How to Clean Out Your Refrigerator on National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

There are holidays for everything, including National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day takes place on November 15, 2010, just in time for filling your refrigerator in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday. So, grab your trash can, fill your sink with hot soapy water, and get a clothes pin for your nose, we are diving in to clean out your refrigerator.

How to Clean Out Your Refrigerator Step 1:

Prepare for National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day by cleaning off an area to place items you plan on keeping as you clean out your refrigerator. You also want to have your sink available filled with hot soapy water. If you have a dual sink, prepare the second sink to hold any squishy, wet and dripping junk you want to get rid of as you clean out your refrigerator. Place several plastic grocery bags inside each other to empty to hold anything you want to throw out, but don't want to let dribble all over the place.

How to Clean Out Your Refrigerator Step 2:

Always begin at the top when you are cleaning anything, even your refrigerator on National Clean Your Refrigerator Day. If you start at the top, you will greatly reduce the chance of spilling something where you have already clean. Check each item as you pull it out of your refrigerator. If it is past its prime, throw it away. Dump the contents from anything you want to keep into the plastic bags and place the dish into the hot soapy water. If the item is fine and you want to keep it, place it on the table or cabinet you have prepared. Work your way down through each shelf and drawer, and do not forget to check all the items stored in the refrigerator doors.

How to Clean Out Your Refrigerator Step 3:

Bag up the garbage and take it out. This will help you to keep the smell down. Put a fresh garbage bag into your trashcan just in case you find you have missed anything. Wash the now empty dishes that have been soaking in the sink.

How to Clean Out Your Refrigerator Step 4:

Change your dishwater. Once you have finished washing the dishes, you can use more hot soapy water and add a couple of drops of bleach to the water. Begin wiping down the interior of your refrigerator starting at the top and working your way to the bottom. As you get to them, pull the drawers out and take them to the sink to wash. Let the drawers air-dry while you tackle the bottom of the refrigerator. This is where anything that has dripped, or spilled has pulled and is now a yucky semi-dried mass of yuck. Hot water and a little vinegar will help you to tackle this nasty mess. The vinegar is slightly acidic and will also act as a deodorizer. Finish cleaning out your refrigerator by cleaning the shelves on the refrigerator drawers.

How to Clean Out Your Refrigerator Step 5:

Wipe the drawers and any other part of your refrigerator that you removed to clean to dry them. Put them back into the refrigerator. Now, the trick is to change your dishwater one last time. As you refill your groceries into the refrigerator, take a moment to wash the outside of any sticky containers and dry them before placing them in your clean refrigerator.

How to Clean Out Your Refrigerator Step 6:

Your refrigerator and groceries are now back in your refrigerator. Take a moment to change out the box of baking soda to help absorb odors. You can also take a cotton ball and pour on a tiny bit of vanilla extract. Tuck the cotton ball behind the baking soda to provide a wonderful fragrance when you open the door of your refrigerator.

Now, to keep things on track and to never have to go through the nasty mess again, make an appointment with yourself to clean out your refrigerator every month. If you pick one day, say the 15^Th of the month, you can clean out your refrigerator in less than half an hour and never have to go through the horrible mess you found this National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day.