clean your fridge freezer

Refresh this essential appliance

1 START WITH THE FREEZER

Remove the contents of your freezer, binning any unlabelled items or items with freezer burn. Pack the rest of the food away in cool boxes while you work. Remove the drawers carefully. If there’s a build-up of ice on the inside of your freezer, you’ll need to defrost it before cleaning. Switch it off (via either the isolation switch or the temperature gauge). Place a shallow dish under the drain spout at the base and several sheets of newspaper under the door to catch the melting water, then leave it with the door open for a few hours to defrost. Remove any remaining ice that hasn’t melted away with a hot cloth. Wipe the inside cavity and drawers with a mild all-purpose cleaning spray, then switch the freezer back on.

2 TACKLE THE FRIDGE

Empty the contents. Bin anything that has leaked or has seen better days. Remove the drawers and glass shelves and clean the internal cavity using your preferred cleaning solution, as above. Any stubborn whiffs can be removed using a 50:50 vinegar and water solution. Wipe the shelves with glass cleaner or specialist wipes. Make sure you get into all the nooks and crannies and right around the door seal, too. Repeat this on the drawers before replacing them.

3 CLEAN THE EXTERIOR

Now that the inside of your fridge freezer is spotless, it’s time to tackle the exterior. Pull your fridge out from the wall – this should be fairly easy now that it’s empty. Grab a clean paintbrush or feather duster and brush the coils at the back clear of any cobwebs and dust. While you’re there, give the floor a quick clean, too. Finally, wipe the exterior clean (remove any fridge magnets or kids artwork beforehand) and push the unit back against the wall when you’re done.

4 FINISH IT OFF

Replace all the food in the fridge and freezer and pop a deodoriser in the fridge to keep it smelling fresh (try Lakeland’s Fridge It, £4.99).

Bicarbonate of soda is a natural cleaner – sprinkle it on to surfaces and wipe off with a damp cloth

Spruce up your fridge-freezer this month by cleaning out your crisper drawers of that dead veg sludge once and for all