it to the network, load products.

The walls of refrigeration equipment quite quickly, and as they function, dirt collects in the corners, containers and surfaces. To avoid such troubles, you need to regularly follow some simple rules:


Keeping the refrigerator in your kitchen clean is akin to personal hygiene for a person. It is in the refrigerator that we store food for the whole family, young and old. This magical device keeps food fresh and healthy for a long time. But if dirt settles in the refrigerator, then the food is gone: pathogenic bacteria will find fertile soil for themselves and will engage in vigorous activity. If it were only spoiled food ... But bacteria will cause unpleasant odors, mold on surfaces and even the development of diseases in the whole family. So that such terrible predictions did not come true, we will learn how to take care of the refrigerator correctly, in a timely manner and effectively.

We arm ourselves with everything we need: what we need in the process of washing the refrigerator

First, let's decide what we will wash and clean the refrigerator with. At the same time, we will decide whether to use household chemicals or folk remedies for this.

Inventory

For high-quality and efficient cleaning, you will need:

  • kitchen sponge with a hard side;
  • clean dry cloth, always soft;
  • a bowl of suitable depth;
  • rubber household gloves.
  • Sometimes paper napkins can come in handy: they polish glass and transparent plastic surfaces to a shine. But metal sponges should not be used even against strong and stubborn dirt, since they can hopelessly ruin the plastic with small scratches.

    Before you start cleaning the refrigerator, arm yourself with the necessary equipment and suitable means.

    Household chemicals

    On the modern market, household chemicals are represented by a variety of detergents and cleaning agents, including those for special purposes. The most common of these are dishwashing liquids. They deal well with food contamination, and the algorithm for their use is quite simple.

  • Take out all the boxes and pallets from the refrigerator compartment, put them in a bathtub (this is much more convenient than washing such bulky containers in a basin).
  • Put warm or hot water into the bathtub and pour in a little washing-up liquid. The quantity depends on the quality: the better your detergent lathers, the less you will need it.
  • Foam the resulting solution well. Take a sponge and wipe all surfaces thoroughly to remove stains and food debris. Do not feel sorry for soapy water.
  • After you finish cleaning, rinse the shelves and drawers well under running water and dry with a soft cloth. Buff with a paper towel if desired.
    Regular dish detergent will work well with dirt in the refrigerator.
  • If there are stains that you cannot remove, try using special antibacterial agents on the inside of the refrigerator compartment. They come in convenient spray containers. This shape allows you to spend a minimum of time on cleaning, because you do not have to take boxes and shelves out of the refrigerator. Simply spray on the surface and wipe off immediately with a dry towel. After this treatment, food can be returned to the shelves immediately.

    Special means equipped with a convenient spray bottle for refrigerator care

    There are even wet wipes and disinfectant sprays specially formulated for washing and cleaning the interior of the refrigerator. They quickly and effectively remove dried stains, and at the same time have a disinfecting effect, which is important for maintaining the desired microclimate in the refrigerator.


    Special wipes for refrigerators will perfectly clean and disinfect surfaces

    Note! When cleaning the refrigerator, it is not recommended to use strong abrasive powders and products containing acid or alkali. Such substances are harmful to plastic surfaces.

    You have probably already heard about such a tool as a melamine sponge. It removes almost all the dirt. Perhaps many of our readers have already used it and will confirm (or deny) its effectiveness. The author of this article tried this wonderful sponge on an old refrigerator, the stains on which were impossible to clean at first glance. Only rust remained unconquered, the rest was rubbed off "with a bang." True, I had to sweat, and after a long time my hands ached from exertion. But by any other means, I certainly would hardly have coped. When using a melamine sponge to clean your refrigerator, it is important to know one rule: all treated surfaces should be thoroughly rinsed with plenty of water. This is necessary in order to remove all exfoliated particles of the sponge. The fact is that melamine, the material of which the sponge is composed, is toxic; it should not be allowed to come into contact with food in order to prevent it from entering the body. And since we store food in the refrigerator, controlling the safety of its surfaces is a top priority.

    Video: the better to wash the refrigerator from the inside

    Home remedies

    Household chemicals quickly and effectively cope with the task of removing dirt. But sometimes we are faced with the fact that cleaning must be carried out here and now, but there was no suitable tool at hand. In addition, some housewives do not at all recognize the achievements of the modern chemical industry, preferring the old grandmother's methods to them.

    Well, for any of these cases, we have available tools at home that will help clean the inside of the refrigerator to a shine.

  • Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). From it you need to prepare gruel, diluted with water to the consistency of sour cream. Such gruel is able to dissolve the most stubborn stains within a certain time.
    Baking soda, diluted to a sour cream consistency, will safely remove stubborn dirt
  • Soap solution. Grate the laundry soap on a fine grater and dissolve the shavings in hot water... Determine the consistency of the mortar depending on the degree of contamination. The tool perfectly copes with dirt in rubber seals.
    Laundry soap solution - reliable assistant in the fight against stubborn dirt
  • Warm water. You cannot use hot water to wash glass shelves (sudden temperature changes make glass brittle), and cold water may simply not cope with the task at hand.
    Use only lukewarm water to rinse glass shelves.
  • A solution of ammonia in warm water in a ratio of 1: 7. Cleans, disinfects, removes odors, adds shine.
    Ammonia cleans, disinfects and gives the surface a shine
  • Apple cider. Thanks to the acid it contains, it copes with dirt and unpleasant odors no worse than ammonia or table vinegar, but, unlike them, leaves behind a pleasant smell. Before use, cider is diluted with water in proportions of 1 glass to 1 liter, respectively.
    Use apple cider as a cleanser and deodorant
  • Toothpaste or powder. These products have mild abrasive properties, they clean dirt from surfaces effectively and at the same time gently, while simultaneously removing unpleasant odors.
    Toothpaste gently cleanses dirt and effectively removes unpleasant odors
  • By the way, toothpaste, combined with ammonia, does an excellent job of yellowing the surface of the refrigerator. I had to face such a nuisance: the once snow-white refrigerator, which served only 3-4 years, faded and covered in places with a yellow coating. Moreover, the spots appeared inside and outside. The reason was found out quickly: it was just necessary to wipe the surfaces more often from any blockages. And do not use abrasive powders for cleaning. Dust and food residues quickly eaten into the resulting micro-scratches. The solution to the problem was discovered completely by accident. I cleaned the dried dirt from the shelf with toothpaste and wiped it with ammonia on top so that there was no odor on the surface. When I finished, I noticed that the treated area was snow white compared to the rest of the surface. Mixing a little toothpaste and ammonia in equal parts and wiping the yellowed areas with this compound, I returned the fridge to whiteness.

    Video: how to wash the refrigerator with soda

    Procedure

    Regular measures

    For convenience, create a cleaning schedule for your refrigerator. It is very simple and consists of several points.

  • Daily tasks. While the kettle is heating or meat for soup is being cooked, carefully examine the inside and outside of the refrigerator. If you notice streaks or stains, wipe them off immediately with a damp sponge. Fresh dirt is much easier to remove than dried and stubborn dirt. Also, wipe the door handles with tissues or spray with an antibacterial spray to kill harmful microorganisms.
    It is very important to wipe the refrigerator handles as often as possible, they constantly accumulate a huge number of pathogens
  • Weekly tasks. Before going to the grocery store for the next week, check out what's already in the fridge. Throw away or use in cooking any food that has been lying for several days and has lost its original freshness. Just a couple of days, and they "flow", and you have to wash the refrigerator completely.
    Throw away any food that has been in the refrigerator for more than a week before they are gone.
  • Clean the refrigerator thoroughly from time to time. For example, you have a free hour, and the shelves in the refrigerator compartment become free. Take them out and wipe off dirt. After a couple of days, do the same with the drawers for vegetables and fruits, the next time - with the hinged shelves on the door. You can even draw up another schedule specifically for this: on Wednesday - pallets, on Friday - drawers, on Sunday - hanging containers.
  • General cleaning and washing after defrosting

    Even if you strictly control the cleanliness of your refrigerator, you still have to carry out a general cleaning in it. It is recommended to do this 1-2 times a year, depending on the model of the device.

    As with anything, consistency is important when cleaning your refrigerator. You have already armed yourself with the necessary equipment and decided which detergent you will use. Well, let's get started.

