For today’s challenge we are going to go through each fridge and freeze in our homes (some of us may have several as part of our preps) and give them a thorough spring cleaning. If you don’t have time to do them all at once that’s ok! Start with your primary unit and do more as time permits. You will follow the same process for each unit.
- Remove Contents:
- Store perishables in a cooler or another fridge or freezer while working
- Store perishables in a cooler or another fridge or freezer while working
- Throw Away Rotten Food:
- Anything with mold, slimy, or smelly should be tossed. In your freezer, look for food that is freezer-burned. Some people may choose to discard these items, others may want to just put them at the top of the list to eat sooner rather than later.
- Anything with mold, slimy, or smelly should be tossed. In your freezer, look for food that is freezer-burned. Some people may choose to discard these items, others may want to just put them at the top of the list to eat sooner rather than later.
- Check for Expiration Dates:
- Go through items and CHECK and/or discard anything past its expiration date. There is a lot of debate about using foods past their best-by dates so use whatever method you feel most comfortable with for your family. My personal feeling is if it looks and smells fine I will keep using it. Others in my family will sneakily throw away items they find that are expired…..
- Go through items and CHECK and/or discard anything past its expiration date. There is a lot of debate about using foods past their best-by dates so use whatever method you feel most comfortable with for your family. My personal feeling is if it looks and smells fine I will keep using it. Others in my family will sneakily throw away items they find that are expired…..
- Wipe Down Interior Shelves and Drawers:
- Remove shelves and drawers to clean them thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Dry before replacing.
- Remove shelves and drawers to clean them thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Dry before replacing.
- Defrost Freezer (if applicable):
- If your freezer requires manual defrosting, take the opportunity to do so during this spring cleaning session.
- If your freezer requires manual defrosting, take the opportunity to do so during this spring cleaning session.
- Replace and Reorganize Contents:
- Arrange items neatly, grouping similar items together for easier access.
- Arrange items neatly, grouping similar items together for easier access.
- Replace air and/or water filters:
- Check your appliance manual if you don’t know where these are or what exactly you should be replacing.
- Check your appliance manual if you don’t know where these are or what exactly you should be replacing.
- Clean Exterior Surfaces:
- Wipe down the outer surfaces including door handles. Clean the door gasket with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. Dip a cotton swab into the solution and and run it along the gasket’s seam. Repeat until it is clean and dry with a microfiber cloth.
- Wipe down the outer surfaces including door handles. Clean the door gasket with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. Dip a cotton swab into the solution and and run it along the gasket’s seam. Repeat until it is clean and dry with a microfiber cloth.
- BONUS TASK: Clean the Coils
- Check your appliance’s manual for instructions on how to locate and clean the coils. Usually this is done by vacuum and/or dusting them lightly. The coils help keep your refrigerator at the preferred temperature to help it run more efficiently and keep energy costs down.
ENJOY YOUR SPARKLING FRIDGES AND FREEZERS!!!
-Jodi Weiss Schroeder
http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net