As you make more frequent trips to the grocery store to stock up on all the fixings for your Thanksgiving dinner, your refrigerator becomes fuller and fuller. Then your new bounty pushes your leftovers (which let’s face it, are meat surprise by now) farther to the back of the fridge. And before you know it, the holiday is over, and your fridge is overflowing with leftover turkey and casseroles.
Sound familiar? We thought so, which is why the timing couldn’t be better for National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. Set your refrigerator up for success this holiday season with these tips.
Refrigerator Cleaning
- Empty the contents of your refrigerator, checking for expiration dates as you go. Throw away or compost any expired foods, and place the rest in a cooler while you work. Can’t find an expiration date? When in doubt, throw it out!
- Unplug the refrigerator so you don’t waste energy as you work. Use a gentle cleaner to wipe down shelves, doors and drawers. Warm, soapy water usually does the trick. GE recommends 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of water.
- Rinse away any residue with warm water. Then, dry the refrigerator with a gentle cloth.
Refrigerator Organizing
Now it’s time to put all the food back in the refrigerator. If you don’t organize your refrigerator contents often, take this opportunity to put everything back in a way that makes sense. Low-humidity drawers are ideal for fruit, while higher humidity works best for vegetables. Store meats in the back.
Keep leftovers front and center of the refrigerator so you remember to eat them before they spoil. You might even consider labeling leftovers with the date in which they were prepared. Be honest with yourself. If you aren’t going to eat the leftover lasagna, get rid of it.
Wipe down condiment bottles to remove spills and drips before returning them to the refrigerator.
Plastic bins provide a clever way to organize fridge contents and cut down on clutter. Or invest in a Lazy Susan to prevent losing bottles and jars in the back of your fridge.
Once your refrigerator is cleaned and organized, you’re one step ahead in your holiday prep. Isn’t that cool?
Photo credit: GE Appliances
What are your best tips for a clean and organized refrigerator? Share them in the comments below!
The best advice I have is HOT HOT HOT (dish) soapy water. Fill your sink with the hottest water you can get & some dawn. Use rubber gloves so you don’t get burned. Soak some up with the towel & let it sit on the spill for a little bit (30 seconds?). Almost anything will rub right off. & I’ve had some terrible things to clean off with a husband who’s a chef. Even syrupy messes are no match. Good luck everyone.
See, I didn’t try using really hot water. That makes sense — thanks!