Today is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. I think it's an opportune time to celebrate this holiday and prep your fridge for Thanksgiving by cleaning it out. To help you out, here are my suggestions on how to clean out the refrigerator:
- Place a large, empty garbage bag next to your fridge. Have a couple smaller bags on hand for recyclables and leftovers.
- Starting at the bottom with the vegetable drawers, look through your entire fridge. Throw away wilted, moldy, or old vegetables. If you have herbs that come in plastic containers, dump the herbs in the brown garbage bag and the container in the bag designated for recycling.
- Empty tupperware with leftovers into plastic baggies and place these in the larger garbage bag. Taking the extra time to put the pasta, sauces, dips, etc. into a plastic baggy will ensure that the wetness doesn't seep through the larger bag or spill before you make it to the trash can.
- Check yogurt, milk, and other dairy containers' expiration dates. If expired, remove from the fridge.
- Dump out old, half full bottles of flat sodas, sparkling water, or wine.
- Throw away smelly lunchmeats.
Did I forget something? Share your fridge cleaning out techniques below!
Ally Capellino
Gorgeous
COUTURE COUTURE
Thanks. This reminds me i need to clean out my fridge! I like the tip on putting wet stuff in smaller bags, that way i don't end up with a mess.
1I clean mine out once a week.
2Something I need to do this week...haha funny how I was just thinking about this!
3i hate doing this! i let the man do it hahahahaha.. but really ahhh hate it!
4There should be a national clean out your fridge day at least once a month, I would think.
5I actually did this yesterday, but it was because of some raw shrimp that I put in the fridge on Sunday & forgot about until last night! Thank goodness for baking soda, because just cleaning it with soap & water wasn't enough to get rid of that odor.
6I understand not wanting the liquids to seep in a trash bag - but it seems pretty wasteful to put each one in separate plastic baggies... it just making more trash and more plastic to be sitting in a landfill...
7oh man, my boyfriend and i finally broke down and cleaned the fridge....we made a pact not to ever let it get that bad again!!
8Cleaning out the fridge is on my to do list tonight. I just feel so much better when it's done. I like to get rid of old/unused items and wipe down all the shelves.
9Old condiments and cans are my worst problem.
10I like to put a sheet or two of paper towel on the bottom of the drawers in case I forget some moldy veggies that become leaky. Makes clean up a lot easier!
And don't forget to change the baking soda every 3 months!
11don't dump old fruit and veggies in the garbage - compost.
12Clorox Anywhere Spray!!!
spray in the frige?
Yes, it works wonders.
13I clean mine out once a month. Its Theraputic.
14I did that last week-all clean.
15Got a new fridge today. It's already clean.
16If I have a few things that I need to throw out that may be a little liquidish... I take several plastic shopping bags and put them inside each other and roll down the sides. I put it in one side of my sink. As I go through I can go over to the sink empty containers into the bag, then rinse the container for washing....when all done I just tie the top and throw it in a larger bag.
I do clean my fridge often though. Once a week I check the little side removable shelves and see if any need to be cleaned. If so I clean it and I wipe down bottles and containers. Also skim through on garbage day right before you throw out your trash.
17Honestmuffin.......I have two kids and I absolutely LOVE that stuff. I use it on everything.
18This is weird last night I looked in my fridge and thought "I really need to clean you tomorrow".
And hey it's national fridge cleaning day!
19Don't forget the moldy cheese!
Unless it's supposed to be moldy.
20My mom bought me a case of these cute little canning jars (kerr or mason)
They are a 1/2 pint maybe?
Anyway, I clean the fridge and transfer anything in large containers that is less that half full into these little jars. My kid gets a kick out of making labels, but I just write on the jars or a piece of masking tape. They stack easily and take up WAY less room. Also, I prefer to store things in glass rather than plastic so I have larger jars for food leftovers.
Oh yeah, for cleaning out the gnarly veggie drawer - vinegar works. Gets rid of the smell and has antiseptic properties.
21This is my mission tonight...
22post thanksgiving must too
23watch for multiples of the same thing also... last time I cleaned I somehow ended up with three half-full bottles of heinz ketchup!!! (I share a house with two boys... I'm blaming them)
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