by J.T. Livingston

Created on: April 04, 2009   Last Updated: April 05, 2009

It's there every time you open the fridge - that little plastic container beckoning you ever so close and whispering to you "OPEN ME!" Just as you're about to do just that, something inside the container wiggles and blinks at you and you jump back and slam the fridge door shut. It's about this time that you tell yourself, once again, that it's time to clean out the fridge. Such a simple task, really, yet one of our most put-off household chores. But... be brave, it's not as difficult as it may first appear. Of course, the best solution is to keep the darn thing clean as you go, but who has time to do that?

So, fill that sink with warm, soapy dishwater, grab a few old towels you don't mind trashing afterwards, and dig through your junk drawer for that pair of Playtex gloves you bought back in 1993. First things first: that little plastic container full of who knows what? Toss that sucker - and quickly! Throw it in one of your Walmart plastic bags and tie it securely shut. You might want to wait until the day before your regular trash collection day so that whatever has evolved in that container won't have time to ripen any further at room temperature. Oh yes, and that bag of onions or cucumbers that you forgot you bought six weeks ago? Same thing - thank goodness for those Walmart bags; they do come in handy! Next: Check the expiration dates of EVERYTHING in that fridge. If the margarine has crusted around the edges, toss it.

If you're afraid to open that onion dip because the expiration date has been smudged off, toss it. If that ketchup bottle won't open because the spilled, dried liquid has welded itself permanently to the cap, toss it. If that carton of milk appears to have three separate layers, toss it. You get the general idea. You may have to go grocery shopping when you finish this particular household chore, but it will be worth it. After you've cleared everything out of the fridge, give the entire inside a good wipe down. You may have to use some elbow grease if it's been a while since you've cleaned the poor creature, but good old-fashioned dishwater should suffice.

Clean every crevice and don't forget the door compartments. The best way to clean the meat and vegetable trays is simply to remove them and let them soak in the sink while you're wiping down the rest of the fridge. When the wiping is finished, you're ready to refill the fridge with those condiments and ingredients that somehow managed to survive your weeks or months of neglect. Naturally, before you return them to the fridge, you'll want to take a extra few minutes to wipe off all the bottles and containers.

Oh yes, they are bowing their humble thanks to you as you return them to a clean and sanitary resting place. Now, step back and look inside. NICE! You'll feel so good about how everything looks that you'll pat yourself on the back and look around for your next project. Just remember, the easiest way to keep that fridge cleaned out is to make a weekly date with it. Keep that date, dispose of anything that you can't remember how long it's been in there, check those expiration dates, and wipe up any spills the moment they happen. What a timesaver this will be for you. Now go ahead and do that grocery shopping. Buy yourself a special treat - you've earned it! Good job!

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