Introduction
Plastics are going out of fashion and stainless steel is taking over home appliances. However, stainless steel can be a double-edged sword. When your stainless-steel refrigerator is shined and polished it looks stunning. But even a small smudge ruins the look. On the other hand, you can search for “refrigerator repair near me” and hire professionals to fix your fridge when it breaks down. Let’s check out how you can clean stainless steel refrigerators.
The Details
1. Cleaning shelves and drawers – Remove all the hand-washable shelves, drawers, and wire racks from the refrigerator and put them in the sink with hot water and mild dish soap. Let them soak for a while and proceed to clean with a soft sponge. After that, allow them to dry out.
After that, bring out the removable glass components of your fridge and let them warm up to room temperature before cleaning them with hot water and soap. If there are any stubborn food spills, cover them with a wet and warm cloth. When the spill is softened, you can use a nonabrasive scrubber to get rid of it.
2. Cleaning the interior – For cleaning the non-removable components of the fridge, grab some household baking soda. Mix one part of baking soda with seven parts of water to make a paste and use that to clean the interior of the refrigerator. Don’t use commercial refrigerator cleaners since they may leave a chemical residue inside the fridge that may transfer onto the food.
As you clean the inside of the fridge, make your way from the top to bottom so that you can minimize drips landing on cleaned sections. For cleaning hard-to-reach cracks and crevices, use toothpicks or toothbrushes. After you’re done, dry everything with a clean towel.
3. Remove bad odors – Your refrigerator is a closed and isolated environment. That’s why it’s perfect for accumulating all kinds of bad smells from spoiled food and spills. You can get rid of those smells without using any harsh chemicals.
Once you’ve done cleaning and drying the interior of the fridge, place a large empty bowl on the bottom shelf and fill it up with baking soda. Close the door and let the baking soda absorb all the nasty smells. Once you’ve gotten rid of the smells, you can put the removable shelves, racks, and everything else back into the refrigerator.
4. Clean the gaskets – The rubber gasket on the refrigerator door keeps a tight seal and maintains the efficiency of your refrigerator. If it’s grimy, it may not make a tight seal and allow cool air to escape. When that happens, your fridge won’t be able to keep things cool and also use more power. To prevent that, you need to clean the rubber gasket with liquid soap and warm water. Use bleach if you see any mold on the rubber. After you’re done cleaning, rinse thoroughly and wipe it dry.
5. Clean the exterior – For stainless steel refrigerators, you can’t use regular soap and other conventional cleaners since they may leave a residue that creates streaks and marks on the polished surface. Instead, fill up a spray bottle with white vinegar and spray it on the stainless-steel surface.
The vinegar has a weak acidic property that would cut through the grime without dulling the stainless-steel surface. Next, dab a few drops of olive oil on a paper towel and use it to clean and polish the stainless-steel surface. Don’t use too much oil since you don’t want to leave an oily film and make sure to always clean along the grain.
6. Clean the coils – While you clean the exterior and interior of the fridge, you can’t forget about the hidden coils. Cleaning them keeps your refrigerator more efficient and helps you extract more life from your appliance. Before you start cleaning the coils, make sure to check the owner’s manual in case the coils require a specific cleaning process for your model.
Follow the specific cleaning instructions, if your model needs it. Otherwise, unplug the refrigerator, locate the coils at the back or on the underside and start clearing the dust buildup with a coil brush. Once the debris is loosened and falls on the floor, you can vacuum it all up.
7. Clean the water dispenser – If your fridge comes with an in-built water dispenser, you need to clean it every once in a while, to enjoy clean, fresh, and filtered water. You may need to consult the owner’s manual for the same. Manufacturers haven’t been able to come up with a standard in the industry and that means proprietor dispensers come with custom cleaning instructions.
While you clean the dispenser, replace the filter if it’s been there for 6 months or for as long as the manufacturer recommends you replace the filter. Next, move on to the dispenser tray and clean off stains and water spots with vinegar. If the tray is removable, clean it with soap and water on your sink. When it’s dry, you can put it back in.
8. Clean mold – Your refrigerator provides a damp and cold environment and plenty of organic matter to feed on. So, once in a while, you may need to tackle the mold problem. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda in one quart of water and wipe down the moldy surface.
You may need to scrub it lightly if the mold problem has been there for a long time. Next, allow the surface to dry off. While you can use baking soda for cleaning mold from small spills and rotten food, you’ll need to hire an expert if the problem is severe.
Conclusion
Stainless steel refrigerators are nothing short of art pieces in your kitchen. Cleaning them the wrong way may leave streaks and smudges. That’s why it’s important to use the right method for cleaning them. If your refrigerator stops cooling, you can search for “refrigerator repair near me” and hire professionals to fix it for you.