Benefits Summary:
- Increase your refrigerator’s efficiency.
- Save energy.
- Protect your family from germs and mold.
Now that you’ve got the inside of the refrigerator all clean, don’t forget the outside. Cleaning the exterior of your refrigerator requires few special tools and little know-how, so set aside an hour or two and you’ll have it done for the season.
First, remove dust and debris from under the unit. A yardstick, duster with extendable handle, or even a wire clothes hanger can be used to sweep debris from beneath your refrigerator. Special vacuum cleaner attachments are also available online or through your local home improvement store. Cleaning often will increase your refrigerator’s efficiency and save energy.
At least twice annually (and more in dusty climates or if there are pets in the home,) plan to clean the condenser coils on your refrigerator. These coils are used to release the heat removed from the refrigerator’s interior. When they are dusty or covered they become inefficient at releasing that heat. To clean them, unplug the refrigerator, remove the cover and vacuum, using your vacuum’s crevice tool.
Your refrigerator may also have a drip-pan which should be cleaned bi-annually or quarterly. The pan collects the condensation generated by the fridge. Cleaning is simple, but be prepared for pans can become moldy and gross. Wear gloves and have the bleach handy. To clean, unplug the refrigerator, remove the grill from the front of the unit and locate the drip pan (it should be on top of the condenser coils,) remove the pan, clean thoroughly—USE BLEACH, dry and replace the pan and grill.
Protect your family, save energy, and increase your refrigerator’s efficiency with these simple steps.