A refrigerator is one of the most important pieces of equipment in your home. And it is likely that you are already familiar with how to maintain your fridge and keep it from breaking down. But did you know that there are a few other things you should also do to make sure the refrigerator lasts? Therefore, you should consider looking into residential refrigeration service and repairs.
This guide will highlight what those things are, as well as guide you on how to clean and care for your refrigerator so that it’s in tip-top shape at all times.
How To Clean A Residential Refrigerator
Your refrigerator is one of the more expensive appliances in your house, but it’s also an appliance that can be quite difficult to clean. Not only do you have to worry about the inside of the refrigerator, but you also have to worry about the outside of it as well. This can add up to a lot of time spent cleaning and maintaining your fridge. It’s important that your refrigerator is cleaned regularly so that it doesn’t start getting grimy or sticky. But here, we’ll focus mainly on how to clean and maintain the interior of your refrigerator.
- Unplug your refrigerator and make sure it’s turned off. If you’re cleaning around the freezer, leave the door closed so that the temperature doesn’t plummet.
2. Open the door of your refrigerator and look at all of the shelves inside to make sure that they are clean. Make sure that they are free from dirt and dust, and look for any stains or smears on them.
3. If necessary, use a sponge to clean off the shelves. Make sure you’re not getting any pool of water that will drip down and scratch up your floor.
4. Give the shelves one more wipe with the sponge to make sure that there aren’t any dried stains on them.
5. Take a vacuum cleaner and vacuum all of the shelves in your refrigerator where possible, using low suction power to ensure that you don’t damage any electronics.
6. If you still see any stuck-on food or stains, use a damp sponge to wipe them away.
7. Use a cloth that is soaked in some warm soapy water to wipe down the inside of the refrigerator. Make sure you clean the door handles and the door itself as well.
8. Use another cloth to dry off the inside of your refrigerator. Then place everything back into your fridge and close the door.
How To Clean A Refrigerator Door Gasket & Seal
Cleaning up your fridge may not be enough though. Over time, your refrigerator’s door seal and gasket can become grimy from all of the stainings from hot foods and drinks. If you don’t clean this area, then it can cause bacterial growth inside of your refrigerator. Not only that, but it can also obstruct the door’s ability to close properly. If your door doesn’t close perfectly and is hard to shut, then this is probably the reason. Fortunately, cleaning your refrigerator’s gasket and seal is fairly simple. Follow these steps to do so!
- Unplug your refrigerator and turn it off completely before you begin cleaning.
2. Take a sponge that has been soaked in some warm soapy water, and wipe down the door seal and gasket on your refrigerator where possible.
3. Use another sponge to dry off the rest of your refrigerator’s interior, then place everything inside.
4. Wipe the outside of your refrigerator with a cloth that is soaked in some warm soapy water, making sure that you clean all the little nooks and crannies as well.
5. Use another cloth to dry off the rest of your refrigerator and its outer door. When you’re done, make sure you put everything back in its proper place!
How To Clean A Refrigerator Vent & Filter
Vents are a big part of your refrigerator and they can get dirty over time if they aren’t properly cared for. Thankfully, cleaning your vents and filters is fairly easy to do. Follow these easy steps to clean and care for your vents!
- Unplug your refrigerator and make sure it’s turned off.
2. Open up the door of your refrigerator as well as all the shelves inside, and have a look at the vents and filters underneath them to see how dirty they are. If you notice any dirt buildup around them, don’t forget to vacuum them clean as well.
3. If you notice any food caked on the vents in your refrigerator, use a damp sponge (or your vacuum) to clean it off. If the vacuum has too much suction power, this can damage your refrigerator’s electronics.
4. Use a brush to clean any debris from the filters, then replace them with the vents of your refrigerator when you’re done!
Caring for Your Fridge Freezer Gasket & Seal
If you’re having trouble closing your door or keeping it closed properly in your fridge/freezer, this might be because of a dirty seal or gasket inside of it. Luckily, cleaning the gasket and seal on your refrigerator is easy to do!
- First, you’ll want to turn off your refrigerator completely and unplug it for safety reasons.
2. Open the door of your refrigerator as well as all of its shelves, and look into the area between them to make sure that all of it is clean. Make sure that there isn’t any food or dirt built up around the area where the door meets the refrigerator’s frame. If you see any grime or build up there, use a cleaning brush to clean it off by hand. Make sure you don’t get too close to electronics or wiring though!
3. If you notice any food caked on the gasket, use a damp sponge to clean it off. If the vacuum has too much suction power, this can damage your refrigerator’s electronics.
4. Finally, clean off the rest of your refrigerator and place everything back inside before putting on your refrigerator’s cover!
Caring for Your Refrigerator Door Latch & Cables
While cleaning your refrigerator door gasket and seal is often very helpful when it comes to keeping your door closed properly, you may find that there is nothing wrong with that area at all! In this situation, then you may want to look at or check out the cables that run from underneath the latch to make sure they are secure.
- Unplug your refrigerator from its power source and make sure it is turned off.
2. Open the door of your refrigerator as well as all the shelves inside, and have a look at the cables that run from underneath the latch where it meets the rest of your refrigerator’s frame. If you notice any frays or tears in these cables, make sure to use some pliers or duct tape to secure them!
3. Now that everything is secure, flip the latch so that it’s facing down, and put your refrigerator back together.
How to Check Your Refrigerator Thermometer
Your refrigerator works by keeping food cold with cold air, a process called refrigeration. The amount of food you put in your refrigerator, the temperature outside, and how much carbon dioxide is generated every day affect whether you’re able to keep your food cold or not. If you want to take it one step further though, there are plenty of ways you can control how much food your refrigerator can keep cold!
- First, make sure the refrigerator door is closed.
2. Open the freezer compartment of your refrigerator and make sure that the thermostat is turned to its coldest setting. (This should be 16 degrees Fahrenheit or less.)
3. Open the door of your refrigerator and take a look at your food thermometers, as well as the temperature of your ambient temperature in your kitchen.
In a nutshell, these are the steps that you can follow in order to maintain the refrigerator. Though if you are looking for professional residential refrigeration service and repairs you can consider seeking or getting help from Same Day Chicago Refrigeration and get the best help.
