|
Have you ever slept in one morning, rushed to get ready, and grabbed a frozen meal to eat for lunch at work, only to find the refrigerator/freezer dirty, smelly and moldy. Argh!! Why is it that people know how to clean the refrigerator at home but somehow don’t think it applies at work?
If you’re like me, I’m just as concerned about keeping my meals fresh at work as I am at home so take charge and have your staff follow these simple steps on how to clean the refrigerator and help in keeping a healthy fridge/freezer environment.
- Turn the temperature-control knob inside the refrigerator and freezer “Off”. Tip: If there is overgrown ice in the freezer, I like to grab a blow-dryer and heat it up as the block of ice will simply fall off and can be discarded in the sink.
- Fill the sink with your favorite dish soap and warm water.
- Wear gloves and garbage any old spoiled food and outdated items out of the refrigerator/freezer.
- All fresh food, drinks and condiments should be taken out, wiped down and stored in a clean cooler.
- Remove any drip pans, trays, shelves, drawers and place into sink to hand-wash and rinse well. Dry completely before placing back into the refrigerator/freezer.
- Wipe down the inside of the refrigerator using a soft dishcloth and warm, soapy water. Tip: I like to use 2 spray bottles, one with the soapy water or vinegar for easy cleaning, and the other with fresh water for rinsing. Don’t’ forget to wipe down all areas of the fridge including the hinges, edges of doors, in crevices etc.
- Once the fridge racks, drawer’s etc. are completely dry, place them all back into the appropriate compartments.
- To minimize odors, place a box of baking soda in the refrigerator. Tip: always replace the baking soda every 3 months for freshness.
- Repeat the same cleaning process on the outside of the refrigerator including the top and edges with warm, soapy water; rinse and wipe dry.
- Turn the temperature control knobs inside the refrigerator/freezer back to the recommended settings.
- Place the edibles back into the refrigerator and the freezer and keep a cleaning log so that everyone can take turns in keeping your fridge a healthy appliance.
Also remind your peers and staff to clean up after themselves immediately, if they have spills or accidents in or around the fridge because a clean and sanitized fridge is not only healthy it’s also professional!
|
