How to Take Care of Your New Refrigerator

Properly maintaining your new refrigerator is one way to help keep your family healthy and extend the life of your unit, saving you big money. Keep reading for these essential tips on how to keep your new fridge humming.

How often should I clean the inside of my new refrigerator?

Ideally, the inside (and outside) should be wiped down once each week. If that’s not possible, try to schedule monthly wipe downs. Remove everything first, then wipe shelves and bins to remove spills and crumbs.

How long should I keep leftovers, and in what packaging?

Refrigerated airtight containers will keep your food fresh longer, and temperatures below 40 degrees slow bacteria growth. However, all leftover cooked food should be disposed of within four to five days. Cooked food left sitting out in the open should be discarded after two hours.

For everyday use, follow these guidelines:

Set the temperature between 37 degrees and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, set the freezer to 0 degrees.
Close doors completely as quickly as possible to keep the cold inside, especially when the power is out.
Keep the fridge stocked. The more items you have, the easier it is for your refrigerator and freezer to maintain a constant temperature.

Perform the following maintenance twice each year:

Clean the seals with a toothbrush and a mixture of baking soda and water. Allow them to dry, then check to see that they close properly. Here’s how: Place a dollar bill between the seals. If it moves, there are gaps. Damaged seals should be replaced, which is an easy DIY project.
If you do have an older model with accessible coils, unplug the unit and clean coils with a brush and vacuum. The coils may be located on the top, bottom or back of the model. Newer models don’t require this maintenance.
Replace the filter for the water and ice dispensers to ensure both are filtered of toxins.

When do I need to defrost my freezer?

Never, unless you have an old unit that doesn’t self-defrost. If you are the owner of an older model, it’s time to defrost when the frost inside accumulates to a depth of about one inch. Remove all food, taking care to keep it cool by some other means. Next, unplug the unit, and wait for it to melt.