We often get calls from our customers in North Charleston about fridge repairs. Often, problems with the fridge could have been avoided if it had been cleaned!
Today we tackle the refrigerator. We don’t mean just wiping it out and throwing away old food, we want to clean it so well that it looks brand new! It’ll take some time and effort, but well worth it! Why not get it out of the way, If it’s for spring cleaning, a holiday, or even a boring Saturday, deep cleaning it once or twice is good for a year.
First Step- Behind the Refrigerator
Start by taking the fridge away from its normal place to get rid of the gunk and nasty stuff that hides behind and under the fridge. We suggest you get help moving the fridge.
To get the dust bunnies out from under the refrigerator, remove the grill, use a broom handle covered with a rag, and run it underneath to get the dust and debris out of there. Behind the fridge, vacuum everything up and scrub the floor. While behind the fridge, use a vacuum attachment and vacuum the coils (unplug the fridge to do this!). Keeping things like this free of dirt and debris will add years to the life of your fridge.
Second Step- Inside the Refrigerator
On the inside of the refrigerator, use a cleaning spray or a homemade all-purpose cleaner by combining warm water with soap, then wipe with clean water to get the soap off. To sanitize your refrigerator, you can take 1 tablespoon of bleach and mix it with a gallon of water. Wipe until dry.
Third Step- Refrigerator Gasket Seal
This gasket is designed to form an air tight seal that serves as a barrier between the cool air inside the fridge and the warmer external environment.
Check the tightness of the insulating seam around the door by placing a lighted flashlight inside the refrigerator and closing the door. Turn off the lights in the room (this should be done at night) and see if any light escapes from the seams. This will help you pinpoint any leaks. You can also place a piece of paper in the door and try to move it. If the seals are in good working order, you shouldn’t be able to move the piece of paper. If you notice that the seals aren’t tight, give us a call, and we’ll be happy to get that taken care of for you to keep your refrigerator running efficiently.
Fourth Step-Refrigerator Odor
To fight odors in the fridge, fill a small jar with baking soda and put it inside the fridge in the back corner. Another hack to get rid of fridge odor is to get a clean old sock with activated charcoal from an aquarium store, tie a knot in the top, and place it in the back of the refrigerator. This should last a month or two, depending on the size of your refrigerator and how heavily you use it.
Please call our knowledgeable and professional fridge repair technicians in North Charleston with any questions or problems! We’re always happy to help!!
