Refrigerator Upkeep: Energy-saving, Cleanliness & Storage Tips - Homebase | SmartParenting.com.ph

Refrigerator Upkeep: Energy-saving, Cleanliness & Storage Tips - Homebase | SmartParenting.com.ph

Energy Saving Tips
If it runs 24/7, the refrigerator is your biggest energy user. Reduce energy consumption and cut down on your electricity bills with these simple steps:
• Check for a tight door seal. It is very important to have a tight seal when the refrigerator doors are closed. This sets the motor to automatically turn on or off if the temperature deviates from the desired setting.
• Clean the inside of your ref weekly.
• A full freezer allows fast and easy freezing of its contents and keeps them frozen for a longer time. A full refrigerator is not as efficient and energy saving because the motor is forced to run at all times, using more electricity. Lower the freezer settings but increase the refrigerator settings for maximum efficiency.
• Enforce the in-and-out habit. Standing in front of the ref with the door wide open as you choose items you like makes the machine work harder to cope with the increase in heat.

Amazing Space
Proper storage in the ref guards against food spoilage and makes the in-and-out habit easier to practice.
• Use clear and stackable containers with color-coded lids or labels for your containers, and group your leftovers and freezables accordingly. With this, anybody can easily find the items needed. Let the kids in on making your own color code for meat, fish, dairy, fruits and veggies, etc.
• Practice FIFO: First In, First Out. Write the date you put the item inside the fridge for easy noting.
• Put multiple items of the same kind (cheese, tomato sauce, cold cuts) in the same area or container to avoid clutter.
• Purge. Discard food items that have reached the end of their shelf life to provide the much-needed space for fresher food items.


How to Clean
Trouble-free pointers to keeping the ref clean:
• Always keep an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator to diffuse unwanted odors.
• Mix a mild solution of a few drops of bleach in water and wipe the surface of the refrigerator with it to kill microorganisms, keeping a sanitary environment for your food. Use an absorbent cotton cloth to avoid scratching the surface where bacteria might accumulate. Avoid using abrasive pads.
• Never use strong cleaning chemicals, such as muriatic acid, which may corrode the plastic surfaces of the refrigerator and shorten its lifespan.
• After any clean-up, leave the refrigerator empty for about an hour before putting the contents back. This allows the cooling chamber to reach the desired temperature.


Your Ref’s Distress Signals
The following red flags say it’s time to call in the repairman.
• In a frost-free refrigerator, frost or icicles forming around the coils means you might be running low on refrigerant, or that there might be a leak in the tubing.
• When you suspect a malfunction in your refrigerator’s activity, turn the control down to off, then to maximum. If the compressor does not turn off and on again, the controls are probably broken.
• Have the coils at the back or at the bottom of the ref cleaned by a repairman at least every quarter to keep them from rusting. Should you decide to clean the coils yourself, be sure to consult an appliance expert and follow safety measures.
Choosing a Refrigerator
We can’t just hop in to our appliances depot and pick the first refrigerator we lay eyes on. A refrigerator’s façade shouldn’t be the main consideration when buying one. Below are important considerations:
• Adjustable shelves. This allows us to change the height of the compartments to accommodate large bottles, milk cartons, or cake boxes.
• Shelves with spill-catching lips. This is designed for easy clean-up and for isolating the mess that a spill creates from the rest of the ref.
• Glide-out baskets instead of a stationary tray. Glide-out baskets allow for easy access, organizing, and cleaning.
• Ice and water dispensers. Some refrigerators are designed with an indoor station that dispenses chilled water and ice. This can be an energy-minimizing feature since the door need not be opened as often.
• Automatic defrosting. Frost build-up reduces the refrigerator’s cooling efficiency. In the past, you would need to empty the ref and turn it off for a few hours for it to defrost or let the ice melt. Newer models offer frost-free features. Cooling is automatically switched off when ice has thickened and frost has collected around the coils. The heater is then turned on to melt the frost. Afterward, normal cooling resumes.
• Status Indicator. This feature gives you warning when it is time to change the water filter.