Ever wonder what that foul smell coming from you kitchen may be? Prop open your fridge and you may be in for a surprise – refrigerators are known to carry thousands of germs and mold which can eventually lead to allergies, food contamination, and e coli.

Cleaning your fridge isn’t a tough task and you can use a lot of household products you already have like vinegar, baking soda, and water. With the warm months quickly approaching, now is the time to give your fridge a good scrub as germs multiply and mold grows at an even faster rate due to the increasing warm temperatures. Follow our easy guide to combat those germs and keep you and your family safe this warm season:

1. Toss it Out

First things first – remove everything from your fridge and immediately toss out any old ormoldy fruit and vegetables. Check expiry dates on other foods such as ketchup, mayonnaise, cold cuts, sauces, e.t.c, and toss out everything pasts it’s prime.

2. Scrub Shelves

Strap on your rubber gloves and get down to the messy part of cleaning your fridge! Remove the wire racks racks, the glass shelves, and the drawers and place them into the sink. In a large bowl make a combination of hot water and dish soap and give them a good scrub, and then place them on a dish towel to air dry.

3. Use Vinegar Baking Soda Mix

In a small bucket or bowl, make an even mixture of hot water, vinegar, baking soda, and a little bit of dishwashing soap. Use a sponge to scrub the mixture all over the inside walls of your fridge. Use an old toothbrush to get hard to reach areas. Rinse everything with hot water.

4. Wipe Down Containers

Wipe down all the jars, containers, and bottles and place your food back in the fridge.

TIPS:

* To diminish odors, place a box of baking soda in your fridge.
* For clean the outside of your fridge (if its plastic on enameled steel), use a multi-surface cleaner such as Windex and paper towels.
* If you have a stainless steel fridge, use a damp cloth and white vinegar to bring back its shine – make sure to rub in the direction of the grain for best results.