by Wendy Brumback

Created on: February 16, 2010   Last Updated: February 20, 2010

One of the most important elements of spring cleaning the kitchen is to clean out the refrigerator. For most of us this is a task we do not take lightly.  The fridge is one of the great kitchen inventions.  Unfortunately, it is subject to spills and smells.  Here is a list to help you in the cleaning process.

First you will need to turn off your fridge and remove everything in it.  This can be a very grueling task, so if at all possible do this right before you go shopping.  This way you will have less to remove and it will be easier to put your groceries away after the fridge has been cleaned.  If your freezer needs to be defrosted now is a great time to do it.  Every freezer is different, so be sure to follow the instructions for the model you own.  And don’t worry about any freezer items you may still have.  Simply put them in a cooler with the rest of your refrigerator items.  The frozen items will help to keep the other items cool while you are cleaning.  Once done, if your freezer is still defrosting, go ahead and put the freezer items in the fridge, it generally takes about 24 hours for items to unfreeze, so you will be ok.

Your next step is to clean out the space with soap and water.  Your average dish soap works great here because it is made to fight grease and dirt.  Pull out all the shelves and drawers; scrub them down with soapy water then rise clean.  You can now choose to let them air dry or wipe them dry with a dishcloth or paper towels. 

After that is done you need to wipe down (again with soap and water, then rinse with only water) the inside of the fridge including all walls, along the shelving hooks, in the door shelves, the butter tray and the egg holder.  Be sure to pay extra attention to the egg holder, as it attracts more dirt in the grooves than most other places in the fridge.  After wiped down be sure to dry.  Remember that your freezer will need to be cleaned out in the same way once it is fully defrosted.

Once everything is clean you will need to put the shelves back into the fridge and freezer.  Now you can place the food back into your refrigerator, be sure to organize it in a manner that will suit you.  While we all know where we like our items to go, it is still a good idea to follow a few rules: Keep meats separate from fruits and vegetables, place drinks on the tallest shelf (milk and juices will generally only fit on this

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