Here are some tips and hints for keeping your fridge working to maximum efficiency.
- Always follow any food storage recommendations on the packaging.
- Don’t buy too much food and drink and cram it into your fridge. There needs to be space so the cold air can circulate freely.
- Ageing and decomposing fruit and vegetables can cause other fresher produce to decompose more quickly. Use Crisper Fresh-N pouches to prolong the life of fruit and vegetables. Regularly check what you have stored, and throw out any lurking produce that is past its sell-by date.
- You need to check the contents of your fridge every couple of days, so that you can avoid waste, and check sell-by dates and products.
- Pull out all food before the regular major shop, and give the inside and drawers a really good clean (see suggestions below).
- Place your Fridge Fresh-N pouch on a middle shelf by the fan for maximum effectiveness.
- Put older foods at the front so you can use them up first.
- Keep the inside nice and neat when returning the items back to the fridge.
- Raw meat or fish should be stored on the bottom shelf so it cannot drip and contaminate the foods below. Store cooked meats above the raw meats.
- Cover left-over meals, raw and cooked meat and fish, as well as any chopped fruit and vegetables with cling film, foil or in a sealed container.
- Wipe up spills immediately.
- Check the fridge temperature is always at 5°C for optimum working efficiency and safety.
Fridge cleaning tips:
- It is easiest to thoroughly clean the fridge when food stocks are fairly low.
- If possible, clean out the fridge on a cool day.
- First, turn the appliance off. There are dials or controls in the back of the fridge. Turn them off or to zero.
- Remove food items and place them into a cool bag, preferably with some ice blocks.
- Next, take out the shelves and drawers, and wash them in warm soapy water or a water-based solution of baking soda. Rinse and allow to air dry.
- Clean the interior walls and door panel with an all-purpose, non-abrasive cleaner.
- Gently brush door seals with an old toothbrush to remove any food debris.
- Clear the filter hole of any blockages with a long wooden skewer to allow water to evaporate effectively.
- If you can, pull the fridge out and wipe down the outside walls.
- Vacuum and wipe the floor under the fridge.
- Vacuum the condenser coil at the rear with a soft brush attachment, to remove any accumulated dust.
- Push the fridge back and turn it back on.
- Return the food items keeping in mind the list above.
- Check in one-half hour to ensure that the fridge is running correctly.
