This Is the Real Secret to an Instantly Upgraded Fridge
Apartment Therapy’s Spring Cleaning Cure is a free 10-day program that’ll help you achieve a tidier home. Sign up here and get all 10 assignments in your inbox.
When your fridge is in a constant state of disorganization it can lead to spoiled foods, duplicate items, and total chaos come mealtime. So let’s reclaim our fridges today!
Day 6: Reclaim the fridge.
To get your fridge clean and organized, you’ll first need a few things: a cleared surface like the counter or floor to hold everything that comes out, an empty trash can, an empty sink, some dish towels and microfiber towels, and an all-purpose cleaner or some dish soap and warm water.
Follow these steps to get your fridge totally clean:
Take everything out of the fridge, and sort as you go. Toss anything that’s gone bad in the trash, put dirty containers that need washing in the sink, and place what’s being kept on your free surface.
Clean the inside of the fridge. Take out all the removable drawers and shelves, wash them with soap and water, and dry them with a clean dish towel. Wipe down the inside of the fridge with a damp microfiber cloth and use the all-purpose cleaner or dish soap and some water to clean it and buff out anything that’s stuck. Wipe it dry with a clean towel, and don’t forget to clean the seams, corners, and crevices of your fridge.
Clean all the items you took out. Condiments, sauces, etc. — whatever is in a container should be wiped clean.
Put everything back. Now, put back the shelves and drawers, followed by the fridge’s contents.
Clean the outside of the fridge. Take down magnets and all the other things that adorn your fridge and clean them. Wipe down the outside of your fridge and put back those items you took off.
Bonus: Clean on top of and under the fridge. If you really want to take things “above and beyond,” take some time to clean the top of your fridge and below it too.
PRO TIP: Before putting things back into the fridge, consider the organization first. For instance, creating a strategy — like eggs and dairy products should be stored in the coldest part of your fridge — or getting some tools, like fridge organizers, can be so helpful.
How’s the state of your fridge looking? Share it with us in the comments below.
OXO 8-Piece Refrigerator Organization Set
More Ways to Participate in the Spring Cleaning Cure
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Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall progress here.
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The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.
