8 Ways To Treat Your Fridge Right And Make It Last Longer In Your Home

Most of us use refrigerators, which are pricey appliances, without giving them much thought. However, fridges need some regular maintenance, just like most household appliances.

Your peaceful kitchen companion will repay you with a long-term relationship lasting a decade or more if you put a bit extra work into it. To extend the life of your refrigerator and maintain its optimal performance, try these tips in the post.

Why should you treat your fridge right?

The main objective of maintaining a clean refrigerator is to prevent the spread of bacteria that might trigger symptoms like food poisoning. Without consuming the food that is now in storage, we have a tendency to accumulate groceries.

As a result, the old fruits and vegetables begin to rot and create a breeding ground for bacteria. The same thing occurs when curry or sauce spills in the refrigerator and is not promptly cleaned up. It is crucial to maintain your refrigerator because it forms the foundation of your entire kitchen, which in turn forms the foundation of your entire home.

8 Ways to treat your fridge right

Clean regularly

The unpleasant items that end up in refrigerators include curdled milk, hairy cheese, and overripe cucumbers that are almost liquid.

Cleaning your refrigerator is important for food safety as well as aesthetic reasons. Food that has long since passed its sell-by date provides the ideal habitat for unpleasant bacteria that can contaminate other goods in your fridge, speed up their deterioration, and possibly get you sick.

Regular cleaning of your refrigerator can also help the seals last longer, which will significantly increase the efficiency of the appliance over time. Additionally, if you take advantage of the chance to use up or dispose of extra food, the fridge will be able to circulate cool air more effectively — a fridge that is fully stocked is likely to operate more efficiently than one that is overstuffed.

The best time of year to clean the fridge is during the cooler months when, hopefully, your fresh food will remain frozen until you put it back in the fridge.

Close the doors when unnecessary

Although it may seem quite obvious, this advice is very crucial. The fridge drops its ambient temperature if the door is left open for an extended period of time, forcing it to work much harder to cool things down again, increasing power use and electricity costs.

If it helps, decide ahead of time what you require from the refrigerator before opening the door to ensure that you can complete your task quickly and close the door as soon as you are through. Make sure the refrigerator door is properly closed when you're finished putting something away or taking something out. This enables the refrigerator to keep the temperature constant without exerting too much effort.

Give it room

Just like people, refrigerators require room to breathe. The heat that your fridge produces cannot escape if it is crammed into a small space, which forces it to work harder and inevitably reduces the amount of time it can operate. Not to mention that it will skyrocket your electricity costs.

Don't forget about the interior either. Refrigerators require space for internal ventilation. A refrigerator that is overflowing will struggle to maintain a consistent temperature; some foods may be too cold and others too warm. In either case, it will shorten the amount of time that your food remains fresh.

Read the refrigerator placement recommendations

For the doors to close and seal correctly, a fridge needs to remain level from all sides. If it isn't level, drinks and other fluids things kept in the refrigerator in open cups or glasses could flow out when the door is opened. Use a level tool, set it on one of the racks inside, and adjust it as necessary to see if the refrigerator is level on all sides.

Keep the seals in good shape

A fridge seal issue that is neglected for too long is the shortest path to a fridge full of rotting food. All of the cold air is kept in and the warm air is kept out by the gasket along the inner edge of the refrigerator door.

In addition to lowering the temperature of your refrigerator to a point where bacteria can begin to grow on your food, leaks or gaps in the seal make your refrigerator work harder than necessary to make up for the lost cold air.

Fortunately, it's rather simple to find a loose seal; simply insert a fifty-cent bill and lock the door. The seal needs to be fixed if the bill comes out easily. The majority of the time, thoroughly cleaning the gaskets with water and soap and a sponge will remove any debris preventing them from sealing properly.

Clean the coils

The refrigerator can't operate properly if the condenser coils are full of dust. Twice a year, unplug the refrigerator, pull the appliance away from the wall to show the coils in the rear, and then vacuum the coils using the brush attachment.

Give the freeze care

In addition to keeping the freezer at a temperature of -10°C, freezing properly wrapped food is another aspect that is crucial. Additionally, remember to frequently refill the water in the ice trays. To keep your freezer healthy, try to minimize food leaks and maintain adequate space between the products. Keeping the freezer's vents clear of debris and clean will also help greatly.

Place food on the appropriate shelves

It's time to organize your meal after the temperature is perfect! The best approach to prevent food from rotting too rapidly is to store it properly. Once you are comfortable with your refrigerator, you may begin to make small adjustments to maximize your weekly grocery budget.

As a general guideline, place fruits and vegetables near the bottom of the salad crisper drawer. Meals that are ready to eat can be placed on the middle and top shelves, with prepared foods going on the bottom shelf and covered with meats, poultry, and fish.

In conclusion, these straightforward suggestions will increase the energy efficiency of your appliances while also extending their lives.