  • The refrigerator must be disconnected from the mains so that it is completely defrosted. Some models have a defrosting mode. If your device has such a function, enable it.
    Unplug the refrigerator to defrost
  • Remove all contents from the unit. Those products that were in the refrigerating chamber, it is advisable to eat in the near future. Move frozen food from the freezer for long-term storage to a cold place. In winter it can be an unheated balcony, and in summer it can be a basin with water.
    Remove all food from the refrigerator and eat the food that spoils quickly as soon as possible.
  • Remove all shelves, drawers, containers, and grates from the refrigerator. They must be washed separately. While the refrigerator is defrosting, soak all removable parts in warm water and detergent. It will be most convenient to put them in the bathtub.
  • It is enough to keep the removable parts in the solution for about half an hour to soften stubborn dirt. Now take a sponge, apply the selected detergent to it (this can be, for example, a solution of 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 liter of water), and thoroughly wipe the surfaces of each part, paying special attention to the folds, joints, corrugated areas. After that, rinse everything thoroughly under running water, wipe dry with a soft towel and lay out on a flat surface to dry completely.
  • The refrigerator has already defrosted, it's time to take care of its body. First, wash off all stains from drips, grease and dirt on the interior surfaces of the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Do not forget to carefully handle the rubber seals - they accumulate dirt, which can be invisible. Wipe dry and leave the refrigerator open for 1 hour to dry and ventilate completely. Then put all the racks, drawers, shelves and containers back in place, close the refrigerator door.
    When washing the refrigerator from the inside, pay special attention to the rubber seals - they accumulate a lot of dirt
  • Wash the outside of the cabinet. Just warm water will help you here. Areas with visible stubborn dirt can be wiped down with the same cleaner you used earlier. Dry the surfaces with a soft towel. The outer walls of the refrigerator also need cleaning and polishing.
  • Be sure to clean the rear grill of the refrigerator. Dust accumulates on it, which over time can lead to damage to the device. The easiest way to remove dust from the grate is with a vacuum cleaner.
  • All the manipulations for cleaning the device are completed, now you can load the products back, turn on the refrigerator and set the desired temperature regime.

    But what should you do if, while washing the unit, you find several difficult old stains that cannot be cleaned in the usual way? Above, we wrote in detail about the effects of various means, chemical and folk. If you trust household chemicals, apply any of the described products directly to the stain and leave on for 15–20 minutes. After that, carefully scrub the stain with a sponge, rinsing off with warm water. But do not use scrapers or metal sponges for this - they will leave scratches on the surface. Only a sponge with a hard side is allowed.

    If you prefer folk remedies then it will be helpful for you to know how to use them correctly. Let's take a closer look at how to use home remedies for stubborn stains.

    How and how to remove difficult stains - table

    Means Mode of application
    Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
    • Mix baking soda and warm water to a kefir consistency;
    • apply the resulting gruel to a soft gauze cloth;
    • apply to the dried spot and leave for 30 minutes;
    • after that, rub the dirty area a little and rinse with warm clean water;
    • be sure to wipe the area to be cleaned dry.
    Hot soapy water
    • Grate a small piece of laundry soap on a fine grater and dissolve in hot water;
    • mix thoroughly in order to completely dissolve the soap;
    • wash all rubber seals with hot soapy water, paying special attention to folds, since it is in them that various dirt accumulates most;
    • after treatment with soapy water, wash off its remains with clean water;
    • Wipe all seals dry with a dry gauze cloth (due to its soft structure, it will remove excess moisture from the folds).
    Hot water with ammonia
    • Wear rubber gloves before the procedure;
    • dissolve a little ammonia in hot water in a ratio of 1: 7, respectively;
    • moisten a rag in the resulting solution and place on a dried spot;
    • leave for 30–45 minutes;
    • at the end of the specified time, wipe the dirty area with a soft sponge;
    • only then can the refrigerator be washed out with plenty of water.
    • Mix a glass of apple cider and a liter of warm water;
    • Stir well and soak a soft sponge in the solution;
    • start washing all surfaces inside the refrigerator;
    • then rinse all shelves and walls with clean water and dry with a kitchen towel.
    • Apply a small amount of toothpaste to a porous sponge and scrub all surfaces inside the refrigerator;
    • remove shelves, drawers and pallets and wash them in the bathroom or in the kitchen sink;
    • in the end, rinse the paste thoroughly with plenty of water and wipe the surfaces dry;
    • replace all removable elements.
    Dentifrice
    • Mix tooth powder and water so that the paste has the consistency of thick sour cream;
    • follow the same procedure as with toothpaste, then rinse with plenty of water and dry all surfaces with a dry towel.

    Video: how to defrost and wash the refrigerator

    How to properly wash a new refrigerator before using for the first time

    You bought a new refrigerator and now it has arrived at your home. Should I immediately put it in the chosen place and plug it into the network?

    Do not hurry. First, open the doors of the refrigerator and let it stand for several hours at room temperature. Secondly, the new refrigerator still needs to be washed, since factory or store pollution may remain in it. And the technical smell is unlikely to add comfort and coziness to the kitchen.


