Your Fridge Probably Needs a Deep Clean: Follow These Steps

Refrigerators can get sticky, greasy, and stinky while doing the hard work of keeping food fresh. Even without a major spill, crumbs and leaks add up over time. Add in some leftovers from who knows when and things can start to smell "off." Keeping your fridge clean helps it run more efficiently, which helps food last longer — and an organized fridge prevents contamination. Plus you'll be able to find those leftovers!

Food-safe cleaners are a must. Keep chemical-laden cleaners away from where you store food, and mix up this easy cleaning solution that'll wipe out spills and stuck-on food. Then, follow the steps below to give your fridge a thorough deep cleaning every six months.

As you're removing food, grab a heavy-duty garbage bag and toss anything you don't need or that has expired. Put perishable items (milk, meat) that you plan to keep in a cooler while you clean.

Hand-wash any removable parts with warm, soapy water. If the pieces are big and bulky, you can take this operation outdoors and use a bucket of soapy water, a good scrubber, and a hose. Rinse and dry well. Set aside.

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup vinegar
• 2 teaspoons dish soap (not Castile soap)

Pour the vinegar into a 16-ounce spray bottle and then add the dish soap. Fill the spray bottle to the top with warm water.

For tough sticky areas, saturate a cloth with the cleaning solution and squeeze some of the liquid onto the area. Let it sit on the area for a few minutes to loosen the stain. It should wipe right away.

If you're cleaning up spills from raw meat or poultry, wipe up the spill, then wash the area with hot water and disinfect with a spritz of hydrogen peroxide, full-strength white vinegar, or bleach solution. Let stand for five minutes, then wipe dry.

Use a toothbrush, cotton swabs, or toothpicks for small areas that are difficult to wipe clean, like the seals around the door or handles.

Follow by wiping the interior with a clean wet rag and then dry with paper towels or hand towel. Then replace the clean, dry fridge inserts.

If you're not sure where your fridge condenser coils are, check your manufacturer's instructions. They are usually located under the refrigerator behind the base grille, on the back of the refrigerator, or on the top of the refrigerator. Use a coil brush to gently remove dust buildup and then use a vacuum attachment to collect debris.

Remove the vent cover at the bottom of the fridge and vacuum. If there's a drip pan, first absorb any liquid with paper towels then remove to wash.

Again, ruthlessly purge.

Plug the fridge back in and return the food to the fridge and freezer. Wipe down jars and bottles before returning.

For the exterior, use the same solution above or a stainless steel cleaner. Don't forget to clean the top of the fridge!