How to Keep Your Refrigerator Well Maintained

Although many people take them for granted, a refrigerator is one of the most useful and necessary items in the home. Keeping it maintained properly is of the utmost importance when your goods need to be kept chilled or frozen. 

Try out these tips to learn how to keep your refrigerator well maintained.

Clear the Clutter

Let’s face facts here: that thirteen-year-old bottle of ketchup sitting in your refrigerator’s door shelf isn’t going to throw itself away. It’s time to clean up that thing. Those tired leftovers from holidays past and those expired but half-full bottles of BBQ sauce have got to go.

Keeping food in the refrigerator doesn’t mean that it can’t go bad. Contaminants, airborne particles such as mold and other fungi can easily put old food in the “danger zone”. 

We’re talking about food poisoning here. Leftovers should be thrown away after a few days. Attempting to consume suspect foods that have been sitting around for too long is asking for nothing but trouble.

Always check expiration dates on perishable items like milk, eggs and other dairy items. Purchasing a magnetic whiteboard will let you attach it to the refrigerator door to write down important expiration dates.

Keep Out the Heat

Another rarely checked part of the refrigerator are its seals. Inefficient seals can end up destroying your refrigerator by allowing way too much warm air inside. 

This will cause the thermostat to keep telling the cooling unit built into the refrigerator that it’s too warm. That will of course force the refrigerator to work even harder to keep things cool, shortening its lifecycle. 

The average cost of a refrigerator repair is something like $250-$300 according to all of the businesses we’ve checked with. Save some time and money by inspecting your refrigerator seals and keeping them clean. If you need to, go out and get some replacement seals. It’ll certainly be worth the cost when compared to buying a whole new refrigerator. 

Blow It out the Rear

When was the last time you checked the rear of your refrigerator? If you’re like most people, the answer is never. Maybe it’s time to take a look back there. Look for items such as the vent, which helps to maintain the temperature, to see if it needs cleaning. 

Next, check out the small drip pan on the lower rear side to see if it needs to be emptied. A full or clogged pan will lead to problems like the thermostat having trouble keeping things cooled down properly. 

Take a deep breath, be brave and pull your refrigerator away from the wall. Don’t be shocked if you see a huge amount of dust and cobwebs clinging for dear life all over the back of the refrigerator. This naturally happens over the years, as the radiator elements attract particles in the air. A great tip to try is using a vacuum to remove some of the dust and grime from the radiator. Keeping those coils clean will really make a big difference in how well the refrigerator behaves. You should be able to notice quite a difference in the temperature of the unit after a good cleaning. 

Give the Freezer the Cold Shoulder

If your refrigerator has a built in freezer, you need to show it some love. Most modern freezers do not accumulate ice buildup, but you’ll still have to be vigilant about their cleanliness. Don’t keep your freezer stocked to full capacity any more than you have to. Replace the ice in your trays after a few weeks. Throw your ice trays in the dishwasher to remove smells and stains.

Make sure to remove the freezer items every few months in order to wipe up any spilled fluids. While you are doing that, be sure to check for any long expired items. 

Conclusion

Following these tips will leave your refrigerator in great shape and will help prevent any premature wear.