Jul 19, 2021
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic people have become extremely fearful of getting sick not only from the virus itself but also being ill in general, what with the frightening circumstances in hospitals and the towering medical bills that come with it along with the risk of being infected, that’s why most people have been avoiding crowds and other hazardous places that pose a threat to our health and safety. But what we don’t know is that the virus is not the only threat in the current situation of our lives, cleanliness in our homes are bigger factors than we might know especially with the food that we intake on a daily basis. How can we be assured that what we’re eating is safe for consumption, how do we make sure that our refrigerator does keep the food fresh and the harmful bacteria away? Here are AllHome’s reasons why deep cleaning your refrigerator is a must and how to do it properly, and a look at some of AllHome’s refrigerators and other suitable home appliances for your food safety needs.
The refrigerator is one of the most essential home appliances we have in every modern household but it is also probably the most overlooked areas in our home when it comes to cleaning. The constant use of this appliance is why we assume that it stays relatively clean or we just don’t give it a second thought because we just open those doors to check and see if there’s food when we’re hungry, but we don’t really inspect it thoroughly when the truth is there’s always some cross-contamination, spills, gunk, and other sticky spots that cause bad odor which makes your food to smell immensely unappetizing and can also cause the build-up of unwanted bacteria which makes the fridge a health hazard.
Aside from the risk of food-borne illnesses, when you don’t take care of your home appliances you make a lot of problems for yourself. A messy fridge costs you money; aside from the upkeep and electrical bill of this home appliance, when our refrigerator becomes full and overfilled it makes it hard to keep track of leftovers inside or even milk and condiments that expire which is a waste of money and creates an atmosphere that promotes the growth of bacteria, because when the fridge is overflowing, it blocks airflow and takes the produce and other food items a longer time to cool which means you’re not just wasting your money on electricity for the prolonged cooling, you’re also endangering yourself and your family.
Like every other home appliance or electronic device we have, the refrigerator, more often than not, requires a good top-down, inside-out, and front-to-back cleaning to ensure that it is clean, hygienic, and safe for our health. Cleaning out the refrigerator, while often times grim and off-putting, doesn’t necessarily require a whole lot of products, but if you do decide on doing a deep clean on your fridge you’re going to need the following:
Since most Filipino households have either a one-door or two-door refrigerator, we need to defrost everything first while we remove what’s inside. You might be tempted to keep some items inside and convince yourself that you can just clean around that jar of aloe vera you keep for your skin care or that ice cream container filled with fish but trust me you’ll regret it when it starts stinking up the place and accumulates bacteria. Normally we just leave everything on top of the kitchen counter but for health and sanitary purposes we recommend putting your perishables inside a separate refrigerator, cooler, or freezer if you have one at home or purchasing one from AllHome appliance like HAIER HRFIV230VN, for example, which isn’t only spacious but also has various cooling modes for your storage needs, or if you need something that will keep your products frozen there’s also WHIRLPOOL’s 200L Capacity Freezer to make sure that everything is nice and frosty. But if you prefer a smaller form factor we recommend you get a personal refrigerator like EUROTEK’s Personal Refrigerator that has a volume capacity of 100 liters.
After you have transferred your perishable items into a separate home appliance like a cooler or freezer for the duration of your refrigerator deep cleaning, check to see if there are any items like bottles, jars, condiments, and other produce that are spoiled or nearing its expiration date so we know which ones to toss out and which ones we should be aware of and take note to buy new ones. Lastly, check the leftovers if there are already molds or have gone sour or even just smell bad and make sure to throw it away while holding your breath to avoid being nauseous.
