How to clean a refrigerator inside and out: 30 best home remedies

How to properly clean a refrigerator

The refrigerator requires constant maintenance of all chambers. Be sure to keep the outside of the unit clean:

The entire space of the refrigerator is cleared of contents. Frozen and perishable foods should be moved to a cool place. Spoiled food should be thrown away.
The device is disconnected from the network.
All removable elements are pulled out and taken to the bathroom for further washing.
Open all doors and wait for complete defrosting.
First, wipe off the dust. Be sure to go through all areas, including the capacitor.
Water from the defrosted ice is poured from the pan.
Use a suitable product to clean the refrigerator inside and out.
Wait for the surfaces to dry completely.
Return all products to their original places.

If the recommendations and consistent actions are followed, no problems in care should arise.

Reasons why a stainless steel refrigerator gets dirty on the outside

The main reasons for contamination of the external surfaces of a refrigerator made of stainless steel are the following:

Dust settled on the surface of the refrigerator walls.
Fingerprints left by the owners when opening and closing the door.
Drops of fat and soot. This type of contamination can occur on the refrigerator if it is placed next to a gas stove.
Various stickers on the external surfaces of the refrigerator.
Yellowness that appears on the outer surfaces of the old unit.

Household dirt from the refrigerator should be washed off with usual detergents. It will be much more difficult to get rid of grease and soot, yellowness and stickers. Removing such contaminants can be a real challenge. This will require special medications.

Despite the quality and durability of stainless steel, improper care of the external surface of the refrigerator can lead to damage to the highest quality device and lead to the loss of its beauty. To ensure that your household appliance lasts a long time, follow our instructions.

We use folk remedies

Folk recipes contain components that can be found in every home. They are safe and inexpensive.

Vinegar solution

Vinegar removes dirty stains of any complexity, disinfects the surface and removes odors:

Vinegar is diluted with water. The components are taken in equal quantities.
Treat the surface with the resulting composition using a sponge.
In heavily contaminated areas, leave the composition for 6 minutes.

Soda

Soda solution copes well with stains:

Dissolve soda in warm water.
Soak a sponge in the solution and wipe all the walls of the refrigerator.

A positive property of this product is the ability to destroy pathogenic microorganisms.

Ammonia

A composition based on ammonia is effective. The component copes well with dirt, disinfects surfaces and removes odors:

35 ml of ammonia is dissolved in 350 ml of water.
The composition is applied to the walls of the refrigerator with a sponge or clean cloth.
In case of heavy contamination, leave the mixture for 14 minutes.

Lemon juice or citric acid

Lemon juice or essence can quickly remove dirty stains and unpleasant odors in a short period of time. Lemon juice should be dissolved in water and the walls of the unit should be treated with the solution.

Citric acid is often chosen to clean the refrigerator:

the component is diluted with water;
use a sponge soaked in the composition to wipe all parts;
if necessary, leave the composition for 8 minutes;
then rinse the walls with clean water.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste can easily clean even the dirtiest areas. Apply a small amount of paste to the sponge. It is advisable to choose a paste without abrasive components. The composition is applied to the stains and after 3 minutes wiped with a damp cloth.

How can you wash rubber seals?

Very often, liquid spilled inside the refrigerator drains and gets into the sealing rubber.

Small pieces of food, crumbs and other food particles can also collect there, which eventually begin to rot and emit an unpleasant odor.
The degree of fit of the refrigerator door directly depends on the condition of the seals. If the seals come off in some places, the cold from the chamber will flow out. Because of this, the temperature inside the unit may be insufficient, which will lead to premature spoilage of products and even failure itself . Wash the rubber bands very carefully so as not to damage them, and use only mild cleaning agents:

The best solution remains a soap solution;
disinfect the surface using a baking soda solution;

You can also treat rubber parts with ammonia;
After cleaning, the surface is washed with warm, clean water and must be rubbed with a dry cloth;
If during cleaning you notice that the seal has lost its former elasticity, is cracked and begins to crumble, you need to treat it with glycerin. In advanced cases, the seal must be replaced;
Do not wash rubber with vinegar and other acids, they can destroy the structure of the material.

Chemicals

On store shelves there is a wide range of products designed to clean the surface of the refrigerator from various contaminants.

Magic Power

You can wash the refrigerator from all sides with Magic Power cleaning liquid. The product simultaneously destroys germs and prevents the appearance of mold. The composition is odorless, non-toxic and does not leave streaks on the surface.

