Learning how to clean out a refrigerator naturally is not only better for the environment, it is much cheaper than relying on chemical based cleaners. The thought of spraying chemical based cleaners all over the surface that I store my food in isn’t one I like. After all, I set things like fruits and vegetables directly on the refrigerator shelf. If I have sprayed the shelf with cleaning solution loaded with chemicals, that means the chemicals are all over my food. Thankfully, I learned how to clean out a refrigerator naturally.
Step One
The best time to clean out the refrigerator is the day before you go grocery shopping. Take out everything that is no longer good like leftovers you were going to use but never did. Check the expiration dates on all of your sauces and condiments. Make sure you wash out and recycle as many of the empty containers as you can. While you’re doing this, make a note of anything you need to buy at the grocery store.
Step Two
Pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into the small bowl and add enough white vinegar to make a thick paste. Stir the ingredients well until you combine them completely.
Step Three
Remove all the food from the refrigerator. Go through the food items and discard any food products that are past freshness dates or are inedible. Take any removable shelving out of the refrigerator.
Step Four
Saturate a cleaning rag with warm water and wipe down the inside surfaces of the refrigerator.
Step Five
Place a small amount of the baking soda and vinegar paste onto a damp cleaning rag and begin rubbing the inside surfaces of the refrigerator -- including the insides of the doors -- with the paste to clean it. Continue cleaning all interior surfaces with the paste until you remove all visible stains.
Step Six
Dip the old toothbrush into the baking soda and vinegar and use it to scrub tight crevices.
Step Seven
Rinse the cleaning rag with warm water and use it to rinse away the baking soda and vinegar. Continue rinsing the rag often with warm water until you finish removing all remnants of the baking soda and vinegar.
Step Eight
Use the baking soda and vinegar paste to scrub any shelves you removed from the refrigerator. Rinse the shelves well with warm water after you finish scrubbing them.
Step Nine
Combine 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 tbsp. dishwashing detergent and about 1 cup of white vinegar in the spray bottle. Shake the ingredients well to combine them. Spray the baking soda and vinegar spray onto the outside surfaces of the refrigerator. Wipe down the outside of the refrigerator with a damp cleaning cloth to finish cleaning the refrigerator.