Last Updated on October 8, 2019 by Diane Hoffmaster
This post about how to keep the refrigerator clean and organized has been sponsored by Best Buy. All opinions expressed here are my own.
With a very active family, including hungry teens, keeping the refrigerator well stocked is a must. However, keeping the refrigerator CLEAN is incredibly challenging. Over the years, I have learned a few simple refrigerator organization hacks and fridge cleaning tips that have made my life much easier. This post will help you keep your refrigerator smelling clean and looking organized without making it your full time job.
Table of Contents
How to keep refrigerator smelling clean
Okay, if your refrigerator smells like something died in there, it’s time to do a massive clean out and find the culprit. Take everything out (yes that’s a pain!) and stick it on the counter. If your eyes are bad like mine, you need a magnifying glass to find the expiration dates on food packaging. Open everything and look inside. Smell the contents. If it is questionable, don’t put it back in! Once that is finished, wipe down all the jars.
Like this post about how to keep the refrigerator clean? Read these homemaking hacks, too!
- DIY Dishwasher Tablets Give You Clean Dishes for Only Pennies!
- This is the Easiest Way to Clean the Microwave!
- How to Clean Your Dishwasher: The Grimy Reality!
Once you have removed the source of the smell, it’s time to put in a refrigerator deodorizer. This doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. What is the best thing to absorb odors? BAKING SODA! It can be as simple as opening box of baking soda and sticking it on the shelf. However, this always runs the risk of tipping over. As a result, you may end up with baking soda all over everywhere.
DIY refrigerator deodorizer
How do you deodorize a refrigerator easily? It really isn’t that hard! To make a DIY refrigerator deodorizer, you will need a small mason jar and a piece of thin fabric that fits under the canning lid.
- Place baking soda in a small jar and stir in a few drops of essential oils. Citrus is a good one for a clean refrigerator smell.
- Place a small scrap of thin fabric over the lid of the jar and screw on only the outer ring of the canning jar. Place this in the back of the fridge to absorb odors. This will keep your refrigerator smelling clean for quite a while.
- To give your refrigerator deodorizer a burst of freshness, stir the baking soda and add a few more drops of essential oil. Want to keep fridge clean and fresh? Just replace the baking soda every few months.
Simple Ways To Keep Your Fridge Organized
Keeping the refrigerator organized isn’t always easy. Mainly because there are probably a half a dozen people going in and out of it every hour. Things need to be easy to find, easy to use, and easy to clean! Here are a few refrigerator organization hacks that may make your life easier:
Use a small Lazy Susan.
A Lazy Susan makes getting the items from the back of the fridge a lot easier! Instead of reaching past 12 open containers and knocking things over, just give the Lazy Susan a twirl and bring that hidden jar of pickles right to you!
Line the shelves to keep the refrigerator clean:
Shelf liners and fridge mats are an absolute must to make refrigerator cleaning easier. Knowing how to clean the fridge isn’t hard… but KEEPING it clean is a constant battle. Lining the shelves with easy to clean fridge mats and shelf liners means you can just wipe up spills with a sponge in an instant.
Organize with small baskets:
Head over to your local dollar store for small, inexpensive baskets. This prevents small things from being lost or knocked over.
Keep the refrigerator clean with binder clips.
Have you ever accidentally ripped off the zipper on those resealable bags of shredded cheese? Spilled cheese gets everywhere if it opens in the cheese bin! Grab a few sturdy binder clips and put them to good use in your kitchen. Binder clips are a great way to keep bags of shredded cheese closed.
Make a refrigerator organization chart:
This might be a bit of overkill but a diagram of where food goes might help your family keep your refrigerator clean. Beverages go on the bottom shelf, leftovers should be stored at eye level so you don’t forget to eat them.
Make a keep refrigerator clean sign
While a sign may or may not actually help keep the refrigerator clean, it can’t hurt, right? Hang a ‘keep refrigerator clean’ sign on the outside of your fridge. A visual reminder of your hard work might inspired your family members to put things back where they belong. Then, teach your KIDS AND SPOUSE how to clean the fridge. Once they figure out how much work it takes to clean, they may be more helpful in keeping it that way!
How do you know if it is time for a new refrigerator?
Buying a new refrigerator doesn’t happen often for most people. Keeping your fridge clean, vacuuming the coils, and having it serviced occasionally keeps old refrigerators running smoothly for a while. However, eventually, old refrigerators need to be replaced. We are almost at that point right now. Our fridge is over 15 years old and has already been repaired once.
I am doing some research and am honestly amazed at the cool features in the latest refrigerator models! How do you know if it is time for a new refrigerator? If your refrigerator is more than 10 years old, you may want to watch for certain obvious problems. Excessive condensation and the motor running hot are two common indicators that your fridge is struggling.
If food is going bad quickly or you notice trouble cooling, you can call a technician to come check it out. Based on their recommendation, you will either need to repair it, or get a new refrigerator if the repair costs are too high.
LG’s InstaView™ Door-in-Door® Refrigerators
If you are considering a new fridge, check out the new LG InstaView™ Door-in-Door® Refrigerator with Craft Ice™ from Best Buy. It has so many upscale features that will help you keep your fridge clean and organized.
Key refrigerator features that keep it clean and organized:
Some of the best refrigerator features I have found with this include:
- InstaView™ Door-in-Door®: See right through the glass panel door and access certain items without having to open the whole fridge.
- Drawer divider: Makes it easy to organize frozen food. Because keeping the freezer organized is also important!
- Organize contents with ease: Includes 4 split shelves, 3 fixed shelves, cantilevered shelves and more to provide ample space for storing items. No more storing things sideways and having them spill!
- Water dispenser: Save space inside and skip the water pitcher or bottled water. The water dispenser delivers filtered water with one touch.
- Door alarm: Alerts you when the refrigerator door is accidentally left open to save energy.
Solves the ‘what’s in the fridge’ dilemma!
Ever have your kids standing in front of the open refrigerator door just STARING inside? Annoying, isn’t it? This fridge can help! The LG InstaView™ design lets you see inside your refrigerator without ever opening the door—simply knock twice on the unique glass panel. It also has an adjustable bin that fits snacks and drinks of all sizes so small kids can find their snacks easily.
Unique ice making ability
The LG Craft Ice™ maker automatically makes batches of slow-melting round ice. An additional ice maker on the door produces traditional cubed or crushed ice. If you love to entertain, the unique ice making features of this fridge will come in handy.
Keeps produce fresh longer
This LG refrigerator offers 3 innovative cooling technologies that work together to extend the life of fruits and vegetables and help keep all foods fresh longer. If you have ever had to throw out moldy vegetables or stale tasting bread, this is a feature you might like!
Are You Ready For An Upgrade?
If your fridge is filled with food spills, sticky places, and a bad smell, these fridge tips should help tackle the mess. Keep the refrigerator clean and organized so it smells fresh and food stays safe. And when the time comes and these fridge tips don’t help any more, upgrade to a new refrigerator! Check out Bob Vila if you need help deciding if your fridge is ready to be replaced.