Top House

The Top House product can quickly remove any kind of dirty stains from the surface of all cameras. The components carefully care for all parts, remove grease stains, destroy pathogenic microorganisms, and eliminate strong odors. After cleaning, there is no need to rinse the surface with clean water.

Topper

Effective liquid for refrigerators "Topperr" returns cleanliness and shine to the entire surface. It has antibacterial protection, eliminates odors and removes stains of any complexity. Cleaning your refrigerator is easy with this product. It is enough to spray the composition evenly and wait 2 minutes. Then wipe all the walls with a clean rag. There are no streaks or streaks left after cleaning.

Electrolux

The Electrolux product will help you clean your refrigerator in a short period of time. The composition is easy to apply with a convenient spray nozzle. The spray is odorless, leaves no streaks and does not damage the surface. Immediately after application, begin wiping with a dry cloth.

Luxus Clean refrigerator

Cleaning with Luxus Professional A clean refrigerator will not take much time. The product easily removes all types of dirty deposits, eliminates strong odors, prevents the spread of germs, and does not leave dirty streaks or scratches. Based on safe herbal ingredients.

Sano Refrigerator Cleaner

The product can clean any dirty stains from the surface without using water. Eliminates unpleasant odors and has an antibacterial effect. The product is sprayed all over the walls and wiped off with a napkin.

Bon

All refrigerator compartments can be successfully cleaned using Bon. Quickly removes any, even stubborn dirt. Destroys bacteria, prevents the formation of mold, eliminates odors, does not leave streaks and does not scratch the surface.

Sidolux Professional

The product easily removes dirt, eliminates odors and reduces the risk of microbial growth. After cleaning, a film remains on the surface that repels dirt. The walls of the device are sprayed with liquid and left for two minutes. Then the composition is washed off with a damp sponge.

Helfer

The product copes with various dirty deposits. It is convenient to apply to the surface and there is no need to wait for the composition to take effect. Simply wipe with a damp cloth and leave until completely dry.

Zumman

It is convenient to maintain your refrigerator with a whole range of Zumman products. The kit includes the cleaning agent itself, an odor absorber and microfiber cloths. The product stops the spread of germs. The composition is sprayed onto the surface and wiped off with a napkin after three minutes.

Edelweiss

The washing liquid does not contain alkali or acids, so no additional protection is required during operation. The product is sprayed evenly onto the walls and shelves and wiped off with a cloth after 30 seconds. After treatment, there are no traces left, no chemical smell, and the surface is not damaged.

Tortilla Eco

An effective product for refrigerator care is Tortilla Eco. The composition has an antibacterial effect and does not require rinsing with water. It is enough to spray a small amount of the product and then wipe with a dry cloth. If the contamination is severe, then it is advisable to leave the composition for 1.5 minutes.

EFSTO product

You can quickly clean your refrigerator with EFSTO. There are no abrasive components in the composition, so cleaning is gentle, without streaks or scratches. The entire surface is sprayed with liquid and wiped with a napkin.

Limpiya

An effective product designed to clean the surface of the refrigerator inside and out. The composition disinfects and deodorizes the surface, destroys pathogenic microorganisms. The product wipes off easily, without streaks or stains.

Denkmit Feuchte

Disinfecting wet wipes are used for daily care of all refrigerator parts. Use a napkin to wipe all walls and shelves. The only drawback is the rather high price.

House Lux

You can quickly clean your refrigerator using House Lux wipes. The active ingredients can remove even old grease stains. After treatment with napkins, you need to wipe the surface with a clean damp cloth.

Making a refrigerator cleaning schedule

Cleanliness is the key to health. This statement becomes an axiom when using household kitchen appliances. A clean refrigerator is the key to keeping food fresh and free from unpleasant odors.

To prevent the unit itself from causing food poisoning, it is necessary to monitor the condition of all compartments of the refrigerator and freezer.

In order not to risk the health of your household and not to neglect the condition of your kitchen assistant, experienced housewives recommend sticking to a simple cleaning schedule.

Features of daily care

Maintenance comes down to the timely removal of “fresh” drips and stains - removing dried stains is much more difficult.

It is advisable to wipe the refrigerator handle with a disinfecting cloth or treat it with an antibacterial spray after 1-2 days.

Do not underestimate minor contamination - pathogenic microorganisms and pathogenic fungi quickly develop, spread and infect stored products

Weekly task

Before the test purchase of products, an audit of the contents of the refrigerated cabinet should be carried out. You need to get rid of stale products and clean the shelves of traces of dirt.

