How to Keep Camper Refrigerators Clean and Fresh

Learn how to keep camper refrigerators clean and fresh.

When you and your family come back home after a camping trip, you're tired and just want to rest. After unpacking and getting resettled back in your home, you've most likely forgotten about the refrigerator in your camper. Keeping the refrigerator in your camper clean and fresh is an easy job. Keeping it clean will keep your entire camper smelling fresh, too. The most difficult part of keeping your refrigerator clean is remembering to do it.

Things You'll Need

• Soft cloth
• Paper towels
• Liquid soap
• Dishwashing liquid

Instructions

1. Notice when anything spills in your refrigerator and wipe it up immediately, or as soon as possible. When juice, milk or any liquid spills or leaks, take a soft cloth, wring it out in warm water and wipe up the spilled liquid. Then rinse the cloth in running water and wipe it over the surface again.

2. Make an extra effort to keep your refrigerator clean during your camping trip. Every time you remove a bottle or jar and use it, wipe it off with a paper towel before you put it back in the refrigerator. Pay special attention to liquid juice containers and ketchup bottles, which often have sticky liquid dripping down the container.

3. Wipe off the outside surface of your refrigerator once a day during your camping trip. Use a soft, wet cloth to wipe off the front and sides of the refrigerator. Pay special attention to the handles, and to any indentations where crumbs and liquids can get stuck.

4. Purge your camper refrigerator after every camping trip. Take out old, unused leftover food and discard it. Throw away rotten fruits, vegetables and dairy products past their expiration date. Take out all fresh, edible food products and bring them into the refrigerator in your kitchen at home.

5. Clean the inside of your camper refrigerator after every camping trip, or at least once a month. Pour a few drops of liquid soap on a soft, wet cloth and wipe over all the surfaces on the interior of the refrigerator. Take out any removable trays and drawers and wash those with dishwashing liquid and water in the sink.

6. Place an open box of baking soda on the bottom shelf in the back of the refrigerator to absorb odors. Leave the box in the refrigerator for two to three months, and then discard it and replace it with a new box.

Tips & Warnings

• When you know that you won't be using your camper for an extended period of time, completely empty the refrigerator, unplug it and leave the door open to air it out.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How to Clean Your Refrigerator
• HGTV: Refrigerator Cleaning Tricks