Don't neglect your fridge: Essential cleaning tips revealed

Refrigerators accumulate more germs and microorganisms harmful to health than other kitchen appliances. This particularly applies to the shelves and lower drawers used for cold cuts, fruit, and vegetables. Therefore, cleaning the refrigerator at least once a month should be the norm. How should you begin?

Regular and thorough cleaning of the refrigerator's interior is crucial for protecting food from mould and positively affecting its technical condition. Frequent cleaning also removes unpleasant odours, which may come from smoked fish or blue cheese. Avoid using toxic chemical cleaners, which are harmful to health and the stored food.

Before you start cleaning the refrigerator, gather a soft cloth, cotton buds, bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, salt, and lemon juice. Begin by emptying the refrigerator and removing all shelves and drawers. Then, soak the shelves and drawers for a few minutes in warm water and clean them with vinegar. Ensure that any expired products are removed from the refrigerator.

Also, remember the water container located at the back of the refrigerator housing. If you move the refrigerator, rinse and clean this container with vinegar. The water flows there through an opening on the back wall inside the refrigerator, which can be cleared with a special stick or hose. Using vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, you can also clean the drain, ensuring you do not damage the material it's made from.

It is very important to keep this drain clean. Clogging it with, for example, food scraps or bits of packaging, may cause water to pool at the bottom of the refrigerator instead of flowing into the designated container. This can result not only in flooding the lower drawer but also in the freezing of the freezer shelf located under the cooler.