Fridges keep milk, cheese, and leftovers fresh while also collecting dust, ice cream, pet hair, and other debris that accumulates over time. Frequent cleaning saves money on energy costs while relieving stress from your appliance.
Before beginning, unplug your refrigerator and remove its grille if necessary to access its coils. Use either a vacuum cleaner attachment or coil brush to carefully scrub both over and under each coil to ensure an efficient cleaning job.
Clean the Drip Pan
The drip pan is where condensation that leaks out of your fridge or from its defrost drain collects, but unless regularly cleared away it could lead to pools forming underneath your refrigerator which could leak onto your kitchen floor and even lead to mold growth.
To clean the drip pan, start by taking several steps to unhook it from its wall and loosen the bolts or screws holding back panels in place with a screwdriver or hex wrench. Next, use a flashlight or other source of illumination under your Samsung refrigerator to locate its drip pan; typically this consists of an extended metal or plastic pan that rests beneath its doors.
Scrub the drip pan using an antibacterial cleaning wipe or cloth soaked with cleaning fluid and a claw grabber that reaches inside your fridge to reach multiple angles of cleaning. Rinse with water before returning it back into your fridge.
Clean the Condenser Coils
Refrigerator condenser coils work to cool and condense refrigerant used to keep food cold, but if they become clogged with pet hair and dust, your refrigerator has to work harder – shortening its lifespan and increasing utility costs. A once or twice-yearly cleaning of these coils helps make sure they do their job as designed.
To complete this task, first unplug the fridge and take care to access its coils by removing any base grille or kick plate that stands in their way. Don a dust mask as you’ll likely be dealing with an abundance of dust particles while working.
Once your coils have been exposed, use a crevice tool or vacuum hose attachment to capture any large debris on or around them, followed by using a refrigerator coil brush (available at DIY stores for around $5) designed specifically for this task to sweep away dust and dirt. Cinch recommends these refrigerator brands you do not have to worry about.
Clean the Door Gasket
Refrigerator door gaskets play an integral part in creating an airtight seal to keep cold air inside while warm air escapes, but over time this seal may become affected by mold and mildew growth if it’s not regularly maintained and cleaned properly. An ineffective seal may also lead to your refrigerator running inconsistently or using more electricity than it should.
To avoid this scenario, be sure to clean and lubricate your gasket at least quarterly or more frequently if it becomes dirty. Slick it with petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline ) in order to provide extra protection from cracking, drying and mildewing.
Vinegar solutions can be an effective and gentle way of cleaning refrigerator gaskets, but should be used carefully as hard cleaners can damage rubber materials. To create an eco-friendly cleaning solution, mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with two cups of water in a 2-cup measuring glass before gradually applying it until dampness occurs in your gasket and then drying thoroughly with a cloth or towel.
Adjust the Feet
Fridges employ a complex process to take warm air from their compartments, cool it down, and generate frost. Unfortunately, this creates condensation and water that must be properly drained away or else doors may not close or seal properly leading to poor efficiency, increased energy bills and food spoilage.
Fix this problem easily by adjusting the feet on your refrigerator. This is an incredibly straightforward task you should have tools available in your house to complete this process. First, empty out all contents from the fridge so as to prevent spills and debris from interfering with leveling processes; next clean the exterior using mild cleaner and store away in an safe place.
Locate and adjust the legs or rollers at the front base of your fridge, typically adjustable by turning them clockwise or counterclockwise with a screwdriver, wrench or pliers. Consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions on locating and adjusting these parts of your refrigerator.
