Fridge cleaning is disgusting! I’m not only going to show you how to clean a fridge, but I am also going to let you in on a few hidden secrets.

Fridge cleaning and house cleaning, in general, can be tough work. You may second guess yourself and not know what to do.

So, instead of giving it a good clean, you leave it. And the mess builds and builds and builds until your fridge is an unbearable mess.

Well, we do not want that to happen to you. I am going to give you a super easy to follow guide on thorough fridge cleaning.

But before I show you how to clean a fridge, I am going to let you know a few things that you should prevent to make the cleaning process easier for you:

1: Don’t Wait or Hesitate

“I’ll do it next week.”

“I’ll do it after one more episode.”

Sound familiar? We have all procrastinated in life, but we never avoid something as much as we avoid cleaning.

That goes for every type of cleaning or chores, from dishes to laundry, from ironing to sweeping; we love to avoid them.

But when it comes to fridge cleaning, you can’t avoid it, you have to tackle it head on.

The longer you wait to clean your fridge, the messier it will become and the harder it will then become to clean.

2: Start a Fridge Cleaning Routine

The benefits that come with starting a cleaning routine are endless.

The reason we wait so much to clean or do chores is that it’s not part of our routine.

Every day you will wake up and go to work and grab a coffee on the way because it’s part of your daily life.

You have to treat cleaning like a part of your natural routine, especially when it comes to fridge cleaning.

Having a routine builds structure and if you apply it to cleaning, you will be unstoppable.

I am not saying clean it as often as you drink coffee, but if you set a date every two weeks to fridge clean, it will make the world of difference.

3: Know When it is Time for the Big “Clean out”

Knowing when it is time for the big fridge cleaning is very important.

How many people do you know who have Christmas leftovers in their fridge or freezer when April arrives?

This stems from laziness and more commonly the unwillingness to waste food, but when it’s got to go, it’s got to go.

The build-up of dangerous bacteria and dirt, when left unattended will make the task of cleaning your fridge, a daunting one.

So when the food passes it’s use-by date, or you just need room to make it look presentable, have a big clean out.

OK, now I have shown you the important things you have to do to keep our fridge looking good, now I am going to show you how to get there with some easy to follow tips on how to clean a fridge.

Below is a step by step guide on how to clean your fridge, the right way:

Step 1: Unplug First and Don’t Rush

I know you have been there; you know you need to clean something and just want to get it out of the way.

Well, when it comes to cleaning out your fridge, this is not the best way to go about it, especially if you want to do it properly.

When you are cleaning your fridge the doors will be open, and all the lights will be on, you don’t want that.

If your fridge needs a deep clean and the shelves are not removable, your best bet is to unplug the fridge, so you don’t waste energy while you clean.

Your mind will be at ease and give you room to really clean your fridge well.

Step 2: Empty Your Fridge

Emptying your fridge may seem like a “no-brainer”, but I have seen plenty of people only clean around their food.

You can’t do that; it’s better to do the job right instead of cutting corners.

What you need to do is carefully take the time to empty your fridge of all of its contents, so you have room to give your fridge a good clean.

Emptying your fridge doesn’t just mean the food. Remove anything inside your refrigerator that you can, including shelves and produce drawers.

Cleaning them outside of the fridge allows you to give them more attention.

Step 3: Use Warm Soapy Water on the Shelves and Draws

When you removed all the shelves, you now have to wash all those parts using a soft cloth (a sponge works too).

Also, don’t forget to locate and wash the often forgotten drip pan. With the drip pan, a half vinegar-half water solution works best.

Make sure your sink is clean and fill it up with soapy water. If your draws are too big, you can use your bathtub.

When you finish, simply set them aside to air dry.  Don’t use a dry cloth.

Step 4: Get to the Inside of Your Fridge

Now it’s time to get to the inside of your fridge and give it a good clean.

Get a multi-purpose cleaner and use it to spray the entire inside of your fridge. Leave for a couple of minutes and then wipe down.

When wiping down, make sure you wipe down the walls, shelves, shelf seams, and the rubber door seal.

Another great hidden tip is to use a toothbrush to get into hard to reach crevices.

Just soak it in a cleaning solution and it will get rid of the grease stains stuck in the shelf seams too.

Step 5: Wipe Down Everything That Was in Your Fridge Before Putting it Back

There is nothing more annoying than cleaning your fridge, putting back in the milk and seeing a massive stain.

Don’t let your hard work go to waste; wipe down all the jars and cartons in your fridge before you put it back together.

Step 6: The Exterior 

After you put back the clean jars and cartons and put back the dried shelves and draws, you can plug back in your fridge and start on the exterior.

Make sure you use a damp cloth soaked in clean soapy water and dry immediately to prevent those annoying streaks.

A great little secret is to soak a microfiber cloth in white vinegar and rub it on the surface in the direction of the grain; this enhances the shine.

In this easy to follow step by step guide, I have shown you the best way to clean a fridge.

If you follow this guide, you will see a massive difference in the presentation of your fridge.

Also doing it exactly as presented above will make your fridge remain clean for a longer period.