I hate this chore, I really do. And though I will sit here and tell you how important it is, I can safely do so since none of you can see inside of mine!
When food spoils, especially meats, bacteria reproduces quickly and can taint other foods. In addition to being disgusting and inedible, it makes your refrigerator stink. A smell refrigerator is a guaranteed appetite killer….great for those on a diet though.
Ideally, it’s not wise to let leftovers sit for more than a week. Weekends are a great time to purge unused leftovers. If you have a garbage disposal you’re in luck, if you don’t, take out the trash when you’re done or your kitchen will reek. This may be all you need to do. If your refrigerator is mottled with stains and spills, it needs to be cleaned.
Once all the food is out wash down the inside with soapy water. Don’t forget the seal around the door; crumbs somehow always manage to find their way in there. Combined with moisture, it quickly turns into sludge…gross. Wipe down the inside again to rinse it out and leave it open for a few to dry out.
It’s really that simple. If you have mold or extensive staining, it can be a bigger process, but if not, don’t waste more time on it than you have to.
I keep a box of baking soda in my refrigerator to help combat potential smells. It really does help. Replace it every few weeks and it will at least smell cleaner than it really is, so if you happen to be one of those people who puts cleaning the refrigerator on the back burner, you at least won’t have to be greeted with bad odors next time you want a snack.