How Often Should You Clean Your Fridge?
How Often Should You Clean Your Fridge?

Unless you're messier than the average couple, two adults usually only need to clean the fridge out once every three to four months. It's important to make sure you're keeping your refrigerator clean on a regular basis, but you probably don't have to clean it quite as often as you might think.

Prevent Odor Buildup

Prevent Odor Buildup

If you're like most homeowners, your fridge isn't necessarily the most organized place in your home. It's easy for leftovers to need to fit themselves wherever there's space in the fridge, and if they're not eaten before they have a chance to spoil, you can find yourself discovering some unpleasant smells that can ruin the taste of your fresh food.

A box of baking soda can help limit odors in the fridge, but you'll also want to change that out every so often to ensure that it's still doing its job. The best rule of thumb is to clean out every surface when you swap out the baking soda -- every three to four months -- so that you start with a fresh refrigerator every time.

Discarding Old Food

Discarding Old Food

When things get hidden behind larger items in your refrigerator, it's easy for you to forget about them until they're long past the point of expiration. However, not every expired food does give off a smell or discolor to let you know that you need to throw it out. Sometimes, the only way to check is to check the date, and that requires you to physically get in the fridge and inspect things for yourself.

Cleaning out your fridge offers the perfect chance to get rid of old food once it's past the due date. When you clean out the fridge, you can and should remove everything from the shelves so you can get at each section of the appliance. This can help you spot any offenders and toss them out.

Cleaning Each Shelf

Cleaning Each Shelf

Nobody wants to touch something sticky on a glass surface, no matter what it is. When it's your refrigerator, you really don't want to touch something sticky, so it's a good idea to use a sponge with water or mild cleaners every few months.

Sometimes, despite the best of intentions, food can spill when you place it in the fridge or leak out of its containers without you knowing about it. A regular cleaning can keep the surfaces looking their best, while you should always take the time to wipe up spills whenever you see them happen!

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