KELLY'S KORNER - REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER CLEANING

Hey, All,

Well, with fruit and veggies getting ripe and canning and freezing season in full swing, I found I needed to do MAJOR cleaning of my refrigerator and freezers.  UGH!  One of those jobs that needs to be done but just can't do cartwheels about - oven cleaning, bathrooms and gutters are on this list, too.

First thing I do is turn off the refer as I am going through and seeing what is what - WHAT is this!  Who's science experiment is this?!?  And all those mystery packages?  Use the old adage - WHEN IN DOUBT - THROW IT OUT!  Man, I never knew I had so much room in my freezer!

Put your perishables that won't stand non-refrigeration for a few hours in a cooler - the stuff from the freezer will help keep the milk and stuff cool.  Let your glass shelves slowly warm up to room temp - DO NOT PUT ANYTHING WARM OR HOT ON THEM UNTIL THEY ARE AT ROOM TEMP!!!!  One of the most calls I get is for replacement shelves because someone decided to clean and put their cold shelf under the hot water.  Not a good idea as the drastic temp shift will shatter the glass and may cause injuries.  I take mine out and put on a towel covered table - also is a good place for them to dry off once they're clean.  Also, if you have an older refrigerator or freezer and there is ice build up - DO NOT USE A SHARP OBJECT TO CHIP THE ICE OFF!  Multiple ways here to damage your appliance or yourself - if you don't want to wait for it to melt naturally a blow dryer will work to help it out - just don't prop it up and leave it!

Then out comes the cleaners, sponges, paper towels - whatever you use to clean with and W L May carries several lines of appliance cleaners and scrubbers and some are eco-friendly - do not use abrasive cleaners or scrubbers!  These can leave scratches in the plastic that food can collect in and make your refrigerator smell.  Don't forget to pull the refrigerator out and clean underneath and clean those coils.  Dirty coils makes your refrigerator run more and can shorten the life of the appliance (W L May carries coil brushes).  Now is also the time to replace your water filter and that refrigerator deodorizer - gee whiz!  W L May carries those, too!

Then put your shelves, drawers and food back in, turn on and go give yourself a well-deserved rest.

Have a great week!