Around the time the crazy tornadoes went through and cause such utter devastation in Joplin, Missouri we were living in St. Louis, MO. We didn't have the awful tornado come through, but we did get enough of the storm to knock out our power. Thankfully it was only for about a day. This is when I picked up on the habit of cleaning out the fridge. I never realized how often something spills and you just don't realize it. Cleaning the kitchen is almost up there with my hate of cleaning the bathrooms. But since it is Monday (my grocery shopping day), we will just be tackling the refrigerator.
I pick Monday mornings because my husband can be home with the boys while I do my shopping. But before I go to the store, I tackle the refrigerator. Sometimes my husband does this for me while I am at the store. Yeah, he is pretty great! :) The main thing I do is check the expiration dates on the food and toss anything that is old. In the process I wipe down all of the shelves. I mix vinegar and water in a bowl and use a wash cloth. I don't really measure how much vinegar to water. I usually just smell it and make sure you can smell a little vinegar but that it is not overpowering. Then I go shelf by shelf. Toss the leftovers that have been there more than a day. Check the deli, fruit and veggie drawers to make sure you don't over look anything. Don't forget to wipe down the sides and underneath the fruit and veggie drawers. You would be surprised how often something spills and you don't even realize. For Newbies: Don't use any kind of chemical clean the inside of your refrigerator. Don't laugh either, you would be surprised how often people do this without thinking. Vinegar and water is a natural cleaner that can clean just about anything! If you have time to do your clean out the day of your shopping you can save your self the hassle of thinking you have something just to find it is expired!
By cleaning out your fridge once a week you ensure your new, fresh food wont get contaminated by anything that may be lurking in there. Also, if you are like my family and move often, this can save you time later. Nothing sucks more than packing up the house and realizing you still have to scrub the refrigerator!
Now pick a day and clean out your fridge! You'll thank me later when you bring your groceries home to a clean fridge and it is so much easier to put stuff away!
What are your refrigerator tips? I would love to hear from you!
<3 Ashley
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