Even the most diligent neat-freaks can admit to having had a dirty fridge at some point in time. Sometimes the compact refrigerators in our RVs can become overstuffed. We forget about the leftovers from last week’s BBQ that got pushed to the back and covered by this week’s groceries. Or maybe you didn’t properly clean your fridge at your primary residence before you hit the road, and now you’ve come back to an unsightly mess. Whatever the cause, we can all agree fridge cleanout day is usually one to be dreaded. But in an attempt to make the process a little less painful, here are five steps to help you get your fridge back in order in hardly any time at all.
1. When in doubt, toss it out. The first step in any refrigerator-cleaning job is to go through your food and toss out any questionable items. A container of sour cream you can’t remember purchasing? Toss it. A tinfoil swan you’re not quite sure about? Get rid of that, too. Grab an oversized garbage bag and fill it until you’ve safely ridded your fridge of all spoiled, or soon to be spoiled, food.
2. Give your fridge a good bath. After you’ve thrown out all the expired, outdated, and unwanted food from your fridge, you’re going to want to give the inside a good washing. Generally, it’s best to schedule a fridge cleaning day before you go grocery shopping, but if you’ve just stocked up on food, fill a cooler with ice and place any items that cannot be left out in the cooler, which should work to keep your milk safe until your done.
If you can, pull the shelves from your fridge and place them in your sink that’s filled with warm, soapy water. You’ll want to give them a good scrubbing with a soft-bristled brush or sponge – ensuring any leftovers are cleared away. If your shelves are fixed in place, simply soak a washcloth in warm, soapy water and wash the shelves. Be sure to get the side walls, too!
3. Toothpaste will help remove any tough stains. Don’t believe us? Try for yourself! Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste on a set-in stain and give it a little rub with your soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush works great) and see the stain disappear. Not to mention, it will leave your fridge smelling minty fresh!
4. Try one of these hacks for envy-inducing organization. Once the shelves have been dried and returned to the fridge, take a read through this handy list courtesy of The Krazy Coupon Lady. When space is at a premium, good organization can go a long way.
If you found yourself throwing away a lot of wasted food during step 1, consider organizing your fridge by expiration date – things that need to be eaten first are placed in a designated area, near the front. This should hopefully help you keep better track of what you have, and eventually save you from wasting money by throwing out uneaten food in the future!
5. Still have a lingering odor? Sprinkle a little vanilla or orange extract onto some cotton balls and place them in a shallow dish inside your fridge. Check back in a few hours, and the smell should be gone!
If the problem lies specifically in your vegetable crisper, simply place a piece of a crinkled, brown paper bag in your drawer. Close it and leave it be for 48 hours, and voila!
Do you have any innovative fridge-cleaning techniques? Please leave a comment on our Facebook page, we’d love to read them!