Once you have finished sorting all your perishables and/or spoiled items, we can start by removing your refrigerator shelves, drawers, or other detachable parts. You’ll want to wash these over a sink or even the bathroom so you have more room to work on it with a regular sponge and dish soap, once the removable parts are washed you can set them aside to dry. Afterwards you can put your storage or food containers that are now empty into a basin with a cleaning solution so it can soak for a while to expedite the process of washing them and to soften those hard to get rid of stains. Do note that when cleaning your fridge, food absorbs odors so it’s best to use unscented mild cleaners or even a solution of baking soda and hot water or even vinegar, scrub thoroughly with a rag or an all-purpose cleaning pad to get rid of pesky stains, rinse with a damp cloth, and dry with a towel. Although if you want to avoid chemicals or cleaning solutions altogether there is an environmentally friendly alternative you could try, steam cleaners, using this home appliance only requires high temperature or high pressurized steam to clean and easily loosen and dissolve spills, grime, and food particles that settle in the fridge. It also kills 99.9% of all germs and bacteria without the use of any chemicals. These cleaning gadgets for sale are available at AllHome much like the DEERMA Zq600 Multifunction Steam Cleaner, which boasts quick dry and clean with 99.99 percent sterilization and deodorization of your refrigerators.
Although refrigerators may vary in design, the drip pan is almost universally located at the bottom of the unit in many refrigerators you can access the drip pan from this area. In other models you may need to slide the refrigerator out from the wall and get to the pan from the bottom, rear of the unit. When you clean your refrigerator you will notice that the pan is full of water, this can lead to condensation inside the unit and can cause mold build up so we need to try this up by mopping it with paper towels and rags or for convenience you can use the 3M Easy Squeeze Mop from AllHome for easy wringing and tidy cleanups, afterwards you’re going to wash the pan with soapy water to get rid of any dirt or sliminess on the surface.
After making the interior of your refrigerator spotless you need to make sure that everything on the outside is also clean, wipe the fridge doors with a cloth dampened with soap and water, clean thoroughly from top to bottom as well as front to back and side to side especially the handles because they are often smudged with fingerprints and other dirt. Then you check the back of your unit and see if there are any dust or dirt buildups on the coils, make sure to unplug the fridge before using a brush or a vacuum with strong suction to clean it, much like KARCHER’s Vacuum Cleaner which is great for cleaning because it can mop wet and dry dirt or if you want a handy form factor that still packs a punch we suggest DEERMA VC40 Brushless Vacuum Cleaner to get the job done. These coils are critical to pushing heat out, so removing the dust and dirt will allow them to more efficiently keep the inside of the refrigerator cold. Not only will this effectively keep things cold, but you’ll be using less electricity which saves you money and helps the environment. Afterwards if there are any dust or debris left from your deep cleaning make sure to sweep or vacuum it too.
Now that you’ve finished cleaning everything you’re going to want to start by returning the shelves and drawers and inserts to their places. Next, check the condiments or other containers you will be returning if they are clean, if not; use a sponge or a rag to wipe the exterior of the containers and make sure to get the bottoms too. Tighten the caps and arrange and place neatly to prevent future drips. Make sure that other produce or food items are segregated appropriately so as to not have cross-contamination with taste or odor and to make sure that perishables are labeled or sealed accordingly to ensure good food safety in storage and hygiene. We at AllHome suggest placing your food in containers to seal off any unwanted odors or taste from mixing while having an organized refrigerator too like BIOKIPS Rectangular Food Container or BIOKIPS Square Food Container, which helps keep food clean, fresh, tasty, and nutritious longer. It’s airtight and leak proof guarantee ensures that your unit will still look and smell clean, the food container is also microwave and dishwasher safe so you know that it’s going to be clean.
Due to the current health situation in our country and with the unpredictable health risks to our well-being, this pandemic should be more than enough to urge and remind you that cleaning your refrigerator is more than just a chore. It could be what keeps you away from food-borne illnesses and what could save you money in the long run, not only on food savings but also electric bills, especially if you have an inverter refrigerator unit.
However if you do not have an inverter model refrigerator we at AllHome have got you covered, these mid-range refrigerators from AllHome Appliance, the SAMSUNG RS54N3103SLTC or the LG GR B369NLRM will surely be worth your while like most inverter home appliances because of how energy efficient and durable all while keeping your food fresh.
Get yourself these gadgets and appliances for sale today, visit any AllHome store near you or check out AllHome online. We offer DIY Hardware, Appliances, Construction Materials, Flooring, Furniture, Homewares, Linens, Sanitary ware, and more! You may also visit our website and enjoy the hassle-free experience of shopping online through AllHome.com.ph today! AllHome online shopping site offers fast delivery, cash delivery and easy payment terms. You may also follow us on our official Facebook page and Instagram account for more updates.
