Aside from the dishwasher, the refrigerator is probably the most-used appliance in your kitchen. Drips, spills, sticky spots, and odors from foods left in it for too long are all signs it needs a cleaning. Here are 5 essential tips from www.thekitchen.com that will help to keep your refrigerator clean all year round.

1. Pull the fridge away from the wall to clean the coils.
Every refrigerator has a condenser, the unit that releases heat through coils located at the back of the fridge or across the bottom front (behind a grille). Over time these coils can accumulate dust, dirt, and grime, which causes the compressor to have to double its energy usage to keep up the work.

2. Use your vacuum for cleaning the fridge.
If your vacuum has a small brush attachment, use it to clean the crisper drawers in your fridge. It can be a struggle to get these drawers out; instead, use your vacuum to clean out all dried-up leaves, scraps, and dirt from root vegetables.

3. Try cleaning out the fridge every two weeks to avoid a massive deep-cleaning project.
This is my favorite tip. Every other week I do a clean sweep and toss out what’s old. Not only can you get rid of leftovers or produce before it goes bad. And, will help cut down on the time needed to do a deep clean scrubbing project.

4. Wipe down bottles and jars when cleaning the fridge.
You’ve taken the time to empty your fridge, removing the shelves and drawers for a good cleaning, so don’t put sticky jars and bottles back in there. Wipe each one down with a damp cloth before putting them back in the fridge.

5. Arrange items based on the temperature the foods need to be cooked to.
Things that need no cooking to be safe to eat (like prepared foods or leftovers) are placed at the top, then everything else is organized downwards based on the temperature it needs to be cooked to, with the foods needing to be cooked to the highest temperature (like chicken) placed at the bottom.

Related Reading:
Why Cleaning behind The Fridge and Range Are Important
Health Tip: Clean Out Your Refrigerator
The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals by Clea Shearer