Top Tips to Look After Your Fridge, by Fisher & Paykel

The refrigerator is one of the most frequently used appliances, constantly working to keep your food fresh and drinks cool and yet it is often the most overlooked in terms of cleaning. Jo Jackson, Market Product Manager, Fisher & Paykel Appliances shares her top tips when it comes to looking after your fridge freezer and ensuring that it continues to do its job for years to come.
 
1. Maximise efficiency with proper maintenance
In order to maximise the operating efficiency of your appliance you should be regularly vacuuming the flooring around your refrigerator. It is also important to clean behind your refrigerator where dust and debris can accumulate, dusty refrigerator coils will lead to inefficient cooling as these are the elements that release heat from the fridge, but they will struggle to do so through dirt and grime.

2. Prolong the life of groceries by cleaning every 1-2 weeks
Adding a deep clean into your routine before you bring home your weekly shop is a great way to ensure regular cleaning and means that you won’t have to remove as much food whilst you do so.
Depending on the amount and types of food stored you should be following these simple steps every 1-2 weeks to keep your refrigerator and freezer looking and smelling its best.

3. The secret to eliminating odours
We’ve all opened the fridge only to be met with a less than desirable smell. Sometimes even after spending time clearing out old food, wiping down surfaces and disinfecting drawers you’re still left with a lingering stale odour. Whilst there are refrigerator fresheners available to purchase, you don’t necessarily need to go out and buy a new product. Instead, you can opt to use items you already have in your cupboards: try adding a few drops of vanilla essence or vinegar to the water before cleaning to help remove and prevent that ‘stale refrigerator’ smell. It is important however not to use harsh chemicals, abrasives, ammonia, chlorine, bleach, concentrated detergents, solvents, or abrasive scouring pads on any part of your refrigerator as some of these chemicals may dissolve, damage and/or discolour the interior of your refrigerator.
 
4. The perfect solution to ensure clean glass shelves
Glass shelves - including Fisher & Paykel Appliances’s cantilevered shelving and bottle holders - often prove a challenge to clean, however the best solution is the simplest when it comes to maintaining the look and hygiene of glass products. It is best to clean with liquid detergent dissolved in warm water and a soft lint-free cloth then rinse clean with water and dry with a clean, lint-free cloth.
 
5. Don’t forget to clean the ice storage
You might think that the ice storage is the cleanest area of the freezer- after all it’s only water! Shockingly, frozen food can transfer odour and taste to stored ice, so it’s important to maintain your freezer and make sure to regularly clean out old food.