General cleaning of the refrigerator

The frequency of cleaning depends on the frequency of use of the refrigerator, its load of food and the type of cooling system. The frequency of general cleaning of the refrigerator compartment is once every 3-4 months, the freezer is every six months.

In order not to spend half a day on cleaning, you can wash different parts on different days, for example: clean the vegetable boxes on Wednesday, clean the shelves on Friday, etc.

Eliminating unpleasant odors

The fight against unpleasant odor is carried out using both folk remedies and chemicals.

Lather

To work, you will need any soap that is at home. It is best to choose laundry soap:

Soap is immersed in warm water and foamed.
Apply the composition with a sponge to the walls of the refrigerator.
It will take 14 minutes for all contaminants to be removed.
Then all that remains is to wash the foam with clean water and wipe the surface with a clean cloth.

If there is severe contamination, then the soap is ground on a grater. The chips are poured with water until a paste forms. The mixture is applied to dirty spots and left for 11 minutes.

Toothpaste

Old stains of dirt and strong odors can be eliminated with toothpaste:

The paste is applied to a sponge and distributed evenly over all walls.
After 16 minutes, wipe the composition with a damp sponge.

Cider

Apple cider will quickly remove the glue from the sticker. Eliminates pungent odors and cleans the surface from dirty deposits:

Dissolve 200 ml of cider in one liter of water.
Moisten a sponge in the prepared solution and wipe the walls of the unit.
Then wipe off the product with a damp, clean sponge.

Fresheners and aroma absorbers

Since different foods are stored in the refrigerator, an unpleasant odor may appear even with regular cleaning. All odors collide with each other, mix and as a result the refrigerator begins to smell unpleasant. To eliminate odors and prevent their occurrence, various means and methods are used.

Gel granules

Granules are plastic containers containing gel compounds. The device removes all odors without changing the aroma of the products. The effect of the granules lasts for three months. The absorber is installed on the door or wall of the refrigerator.

Indicator egg

This device not only neutralizes unpleasant odors, but also gives a signal in the event of a sharp change in temperature inside the refrigerator. When the temperature increases, the device turns blue, and when it decreases, it turns white.

Strong odors are eliminated using a carbon filter. Its effect lasts for 1.5 months.

Dispensary neutralizer

There is a carbon filter inside the plastic case. The device lasts for 5 months. It contains only safe components, so it can be installed near products.

Ionizer

The device runs on batteries. It is not necessary to keep it in the refrigerator all the time. 14 minutes a day is enough. The ionizer not only eliminates odors, but also prevents food from spoiling quickly.

Preparation and washing rules

Any process has one or another sequence, following which it will be possible to significantly simplify the task and reduce the time required to complete it.

Likewise,
the algorithm for properly washing a refrigerator includes several key points:

Plan ahead to clean your refrigerator. This is necessary in order to have time to eat or prepare all the perishable foods that are stored in it by the scheduled time and thereby free up the internal space;
Remove all contents of the refrigerator and defrost the device according to the instructions;
Remove all removable elements - shelves, stands for storing eggs, bottles, containers for vegetables and fruits, etc.;
Fill a deep basin or just a bathtub with warm water, add a little dishwashing detergent or grated laundry soap and soak all the removed elements. Let them “sour” a little while you wash the refrigerator inside and out. Contaminants softened in this way will be much easier to wash off. Please note that plastic and glass shelves and other parts must be soaked with warm, not hot water. Exposure to boiling water may cause the material to crack;
After this, prepare a warm soapy solution and use a soft sponge to pre-wipe the refrigerator inside and out, paying special attention to all curves, corners and edges. Hard-to-reach places can be washed with cotton swabs or a gauze swab.

After light dirt has been removed with soapy water, you should proceed to more thorough cleaning of the unit. Considering that many housewives do not like to use household chemicals specifically for cleaning the refrigerator, we will consider all possible folk remedies that will help remove certain stains.

Before first use

Before using a newly purchased device, it must be washed. It is important to remove contaminants that appeared during transportation. Care is carried out using household chemicals or using folk recipes:

Before turning on, wipe all walls and shelves with a dry cloth.
Then prepare a solution from the selected product.
The sponge is moistened in the solution and all surfaces are wiped.
Rinse with clean water and wait until completely dry.