    New refrigerator, fresh from the store, also needs to be washed

    A warm solution of soda will do well with dirt and dust. Enough 1 tablespoon of the substance per 1 liter of water to wipe all surfaces to a shine. And you can drive away a too strong chemical smell with a sponge dipped in vinegar. After processing, wipe the refrigerator dry and leave to air for a couple of hours. If you use lemon juice instead of vinegar, then ventilation is not needed.

    What will help you remove specific odors

    Since a wide variety of foods are stored in the refrigerator, odors, including unpleasant ones, are unlikely to be avoided. But we can get rid of them. Moreover, simple tools that are always at hand will help us with this.

    The usual 9% vinegar, which we often use in cooking, will perfectly kill off odors. Apply it like this:

  • In a bowl, mix equal amounts of warm water and vinegar.
  • Thoroughly rinse all surfaces in the refrigerator with the solution: walls, shelves, drawers, even containers for ice and eggs.
  • Wash all treated surfaces with plenty of clean warm water to remove the vinegar odor. Wipe dry with a soft cloth.
    Plain table vinegar reliably removes unpleasant odors
  • Due to its strong and pungent smell, ammonia successfully interrupts all other aromas. In addition, it has disinfecting properties, guaranteed to kill bacteria that produce unpleasant odors.

  • Take a piece of cheesecloth, folded several times, and soak it in ammonia. Thoroughly wipe all interior surfaces of the unit. Treat with fresh air in the room (for example, opening a window and door) so as not to suffer from strong odors.
  • After processing, leave the refrigerator open for several hours so that all other odors are gone along with the ammonia. It is recommended to do the procedure in the evening so that everything is ventilated by the morning.
  • Lemon juice

    Dissolve the juice of one lemon in 2 liters of warm water and wash the refrigerator, carefully wiping all surfaces, especially on the folds. This will be enough to eliminate unpleasant odors. The undoubted advantage of this method is that after processing, you do not need to wash the refrigerator with clean water: a pleasant citrus aroma will remain from the lemon.


    Lemon juice will not only cope well with dirt, but will also leave a pleasant citrus aroma in the refrigerator.

    Coffee grounds

    Brewed natural coffee perfectly copes with any extraneous odors. And the particles of coffee grounds, which have the properties of a delicate abrasive, will gently and effectively wipe off even old dried stains. After you finish processing, carefully remove the thick from all surfaces, first with a damp and then with a dry cloth.

    Video: how to get rid of odors in the refrigerator Separate food types and store in separate drawers to keep the refrigerator clean and fresh

  • Try to eat primarily perishable foods and those that are approaching the end of their shelf life. They must not be allowed to acidify, airing and the formation of mold, otherwise spring-cleaning the refrigerator is needed urgently and will take a lot of time.
  • If you spill any liquid or spill food, treat it immediately and wipe the surface dry. If this becomes a habit, you will save yourself the hassle of cleaning the refrigerator frequently. Wipe up spilled food and liquids immediately.
  • The shelves should be wiped down weekly, even if you haven't spilled or spilled anything on them.
  • Sealed containers and cling film are great inventions. Store food in them, both raw and cooked, to avoid contamination of surfaces and the formation of odors inside the refrigerator compartment.
    Sealed food containers store food conveniently and safely for the refrigerator
  • You can cover the boxes for vegetables and fruits with plastic wrap or sheets of thick paper. They can then simply be thrown away and the surfaces will remain clean.
    Cover the shelves with suitable material that you will not mind getting dirty and throwing away
  • Use a deep dish to defrost food. For example, if you are transferring a piece of meat from the freezer to the refrigerator compartment, place it not on a flat plate, but in a suitable bowl. The thawed meat juice should remain inside the container and not spread over the shelves. Otherwise, you will have to wash the entire refrigerator.
  • Make it a rule to throw away foods that have been idle for more than a week without mercy. If you have not eaten them during this time, then you are unlikely to eat them afterwards. In addition, such food can be unhealthy.
  • A fridge shining with cleanliness is a decoration of a kitchen and a guarantee of freshness of food. If you used to think that cleaning the inside of the refrigerator and maintaining it in a proper way takes a lot of time and effort, now you are probably convinced that this is not the case. We hope our tips will help you make your household chores much easier and more enjoyable. Remember this simple rule of thumb: Keeping clean is much easier than general cleaning. Comfort for your home!