A complete stress-free guide to preparing your fridge for Christmas
November 26, 2021 | Appliance Advice | Christmas at eSpares | No comments
Hands up who buys way too much food for Christmas? Yeah, we see you! And don’t worry, we’re not here to tell you not to do it (because let’s face it, you’ll do it anyway!) but more to help you cope with the load when you have it!
Or better still, help your fridge cope, because a full food shop means a full fridge. So, let’s make sure you and your refrigerator are up to the challenge! From advice on cleaning, storing and even fixing, read on for your complete stress-free guide to preparing your fridge for Christmas!
Out with the old and in with the new!
First things first, you’re going to want to make room for all your festive goodies, so start with a clear out! Go through the items in your fridge and throw away any that are past their use-by date or are looking a little off. Sauces and condiments are a great place to start.
Top Tip: A great way to keep on top of this is to label items with the date they need throwing away as soon as you open them. Then you won’t be left with gooey sauces or wondering when you opened any jars!
Keep it clean
Now that you have made some space, it’s best to give it a thorough clean to get rid of any spills or odours before you fill it up again! Empty the contents, remove the drawers and shelves and give each part a scrub. Invest in a specific fridge cleaner or a multi-purpose spray and use a microfibre cloth for the best results.
After your Christmas clean, you’ll want to make sure that your fridge stays fresh and free of any bad smells which adding lots of different foods can cause. Here are some products we recommend to help you do this:
Fridge Liner
A fridge liner will help protect your shelves from spills and stains. They absorb moisture to keep your shelves clean and preserve fruit and vegetables. Simply cut them to size and place them on your shelves.
Anti Mould Fridge Mat
A similar item is the Anti Mould Fridge Mat. These can be placed in the drawers of your fridge to help keep food fresh. They allow air to circulate more freely to prevent the build-up of mould and bad smells.
Odour Absorber
Another great gadget to prevent bad smells is a fridge odour absorber. Simply pop one of these inside your fridge and it will help to neutralise any strong and unpleasant odours produced from stored food.
Fridge Drain Hose Cleaning Tool
When cleaning your fridge, it’s important to remember to clear the drain hole and make sure it isn’t blocked by any food or debris. If a blockage builds up here, water can collect at the bottom which can also lead to bad smells. You can clear this with a drain hose cleaning tool. One should have been provided when you purchased your appliance but if you have misplaced it, you can always get hold of a replacement.
For more handy tips and advice or to see these products in action, check out our video:
Make way
So now that your fridge is prepped and ready to go, it’s time to start adding the food! But, before you start, it might be worth investing in a few handy gadgets to help you create more space.
Fridge Bottle & Wine Rack
Stocked up on bottled beverages this season? Of course you have! Save space on shelves by investing in a fridge bottle rack. This handy gadget slides onto the base of your shelves and keeps your drinks chilled without taking up any extra room!
Tupperware
So many tubs, so little lids! Invest in some fresh tupperware this season and get rid of space-hogging packaging for a fast and easy space solution.
Know your place
Next up, where does everything go? Placing your food and beverages in the correct place will not only free up space but ensure they stay fresh for longer. Below is our quick guide to organising your fridge:
Top
Ready to eat foods such as leftovers, drinks, and herbs should be stored on the top shelves.
Middle
Your eggs and dairy should be kept on the middle shelves and not in the doors. Fridge doors temperatures fluctuate all the time, so your dairy products could go past their best much faster.
Bottom
Keep your raw meat and seafood on the bottom shelves to avoid drips from contaminating other foods.
Drawers
Fruit, veggies, and salads should be kept in the bottom drawer. Be sure to wrap them in paper or plastic to prevent them from getting contaminated.
Doors
Condiments, juices, and water can be stored in the door as they are less likely to go off. Be sure to keep them balanced and don’t overfill so they don’t fall out when you open the door!
Fix faults
Now that your fridge is cleared, cleaned and prepared, the next thing to do is check for any niggly faults. The last thing you want to happen is for your fridge to break down just before the big day and all your goodies to go off! Luckily, most niggly faults have a super easy fix that you can do yourself and that won’t break the bank either! So, if you’ve been ignoring a bad smell or food not being as cool as it should, now is the time to sort it. Here are some common fridge faults that you might be experiencing to help you:
Fridge not staying cool?
If your fridge temperature isn’t as cool as it should be it could be down to a faulty door seal. Don’t worry, this is an easy fix! To check if the door seal is causing the problem, place a £5 note half in and half out of the door frame and close the door. Then, try to pull the note out. If it comes out easily, your door seal is faulty and will need to be replaced. Check out how to do this in our video below:
Leaky fridge?
Another common fault is water leaking. If you’ve found this is happening in your fridge, it’s best to get it fixed right away before further problems occur. There are four main reasons for this fault including a faulty door seal, a door that won’t close, faulty evaporation trays and a problem with the ice maker tubing. Not to worry, our video below will help you find out which one is causing the problem and how to fix it.
For any other fridge faults you might be experiencing, you can head over to our Advice Centre for handy step by step guides and videos that will help you diagnose and fix faults fast!
Now that your fridge is prepped and ready to go, the next thing to tackle is the oven! Check out our stress-free guide on preparing your oven for Christmas too!
Tags: Christmas 2021, Fridge Cleaning, Fridge Maintenance, Fridge Tips
