Let’s say you’ve had a long week, and the last thing you want to do is spend hours cleaning out your kitchen appliances. It might not be as hard as you think.

Here’s a simple how-to on cleaning your refrigerator quick and easy. Remember, it’s all about being prepared and following a schedule.

Preparation. What you need:

• Sponge – a good sturdy sponge, not an over-used one tearing at the seams.
• Dish spray – anything you prefer, but the milder it is, the easier it is to clean it out.
• Dish soap – anything you prefer, but opt for a mild one so that removing it would be easy.
• Dishcloth – a clean cloth, white or a light color preferable.
• An old toothbrush or something with soft bristles and a long handle.

That’s our list. Now on to the procedure:

Step by step procedure to clean your refrigerator :

Unplug

The first and most important part of cleaning your refrigerator is to unplug it. Some might say this is unnecessary, but even if you are not planning on a full-fledged cleaning, you’ll save a lot of energy by unplugging your refrigerator.

Remove all food

Make sure you clean out your refrigerator of all food items. If you have any stocks of old vegetables and overripe fruits that might not last through the cleaning process, throw them out. If there are any food particles sticking to the sides of your refrigerator’s interior, scrape them out as well.

Remove shelves and drawers

Remove all removable parts from your refrigerator, including drawers, shelves, ice trays and every other compartment of your fridge.

Clean interior

Once you’ve removed all the parts from your refrigerator, spray the interior and clean with mild soap and sponge. Once you’ve cleaned it with soap, make sure you clean it at least twice again with a fresh sponge to remove lingering soap suds and smell.

Wash removable parts

While you clean the interior of your refrigerator, soak the removable parts in warm soapy water. Once you’re done cleaning the interior, you can scrub off the dirt and grime off the drawers. Soaking helps loosen the dirt in the removable parts.

Drip dry removable parts

Once you’ve cleaned and wiped the removable parts, let them dry in natural sunlight or air. Drip drying is an extra precautionary way to ensure removable parts aren’t damp in any way.

Clean exterior

While the removable parts are drying, clean the exterior of your refrigerator. Wipe it first with soap and a sponge, and again with warm water to remove soap suds and smell.

Replace removable parts

Once the removable parts have been well dried, you can replace them in your refrigerator.

Let it dry for a while

Another precautionary step is to let the whole unit dry to ensure there is no dampness in your refrigerator.

Re-plug

After letting your unit dry for a while, re-plug your refrigerator and let it run for about 10 minutes.

Refill

The final step is to refill your refrigerator with your food items.

That’s it! That’s the simplest way to clean your refrigerator. We’ve broken it down to its bare essentials so that you don’t have a strenuous time cleaning your refrigerator.

And what’s more, you can take a break while your refrigerator dries.

Happy cleaning!