Guest Author - Heather DeGeorge
Recently I posted a Facebook status that read that I had just vacuumed my freezer. Multiple friends responded that they never heard of such a thing. Turns out, many people don't really "deep clean" their refrigerator and/or freezer. Some people just don't think much of it and some don't know how they'd even go about it.
I will warn you that this is an area where you want to tread with caution and keep a digital camera on hand if you have one. If you have the user manual for your fridge or freezer, get it out. If you don't, look for it online using the manufacturer and model number, or call and order a new one. The manual can tell you how to remove shelves or drawers that aren't obvious. Of course, you could be careless like me and just take the chance that you're going to break something... but I don't advise it!
This is the appliance that holds our food. Cleaning it thoroughly once in a while is a reasonably good thing to do for your overall health as well as the maintenance of the machine itself. It's a means of forcing you to go through the old condiments and things that have long been freezer burnt. It's not a short task by any stretch, but it also doesn't need to be done often.
What to do with the contents?
Since we are talking about deep cleaning, this means clearing the space completely. You want to tackle one section of your unit at a time--either the refrigerator OR the freezer. If you have both in one, you have no choices, but if you have the choice--one at a time.
You have some options here. You could do it on a very cold day. Optimal is 35-40F because lower than that is freezing (which can damage some of the foods in your fridge) and higher could spoil them. If it's freezing outside but you have a cold porch, that might work.
You could store your goods in a cooler.
Or you could wait until your fridge or freezer is nearly empty. This actually happens in my house once in a while (for the fridge anyway).
Regardless, empty everything out.
Remove whatever parts you are comfortably able to remove
And by "comfortably" I mean anything that you don't have to force to get out. At this point it is worth noting that you are about to build a new relationship with this appliance. If you can, go get the manual and see what it says about removing parts for cleaning. As a rule, I don't remove anything that requires a tool for removal. So if a screwdriver is necessary--I don't bother with it.
If you're new to this and you don't know your appliance well enough to know what goes where and how it fits (and you don't have a manual) then take a digital photo of it before removing. It may prove to be a big help in the end. If this is your first time, start with the easy things--shelves for the most.
If you've mastered shelves, it's time to get more adventurous. Move on to the drawers. After 7 years with my fridge, I recently moved all the way up to removing the clear plastic shields on my drawers. In fact, there is nothing I can't remove on my refrigerator anymore (although one item DID suffer damage in my recent endeavors--but the piece is still functional).
Get rid of the big dirt first
If there is no liquid standing anywhere in your fridge or freezer, you can actually use a regular vacuum and just vacuum every last piece of your refrigerator and/or freezer. If you don't have access to a vacuum, find a soft handbroom and sweep it out.
Go back for the real dirt
Over time, I have found that the best way to do this is with rubber gloves, a sponge that has a soft AND a scrubby side (used in moderation so as not to scratch your interior) and paper towels (even though I am a die-hard cloth towel advocate). If you have a little bucket or large bowl you can put the hot water in, do that. Then, put in the sponge and wring it out until it still has a little water left in it. Run over the caked on dirt and when it won't come off, squeeze a little of the hot water onto it--trying to loosen it up. Use the scrubby side of the sponge SPARINGLY as it will scratch your finish.
After doing this, go back and dry it with the paper towels--which will grap the moisture quickly and thoroughly. Moisture in a refrigerator or freezer is bad news for a variety of reasons: it can turn to mold in the fridge, and it will freeze in the freezer.
Clean the components that are currently not in the appliance
Once the inside is clean, come back to the pieces you have outside of your appliance. Again, hot water and if necessary some dish soap (which should be food-safe since you use it on your dishes and cookware). Make sure these pieces are completely dried before returning to the appliance as well. You might be able to leave them out to air dry, or you can also use paper towels here.
Reassemble with care
Once everything is clean and dry, it's time to put it all back together. DO NOT PANIC if you can't figure out how to put a piece back. Try to leave it alone for a while and either put back some other piece or take a break. Often, leaving a problem and coming back later will result in a fresh look. If you have digital photos or your manual, refer to them. If you have to force a piece, you're probably going to have a problem. Granted, there are some pieces that require some force to remove and return; but by and large you shouldn't have to exert any significant force to handle the parts of your appliance.
What if I break something?
If you break a piece that is beyond use, call the manufacturer and see if they can offer you a replacement part--often for a fee. It's worth noting that if you break a piece while following directions in the manual, I might argue with the manufacturer to replace the part free of charge since you did so while following their directions. It may not work, but it's worth trying.
If you have to exert any kind of force in this process, it's likely that you're going to break something. Be very careful.
In the end, you will have a clean refrigerator or freezer (or both). If you've never deep cleaned your refrigerator, you might be alarmed at the hidden meat juices or mold buildup you find. Or you might be shocked at how clean it has stayed for so long. Either way, rest assured that your food is safe and well kept in a clean appliance.
