Why It's Easier

Time allotted: 45 minutes.

Tools needed: Bucket of soapy water, rubber gloves, cleaning cloths or sponge, vacuum.

First take inventory of the food in your refrigerator. Discard anything you can't identify or resembles a science experiment. If it's past the expiration date, toss it.

Remove all food from door, shelves, and bins. Remove bins and shelves, take them to the sink, and wash them in warm sudsy water. Use an all purpose disinfectant to kill the germs. Wipe permanent shelves and walls with a sponge or cloth dipped in warm sudsy water.

Vacuum coils, using the crevice-tool attachment and try to wipe away as much of the grime as you can reach with a damp cloth.

Wipe down the outside doors and sides with a clean sponge and all-purpose disinfectant. Use a brush if the surface has texture. The handles will need a toothbrush or toothpick to get into all the hard to reach crevices.

There is an alternative >

Time allotted: 20 minutes.

Tools needed: a Sargent Steam cleaner and a micro-fiber cloth.

First take inventory of the food in your refrigerator. Discard anything you can't identify or resembles a science experiment. If it's past the expiration date, toss it.

Taking one shelf or bin at a time, move food to one side, steam clean the exposed surface, slide the food to the clean side and steam clean the newly exposed surface. Wipe away any excess moisture with a micro-fiber cloth. Remember, it only takes the steam 2 seconds to kill all the germs on the surface you're cleaning!

Steam the coils with the jet nozzle. All grimy dust will be blasted off into your paper towel. Your refrigerator will run more efficiently now.