Cleaning & Defrosting the Refrigerator

Division Of Student Affairs; Western Michigan University

Washing the Refrigerator:

Wash the inside and outside of the refrigerator once or twice a week. I f you wash it just before you do the weekly shopping, the food you pur chase will stay fresh longer. To clean the inside of the refrigerator mix two tablespoons of baking sod a with one quart of warm water. The baking soda helps to remove odors fr om the refrigerator. Wash the walls, top, bottom, shelves and corners. To remove spots rub them with dry baking soda. After washing the in side of the refrigerator wipe it dry with a clean cloth. Wash the inside of the door and the rubber strip around the edge of the door. Rinse and dry with a clean cloth. After washing and drying the shelves and drawers , replace them.

Keeping a Clean Refrigerator:

Empty the ice cube trays. Wash them with warm, sudsy water. Fill them w ith cold, clean water. Put them back into the refrigerator. Wipe all cans, bottles and jars with a clean cloth. Wipe off fresh fruit s and vegetables. Put the food back into the refrigerator. A clean refrigerator keeps food from spoiling. It will cost less to run and will cool better.

Defrosting A Refrigerator:

Many of the newer refrigerators are frost free or defrost by themselves. If you have a frost free refrigerator, you do not have to defrost it. B ut it is still necessary to wash it on a weekly basis. When the frost ins ide the freezer wall is one quarter of an inch thick, the freezer should be defrosted.

STEPS FOR DEFROSTING:

  1. Turn the refrigerator dial to defrost or off.

  2. Take out ice cube trays and frozen foods.

  3. Put the frozen foods in a cardboard box. Cover them with newspaper.

  4. To speed up the defrosting process, put a large pan of hot water in t he freezer.

  5. Do not scrape or punch the ice with a sharp tool; let it melt by itse lf.

  6. Put a pan under the freezing section to catch water. Empty the pan w hen it gets full.

If you must turn the refrigerator off, be sure to leave the door open. C losing the door will create mildew and a musty odor.

Brand Names of Cleaning Products:

INSIDE OF THE REFRIGERATOR - Arm and Hammer Baking Soda

OUTSIDE OF THE REFRIGERATOR -Pine Sol, Glass Plus, Formula 409

NOTE: A Clean Refrigerator

OFF CAMPUS LIFE
3510 Faunce Student Services Bldg.
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5077
Phone: (616) 387-2336
Fax: (616) 387-2325

Original HTML by Timothy Strunk