General rules for cleansing

Before you start cleaning the refrigerator, you need to do a little preparatory work:

First, remove all food from the refrigerator. If any of them are perishable, they should be sent to the balcony or placed in cold water. The refrigerator must be set to the “Defrost” mode, remembering to disconnect from the electricity.
Pull out the removable drawers and shelves and put them aside. Rinse them with warm water, adding a little baking soda, then rinse under clean water.
Use a soft sponge without metal inserts. Otherwise, scratches may remain on the plastic parts of the refrigerator.

After washing, you need to wipe all the insides of the refrigerator with a soft towel and leave to dry. All that remains is to return the shelves to their place and set the desired temperature.

Features of cleaning a camera with the No frost system

If the refrigerator is equipped with the No Frost system, then the formation of snow deposits on the walls is not observed. But it is still necessary to defrost the chambers every six months. The unit is turned off from the network, all walls are wiped inside and out with a cleaning agent, and wait until it dries completely.

With my vinegar

If you decide to use traditional methods for cleaning, remember that before you start washing with vinegar you must:

Disconnect the device from the network.
Empty the refrigerator of all food contained in it, and also remove all shelves and drawers.
Wait until the freezer compartment and, directly, the refrigerator itself defrost.
Wipe the inside of the device with detergent to remove all dirt and grease.

After the preparation is completed, you can proceed to the next steps.

In order to properly clean the refrigerator, you first need to prepare a vinegar solution. To do this, you need to dilute vinegar in water in a 1:1 ratio. Next, you need to wipe all equipment from the inside. For the best effect, you need to leave a rag soaked in vinegar in the chamber for several hours.

Please note that not all refrigerators can be wiped with this vinegar solution. Such a remedy will not harm the old, Soviet technology in any way. New models require this product to be used more carefully. Manufacturers advise wiping new models of equipment with plain water to prevent surface oxidation. After the refrigerator has been wiped, you need to wipe it dry and connect it to the network.

Recommendations

Some tips will help keep all refrigerator compartments clean, without the formation of dirty, difficult to wash off deposits. If stains do appear, they begin to be removed before general washing of the device.

Cleaning the freezer

The freezer requires careful care. After defrosting, wipe all drawers and walls with a damp cloth. To disinfect the surface, use a solution of ammonia. Ammonia is dissolved in water. Soak a sponge in the finished mixture and wipe the chamber.

Grease and dirt

You can remove traces of grease and dirt using dishwashing gel:

Dissolve the cleaning agent in warm water.
Apply the composition to dirty areas with a sponge.
For the components to take effect, leave the composition for 4 minutes.
The dirtiest areas are wiped with a brush.
Then it remains to rinse off the product with clean water.

Mold

Traces of mold often appear on rubber. Solutions based on ammonia and acetic acid will help get rid of them:

The selected component is diluted with water.
Apply the composition to the damaged area with a sponge.
It is better to clean the folds of the seal with a toothbrush.

The seals and walls of the refrigerator can be cleaned of mold from Domestos or Beliznoy.

Rust

Rust stains and old deposits inside the refrigerator can be easily removed by solutions based on baking soda or hydrogen peroxide. If rust appears on the door, it is better to paint the area with suitable paint.

Yellowness

The outside of the refrigerator and the white removable parts begin to turn yellow over time. Products such as bleach or stain remover will help you cope with yellowness. Among folk recipes, compositions based on vinegar, soda, and hydrogen peroxide are effective. The selected component is applied to a sponge and wiped all surfaces of the device.

Stickers and glue marks

Sticky marks from stickers or tape can be easily cleaned with vinegar, alcohol or vegetable oil:

the selected product is applied to a cotton pad;
impregnate the adhesive surface with the composition;
it takes 8 minutes for the component to act on a dirty area;
you need to soap the sponge and wipe the problem area with it;
then all that remains is to rinse the area with clean water and wipe dry.

Rules for caring for the outside of the refrigerator

Maintenance work on a stainless steel appliance should begin from the day it was purchased.

Transportation

It is important not to damage the surface of the refrigerator when transporting it to its destination. You should not rely on its strength; be sure to protect the kitchen appliance with protective plastic film. Otherwise, during transportation, scratches or abrasions may form on the surface.

Transport the new refrigerator in an upright position, avoiding tilting to the side. If it is not installed vertically on transport, then look at the instructions. It should indicate which side the refrigerator can be placed on. If the position is incorrect, oil may leak from the compressor, which will cause new troubles for the owner.

