We all know that Thanksgiving is a holiday, but did you know that November 15 is National Clean Out Your Fridge day? You may not get a day off of work for it, but this day was started to promote healthy living by preventing bacteria growth in the refrigerator. What better way to get ready for the turkey? We hope that you clean out your fridge more than once a year because it is better for your health and for your wallet.
How a Clean Fridge Costs Less
First off, if your fridge is crowded with food items, the air does not circulate as well. The fridge works harder to cool down the foods, especially if the air is no circulating properly. Ever have one item in your fridge freeze while another one rots? This is due to bad circulation issues. Secondly, cleaning the fridge should not just consist of washing the inside. Instead, 2-3 times a year, unplug the fridge and clean the condenser coils, motor, and evaporator pan. This will keep the fridge running efficiently, which means less house calls you will have to make in the duration of your fridge’s life.
Not sure where your fridge’s coils and motor are? Here is a quick video showing you how to clean them:
Here are a few more tips on how to save money with your fridge:
- Don’t Store Fruit Together: Have you ever opened up your fridge to find a drawer full of soft apples and brown bananas? You think to yourself, “Didn’t I just buy these two days ago?” Keeping your fruit together in one drawer is bound to make it ripe and rot faster. Apples, as well as peaches and pears, are known for giving off ethylene, which makes other fruit ripen quickly. This can result in a lot of bad fruit. Instead, store fruit in different areas of the fridge or store them on the counter.
- Don’t Store Hot Food: It is always a good idea to save and eat leftovers, but if you are putting them in the fridge while they are still hot, you are wasting money. When a hot item is placed in the refrigerator, the fridge must work harder to maintain its temperature.
- Place Your Fridge in a Good Spot: Many kitchens are designed with only one option for where the fridge should go. Though you can help by keeping the fridge out of direct sunlight and heat (especially from the oven). Keeping your fridge in too cold of an area, such as a garage or basement, will also cause the fridge to overwork to keep its temperature balanced. This results in more energy usage and can even lead to a worn out compressor.
Even if you miss the national fridge clean out day, it is important to clean your fridge. Cleaning the inside and the outside (the unseen functions, like the coils and motor) will save you quite a bit of money in the long run.
