Challenge: 30 Days to an Organized Home--Day 18

Challenge: 30 Days to an Organized Home--Day 18

Good Morning!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Ours was very busy, but we got a ton of work done.

Assignment #18

The Fridge

Ah, the fridge.  I try to keep it neat & clean but I always end up seeing drips and crumbs just days after I clean it.  I guess there's no way to avoid it.  It's bound to happen.

Start by removing all food from your fridge.  You can put in a cooler so it won't spoil or you can just work at lightning speed, like I do!  Once everything is out, do a "freshness audit", tossing out anything that is sketchy or questionable.  

Next, remove all shelving, drawers and anything else that lifts or pops out.  Be careful with the glass pieces.  Set them aside for now so that the glass can get closer to room temperature. Use a clean soapy rag or a 50/50 mixture of vinegar & water to clean the inside of the fridge.  Because food is stored here, do not use harsh cleaners.  No bleach, No 409, No Mr. Clean!  If you won't clean your plates with it, then don't use to clean your fridge!  Be sure to get the top, bottom and all the small crevices.

If you used soapy water, rinse well using diluted vinegar.  This will remove any soap left behind.  Vinegar will deodorize your fridge as it cleans.

Wash all shelves & drawers in warm soapy water.  Rinse well and dry.  Do a quick wipe down with your 50/50 vinegar & water too.  Your glass shelves will look great!

Put everything back into the fridge as promptly as possible.  Add a freshly opened box of baking soda to keep it smelling fresh & clean.

Special Cleaning:

The Gasket

You know that rubber thing around your fridge door that keeps it sealed nice and tight?  It gets really dirty and can even grow mold & mildew.  It's very important to clean the gasket regularly.  Follow these steps while your fridge is empty:

1.  Begin by wiping the gasket down to remove as much dirt as possible.
2.  Fill a small spray bottle with undiluted hydrogen peroxide.
3.  Spray the gasket well while opening it open with your fingers.  Be careful because you can rip the gasket.
4.   Allow peroxide to sit for several minutes.
5.  Wipe away with a clean cloth.  Use cotton swabs to get down into the cervices
6.  When all dirt, mildew and mold are gone wipe the gasket down with your vinegar solution to remove any residue.

It does take a few extra minutes to clean the gasket, but trust me, it's worth it!

To learn how to clean the coils, please check out this post at One Good Thing By Jillee!

Check back tonight at 9pm for my results & linky!

Live Frugal.  Live Happy.