How to spring clean your fridge!

THE kitchen is one of the most populated rooms in the house, so it makes sense to keep it clean, tidy and in order. But what about the fridge?

fridge

THE kitchen is one of the most populated rooms in the house, so it makes sense to keep it clean, tidy and in order.

But often, that tidiness doesn't reach much further than the benchtops - and certainly not into our fridge!

"Everything you use in your kitchen should have a 'home' - including what's in your fridge" says professional organiser Carol Posner from Get Organised.

"Keeping the fridge tidy is much harder than it sounds as it's often one of the busiest areas in our house. By implementing certain routines it will be easier to keep your fridge organised"

Family fridge guide

But, first thing's first: You'll need to get your fridge clean. Unpack everything, remove shelves, racks and drawers, then wash in hot soapy water and dry.

Using a soft sponge, wipe down all surfaces with a solution of 2 cups water and 2 tbs bicarbonate soda, paying particular attention to door seals. Rinse then dry with a clean tea towel.

Then, use these tips from Carol and fridge experts LG to get everything in order!

1. Don't pack your fridge too tightly; allow airflow between food will help the temperature circulate evenly. Look out for fridges which have temperature controlled pantry drawers to keep your vegetables around 2-3 degrees warmer than the rest of the fridge
2. Try to group similar groups of foods together - keep your fruit and vegetables separate and in lower drawers. Put them in clear bags to avoid them marking the fridge - you can grab them easily and see everything inside them very clearly
3. Containers are a great way to create order and keep your fridge clean. Square ones are best and you can buy different sizes so you can stack and pack easily - you'd be amazed how many you can fit in the space
4. If you have leftovers, pack them in plastic containers and keep them towards the front of the fridge so that you can see and reach them with ease.
5. Use the middle shelves to your larger containers of food and open platters.
6. Dairy products such as butter or margarine, eggs, cheese and yogurt as well as condiments can be stored on the top shelf or inside door
7. If orange juice spills on refrigerator seals, it makes them more prone to splitting so it is very important that such spills are cleaned up straight away. Milk and orange juice are best stored in the doors of the fridge
8. Keep your taller items at the back of the fridge so they don't obscure the smaller items and face all the bottle labels out to the front so you can read them easily
9. Always wrap meat, chicken or fish in plastic wrap and place on a plate to avoid dripping on other foods. It's best to store raw meats of any kind on the lowest shelf
10. If you are regularly preparing meals in advance and freezing them, write the name of the meal and the date it was prepared on the package before storing.

Choosing an energy efficient fridge

When that's all done and dusted (excuse the pun!) you can add the final touch - a nice scented element. Pop a small bowl of vanilla essence on a shelf at the back of the refrigerator to give it a nice, fresh smell. But keep it up high to avoid children knocking it over!