How to Keep Your Refrigerator Clean and Odor Free

To prevent odors from building up in your refrigerator and freezer, manufacturers recommend cleaning both about once a month.

Hey! Whatever happened to baking soda?

And, before removing all the shelves, crispers and utility compartments, suffice what's stacked on or in them, manufacturers also suggest you unplug the appliance or disconnect the power.

This is an endeavor that could take hours, especially if you decide to unplug the fridge rather than oblige your family to live without electricity for the longevity of the task!

Why?

Because, once you move the fridge to get to the plug you are supposed to unplug (sigh!), try as you may, you won't be able to ignore the "Dust Bunnies" stuck on the floor beneath it or dangling from its hind side.

You're getting the picture, aren't you?

One thing will lead to another and you haven't even started emptying the fridge to begin preventing odors from building up yet!

Wears you out just thinking about it, doesn't it?

So, what are you supposed to do to keep your refrigerator and freezer clean and odor free till you can afford paying or generously tipping your housekeeper to "Spring Clean" your appliance? Follow these few simple steps!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Persistence!

1. Place a box of baking soda in the fridge and replace it every three months.

2. Absolutely, positively, do not store potatoes or onions in fridge.

3. Wipe off supermarket yogurt, sour cream and milk containers especially at the base before refrigerating otherwise, the lactic rings that will form thereafter would dry, flake and get dragged all over.

4. Line up your crispers with two folds of paper towel over one Sunday paper section to absorb moisture. You'd appreciate this tip if/when the spinach, parsley or cilantro you forgot under the iceberg lettuce head begins to rot and reek!

5. Store opened bologna and hotdog packages in zip top bags to keep their fatty juices from running and forming "jellied shiny designs" in deli box.

6. Close bread bags tightly with a twister to avoid crumbs from scattering all over.

7. Wipe off tips of catsup and mustard squeezers before putting them back in utility compartment.

8. Make sure plastic storage containers are tightly closed before refrigerating or freezing.

9. Wipe off meat and chicken packages before freezing.

10. Wipe off spills immediately.

11. Whether your refrigerator exterior is painted metal, brushed aluminum or stainless steel, sponge it with soapy warm water only and dry with a soft cloth.

12. Wipe finger prints off exterior the minute they're left there.

[LoriW]

on 7/24/2008 I had the worst refrigerator odor coming from a combination of cheese, onions and chinese food. Pretty bad. After trying just about everything else including baking soda which didn't really work well, I saw a recommendation about a product called Fridge-IT. It is a little purple activated carbon odor absorber. Might be little but wow, does it work great. I highly recommend it.
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