Property Care: 15 Golden Rules of Fridges

Refrigerators and freezers are the hard-working kitchen appliances to only get a tiny bit of the attention they deserve. Cool storages provide fresh food and drinks for all residents around the clock, but in return they need regular maintenance to function well. This mostly involves easy cleaning tasks or just a simple audit. So, here is a checklist that contains all 15 golden rules of fridge upkeep, speaking from my experience.

1. Condenser coils and fan. You have probably heard about it one hundred times. So, just a short reminder then: keep condenser coils clean – as simple as that. What you may have not heard, some refrigerators also have a condenser fan. Be careful for its blades to be free of dust – you can vacuum or brush them. Clean coils and fan will assure low electricity bills as your machine will reach the desired temperature with no hassle.

2. Drain holes and channels. Proper drainage is necessary for every refrigerator to take out water accumulated from condensation. Make sure the path is clear and liquid can easily flow.

3. Drip pan or cup. Depending on the unit type, a pan or cup is used to hold the water coming from the drain paths. Keep it in a clean condition and empty if full.

4. Door gaskets. They're used to lock the cool air inside. If any food particles are stuck on the door seals - get rid of them when you do the kitchen cleaning.

5. Water filter. You may have one if an ice maker is present inside your fridge. It's recommended to change the filter once or twice every year.

6. Balance. Ensure your unit has a good horizontal position on the floor. If it doesn't stand the right way – level it.

7. Vent openings. In case you have a freezer compartment inside your cooling appliance, remove any packed food that might cover the small freezer vents, as air needs to circulate well.

8. Temperature settings. Find the dial (or whatever temperature control you see) and turn it to medium settings: between 2 and 5 ºC for the fridge, and around minus 19 ºC for the freezer.

9. Where is your refrigerator? Make sure it's far away from hot devices, such as ovens or heaters. Also, leave enough space around the sides and don't stick it to the kitchen wall.

10. Doors closed! This might sound too simple to many, but it's vital to double check every time you close, as most units would need at least 3 minutes to retrieve the temperature from before you opened the door.

11. Defrost. If you can see a minimum 3 cm of frost – then it's time to defrost the freezer! This would guarantee optimal energy efficiency.

12. Smells. Soon as you're able to detect unpleasant odour, grab a bucket. Experts from Sydney who are familiar with domestic kitchen cleaning say that bicarbonate of soda added to warm water makes miracles. Use the solution to clean all surfaces on the inside.

13. Store food the right way. If you opened a can – put rest of the food in a proper container. Be careful for the expiry date of milk and eggs. Don't place any hot meal inside.

14. Food quantity. Put enough amount of food (known as “thermal mass”) and don't stuff it. Freezers need food in order to operate well, but too much of it will cause a less effective cooling.

15. FIFO. “First in – first out” is a general rule in commercial food storage. Same applies to your home fridge. No food or drink should linger there for too long.

And remember, safety first! Disconnect your unit from the power outlet before you start cleaning its components, especially those on the outside.