How To Clean My Refrigerator

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Cleaning out the refrigerator is a particularly un-fun chore: It's cold. You're crouched on the floor. And you're literally reaching into the unknown — who knows what mess is lurking back there? Here's how to tackle the beast, whether you have 10 minutes or a half hour.

The 10-Minute Once-over
Do this monthly (weekly, if you see big messes and spoiled food).
1. Eyeball the contents and toss any food that has expired and leftovers that are more than a few days old.

2. Scrub away easy-to-spot stains or spills using a no-scratch sponge dipped in warm water with a dab of mild soap, and rinse with a clean, well-wrung sponge or cloth.

3. To ensure a good seal that keeps in the cold, wipe the gasket (the door seal) with the damp sudsy sponge. Wipe with a damp cloth to rinse and then wipe dry.

4. Swipe the handle with a sanitizing wipe. Buff away any exterior fingerprints with a microfiber cloth or use a stainless steel appliances cleaner, like Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner.

5. Dirty coils (located at your fridge's base behind a grill or on the back of the machine) make the fridge work harder and can even affect its temperature, jacking up your electric bill and potentially causing food spoilage. Unplug the fridge and use a coil cleaning brush (available at hardware stores) or a vacuum's crevice attachment to clear away dust.

RELATED: 5 Biggest Mistakes You Make With Your Fridge »

The 30-Minute Deep Dive
Do this once a season.
1. Remove every food item, throwing out the old and expired (yes, even condiments — most should be chucked after a year).

2. As you go, slide out shelves, drawers, or bins that are removable. Wash these by hand in the sink and dry well. Don't put them in the dishwasher (unless the manual says it's OK) — they could warp.

3. Wipe the interior walls and non-removable fixtures with a sudsy non-scratch sponge. For particularly stuck-on gunk, cover the spot with a hot, wet cloth for a few minutes, or use a soft plastic scrub brush to whisk it away.

4. Wipe down the gasket and clean the exterior, as mentioned above. To help keep stainless steel fingerprint-free longer, buff on a light coating of mineral oil with a soft cloth.

5. Finally, take care of the dust. Unplug the fridge, and clear debris from the coils, and clean off the fridge's top, too.

And what about the freezer?
It's generally not necessary to do a full defrost — these days, most fridges are frost-free (the inside walls heat up slightly on a schedule to keep moisture from freezing to them). If you do have a frozen spot, say, from a spilled ice-cube tray, place a hot, wet rag on top of it for a few minutes to melt it off. This method also helps clean up frozen spills.

RELATED: 4 Commandments for Keeping a Tidy Fridge »

Photo: Abdul Kadir Audah/Getty

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