Every now and again you’ll need to clean the inside of your refrigerator, not least because, despite the low temperatures, microorganisms can still multiply. In today’s blog post, we’re giving you some advice on what to think about when you get the cleaning cloth out.
Refrigerators will inevitably get a little messy – perhaps jam gets stuck to one of the shelves or maybe juice spurts out in the door shelving, and it’s obviously time to reach for the cleaning cloth! Yet, even if your fridge isn’t visibly dirty, we still recommend that you clean it every four weeks or so because, after all, you’re storing fresh food here!
Cleaning your refrigerator doesn’t require a huge amount of expertise and, you’ll be pleased to hear, you don’t need expensive refrigerator cleaners or disinfectants because warm water with a little washing-up liquid is quite sufficient.
Preparing to clean your fridge
First, give some thought to getting your appliance ready for cleaning – run down food stocks and arrange for remaining foods to be temporarily stored in a cold bag with cold packs or in the fridge of a friendly neighbor!
Remember, always switch off the refrigerator and unplug it from the mains for safety reasons before you are ready with your cleaning cloth. If your appliance is freestanding, pull it slightly forward or sideways and then use a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust from underneath it and from the large, black condenser coils at the back (if they are visible outside).
If you have a fridge-freezer without NoFrost or a refrigerator with a freezer compartment you should leave it to defrost for several hours before you clean it out.
Cleaning the fittings
Take out and, where possible, dismantle all removable parts such as the shelves, drawers or partitions. Clean these individual fittings in the sink using warm water with a little washing-up liquid or pH-neutral detergent. Use a damp cloth to clean the telescopic rails. The grease on the tracks is required for lubrication and should not be removed. Use a cotton cloth to dry the parts.
Using expensive specialist cleaners or disinfectants is not necessary when cleaning refrigerators; warm water and washing-up liquid are quite sufficient.
Cleaning the interior
The best way to clean the interior is with a microfibre cloth, warm water and a little washing-up liquid or pH-neutral detergent.
After cleaning, wipe out the interior using clean water and dry it with a cloth. It’s not uncommon for household advice websites to suggest cleaning your refrigerator with vinegar: we strongly advise you not to do this as vinegar can sometimes corrode plastics. You should also avoid using scouring pads, abrasive sponges and other aggressive cleaning agents and aids. It is far more important to simply clean your appliance regularly – we recommend every four to six weeks. You can’t actually go far wrong when cleaning your fridge but, to be on the safe side, here are a few things you should avoid:
Don’ts
- Avoid steam cleaners
- Do not use concentrated detergents
- Say no to scourers, abrasive sponges or steel wool
- Stop using harsh or abrasive cleaning agents that contain sand, chloride or acid
- Don’t damage or remove the rating plate found on the interior
- Do not allow cleaning water to enter the drainage channel, the ventilation grills or the electrical parts
Cleaning the exterior
Suitable cleaning of the outside of your appliance depends on the material from which it is made.
Plastic exteriors: Clean with a little lukewarm water and washing-up liquid.
Stainless steel doors: These have a SmartSteel finish, which must be treated with care. Wipe them with a soft, clean cloth. If it is necessary to remove tough dirt, use a little water or a pH-neutral cleaner. Please note: You must not use stainless steel cleaner on SmartSteel surfaces as this can damage the SmartSteel finish.
Stainless steel side panels: If the side panels are dirty, clean them using Liebherr stainless steel cleaner. Apply the cleaner to a soft, cotton cloth and clean the panels in the direction of the grain. Afterwards, use lukewarm water to remove any cleaning agent residue and then re-seal the dry surface with Liebherr stainless steel polish. Again work in the direction of the grain. Both the stainless steel cleaner and the stainless steel polish can be purchased from specialist retailers or you can drop an E-mail at: [email protected]; or call us on our customer care number : 7038 100 400. Note: for appliances with a BlackSteel finish, the cleaning instructions for the door, apply to the side panels as well.
Painted side panels: Wipe with a soft, clean cloth. In the event of tough dirt, use a little water or a pH‑neutral detergent.
After cleaning
Once all parts are clean and dry, plug in the appliance and switch it back on. If your appliance has function of SuperFrost, please switch on this function so that your appliance reaches its desired temperature quickly. Once the appliance is sufficiently cold, put your food back into it. You can now enjoy a clean appliance and a sense of security as you store and prepare your fresh food!
If you have any questions about refrigerator cleaning, simply write to us! Use the comment function below this post or start/join in discussions with us on Facebook.