The protective film is removed after delivery to the site. Once brought into the house, the refrigerator is washed with a cleaning solution. After washing, it should be wiped dry with a cloth.

Installation

After delivering a household appliance to your home, you need to think about how to install it. This matter is also important, since the organization of subsequent care for him depends on it.

It is unacceptable to place the refrigeration unit in the following places:

Near heating appliances and in close proximity to a gas stove. If this is difficult to do, then at least separate the refrigerator from the stove, for example, with a base cabinet.
Next to the water tap and sink. This is due to the fact that when descaling pans and washing dishes, aggressive substances are often used, which, if they get on the refrigerator, can ruin its surface.
Right next to the kitchen table. Active liquids that can cause corrosion may flow into the device from the table.
In a room with high relative humidity.

You should not turn on the device immediately, as soon as you install it in its permanent place, especially if it was brought in from the cold in winter. Do this 2 hours after installation.

Attention!
When installing a refrigerator, remember that it needs fresh air.

Further steps to care for the surface of the refrigerator consist of 2 simple things - cleaning and polishing.

Cleaning

When cleaning, adhere to the main rule: the less time the contamination remains on the surface, the easier it is to clean it. For cleaning, use microfiber cloths. Abrasive sponges should be completely banned, as they leave scratches.

Cleaners

Do not use chlorine-containing detergents, use gentle preparations that do not have abrasives and do not have a powder composition. It is better to use soap cleaners.

You can clean the exterior surfaces of a refrigerator made of stainless steel with a homemade detergent made from the following ingredients:

water - 0.5 liters;
vinegar - 0.5 liters;
lemon essential oil - 4 drops;
liquid soap - 1 drop.

Pour all ingredients into a plastic bottle with a spray bottle and spray, apply to the contaminated surface. Then all that remains is to wipe these places with a cloth.

Polishing

You can polish your refrigerator if you use one of the following products:

olive oil;
aerosol for polishing furniture;
auto-wax.

By looking at the instructions, you can learn more about the features of caring for your refrigerator. Regular care will preserve the design and functionality of your equipment for a long time.

Care Tips

Proper care of your refrigerator will extend its life and keep food fresh for a long time:

Every day you need to inspect the products stored in the refrigerator.
Every 7-8 days the room is cleaned without defrosting; just remove all the food.
To prevent odor, you need to store baking soda or activated carbon inside.
Wet cleaning is always carried out after turning off the unit from the network.
Do not use preparations containing abrasive components.

Eliminate drops of fat and soot

It is easier to wipe off grease from the outer or inner surface of the refrigerator than other types of dirt.

If the fat layer has already hardened, it must
first be soaked with a warm soapy solution.
In advanced cases, you can leave the solution on problem areas for a while to better soak the fat. After this, the refrigerator is thoroughly wiped with a soft sponge. If spots are still visible in some places, you need to act on them locally. Can be used:

solution based on soda or vinegar;
dishwashing detergent;
household chemicals intended for cleaning ovens.

How to remove glue, traces of tape and stickers

Very often, after removing factory or decorative stickers from the surface of the refrigerator, especially if they have been there for a long time, traces of glue remain.

If
the adhesive layer was old, it will be impossible to wipe it off with a regular soap solution. Use the following tools:

Before peeling off a sticker or paper label, soak it in hot water. Just wet its surface with a sponge and repeat the procedure several times after 5 minutes. After the top layer has been soaked, you can rub it with the hard side of the sponge. This way you can remove the sticker without a trace;
Remains of glue are wiped off with nail polish remover, solvent or alcohol. First, we recommend wiping the surface area in an inconspicuous place with a solvent and making sure that it has not become dull;

Moisten the glue mark with vinegar or vegetable oil, leave for 5-10 minutes, then wipe off with a soapy sponge;
You can soften the glue by heating it with a regular hairdryer. Afterwards it is scrubbed with a soapy sponge or alcohol.

Can it be washed?

Washing your refrigerator with vinegar is not only possible, but necessary. Acetic acid is an excellent tool in the fight against unpleasant odors , persistent, stubborn stains.

Vinegar will preserve the gloss of surfaces and completely destroy fungi, mold, and bacteria.

You can wash any surface with vinegar, the only thing you should avoid is contact with rubber door seals (they may lose elasticity).

To preserve the structure of the rubber seals, after cleaning they must be carefully lubricated with vegetable oil.