Welcome to Week Eight of The Deep Clean Challenge!
Congratulations on making it this far! We’ve completed the more visible areas of our home, and now it’s time to dive into the nitty-gritty. This week, we’ll focus on one of the most essential parts of our kitchen: the refrigerator and freezer. For those of us fortunate enough to have an extra fridge or freezer in the garage or basement, this week’s challenge applies to those as well!
If you’re just joining us, here’s a quick recap of what we’ve accomplished so far:
- Cleared out clutter
- Deep cleaned the kitchen
- Freshened up the bedroom
- Scrubbed the bathroom
- Revitalized the living room or family room
- Cleaned the dining area
- Tidied the entryway
Heather grew up in a military family where her dad introduced the concept of “field day” at a young age—a day dedicated to exhaustive cleaning that was met with groans and sighs. However, this challenge is designed to be different. With 14 weeks in total, you can tackle these tasks without feeling overwhelmed. If you can’t finish a project in the two-hour window we suggest, don’t stress! Just come back to it later. There will be a sign-up at Week 14 for those who want to repeat the challenge. You’ll receive a gentle reminder every Saturday morning at 8:00 AM Eastern to guide you through that week’s project. Easy peasy!
This post may take longer to read than it will for you to complete the task—unless your freezer is packed with ice! If you have helpers, delegate the task of emptying out dishware and recyclables. You don’t need extra hands getting in the way while you scrutinize expiration dates and decide whether that jar of capers is ever going to see the light of day. (Hint: If it’s been sitting there for six months and only appeared in one recipe, the answer is likely no.)
Why Are We Cleaning the Refrigerator?
Regular cleaning provides a much-needed reset. It serves as a great reminder of what you already have on hand, what’s being used, what needs to be consumed quickly, and what you should avoid buying again. Heather also experimented with an ADHD fridge reset inspired by TikTok about a year ago, and it’s been a game-changer for her family. In short, this method involves organizing most condiments in the drawers and using clear bins to keep produce visible and accessible. While there are numerous creative fridge resets on TikTok, this is a straightforward approach centered around the food you actually eat.
What Tools Do We Need to Clean the Refrigerator?
This week requires some specific tools, so pay attention:
- A bucket or container filled with warm, lightly soapy water
- A cooler to store freezer items while you clean
- Gloves to protect your hands
- A small scrub brush or an old toothbrush
- A hairdryer and an extension cord
- Clean, dry rags or paper towels
- Your trusty vacuum, a soft bristle brush, and yes, the crevice tool
- A small paper cup filled 3/4 with water
- A coin
- Chlorine bleach for tougher stains, if necessary
How Do We Get Started?
Before you begin, ensure your counters and table are clear—remember, we tackled those in previous weeks. If not, make some space to temporarily set your items while you work. Establish two distinct zones: one for items you’re keeping and another for those you’re getting rid of.
How Long Should Cleaning the Refrigerator Take?
If your refrigerator and freezer are crammed full and frosty, it may take the full two hours this week. The good news? Once you complete the Deep Clean Challenge, the next round will be a breeze—a quick sort and wipe!
Top to Bottom Cleaning
While cleaning your fridge, the top-to-bottom rule is especially crucial. Items you remove from the top shelf may tumble down and stick to the shelves and sides due to condensation building up while the door is open. Start with the topmost shelf, taking out each item carefully. Assess whether it should be kept or tossed, placing it in the appropriate zone. If the shelf is removable, take it out for a thorough cleaning with warm (not hot, to avoid shattering glass shelves) soapy water. Wipe down the top of the refrigerator and the walls, then dry the shelf and put back only the items you’re keeping. Don’t forget to wipe the bottoms of containers, especially if something sticky has spilled and your teenagers are not inclined to clean up after themselves!
Continue this process down to the floor of the refrigerator, washing out any drawers with warm soapy water and cleaning behind them. This is where brushes can come in handy, as all sorts of grime can accumulate back there and get quite sticky.
Tip: Place a couple of dry paper towels at the bottom of each drawer to make your next fridge clean-up easier.
Once you finish with the refrigerator, take care of the items you decided to get rid of before moving on to the freezer. You don’t want to be overwhelmed by a pile of discarded items from both clean-ups!
If your refrigerator has a power cool setting, activate it once you finish with the freezer portion of your clean-up. If you have a standalone refrigerator, vacuum the coils and wipe down the appliance.
The Freezer
If your freezer has more than a quarter-inch of frost or ice buildup, it’s time for a defrost. If not, you can skip the ice-melting step and follow the rest of the instructions. Unplug the freezer.
Now, we’ll follow a similar process to the refrigerator, but we’ll work more quickly. Instead of clearing and replacing items shelf by shelf, we’ll remove everything at once to allow the freezer to warm up enough to melt the ice.
As with the fridge, create your two zones: the keep zone will be your cooler. If you don’t have a cooler, pack the items closely together to minimize thawing. Dispose of any items you’re getting rid of immediately to avoid leaks.
Once the freezer is empty, check the layer of frost or ice. If it’s still too thick to wipe down, grab your hairdryer and extension cord. Ensure the cord is safe from water puddles, using a chair to keep it elevated. Be cautious and avoid standing in any puddles as you use the hairdryer to quickly melt large chunks of ice.
Just like with the refrigerator, work from top to bottom and wipe out any drawers. For any stubborn red stains, use a paper towel soaked in chlorine bleach, placing it on the stain (handle the paper towel with your gloves!). After removing it, dry the freezer thoroughly and quickly replace all items. Plug the appliance back in and set it to its coldest setting. If there’s a power freeze option, use that as well.
If you’re working on a refrigerator-freezer combo, vacuum the coils and ensure you activate the power cool setting for the refrigerator if it has that feature. For a standalone freezer, just vacuum the coils and wipe down the exterior.
What About That Paper Cup and Coin?
In your freezer, place the paper cup filled 3/4 with water and let it freeze. Once frozen, place the coin on top of the ice. If you ever leave town, upon your return, check the cup. If the coin is not resting on top, you know there has been a power outage that lasted long enough to affect your freezer. If the coin is only covered by a layer of water, your food is safe. However, if it’s at the bottom of the cup, it’s time to dispose of the food.
This tip is particularly useful as we approach hurricane season.
On that note, see you next week!
Disclaimer: Home-Ec 101 is not responsible for what you choose to keep in your deep freezer. Just because something looks like venison doesn’t mean it is; please scrub your floors thoroughly with chlorine bleach, as plausible deniability does not apply here. Be sure to vet your roommates and AirBnB guests carefully. This is not legal advice; it’s simply a lighthearted reminder!
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