Our kitchen appliances repair company is as much about providing professional repairs as it is about helping and caring for our customers.
That is why we love to share these articles in our blog, with the hope that it will help them take better care of their fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, and all kitchen appliances they have and use every day.
1. Clean Your Fridge Regularly
Deep-cleaning your fridge regularly is essential for its optimal performance and hygiene. It helps prevent unpleasant odors, maintains a fresh environment, and prevents the spread of bacteria.
Empty the fridge first, and discard spoiled or expired food. Use a mild detergent to wipe down all shelves, walls, and the door from inside and out. When returning the food back to the fridge, make sure to wipe clean and dry the bottoms of jars and boxes, as they might be covered with spills and debris from earlier.
With freezers, they need to be defrosted first and then cleaned. The best time to do it is, of course, while you don’t have food left in there. Unplug the freezer before proceeding with defrosting and cleaning.
2. Avoid Overloading the Fridge
In order for your fridge to work optimally, make sure it’s not overloaded, and its contents are not blocking the vents. Overloading can obstruct air circulation, resulting in uneven cooling and increased energy consumption.
3. Examine and Clean the Door Seals Regularly
The door seals or gaskets are essential for keeping the cool air inside and the warm air outside. With time, they become worn out, but keeping them clean will slow the process and increase the fridge’s efficiency. Food debris trapped in the seals can prevent the door from closing properly, thus hindering the fridge's cooling.
There is also the possibility of mold appearing on the door seals, which, if not cleaned in time, will lead to the spread of spores and bacteria. Consider replacing cracked or loose gaskets to maintain an airtight seal.
4. Check and Adjust the Temperature Settings
Knowing the ideal fridge temperature is important to keep your food fresh for longer. Maintaining between 3°C (37°F) and 5°C (40°F) for the fridge and -18°C (0°F) for the freezer will ensure an optimal working environment and increase your kitchen appliance efficiency.
Sometimes we can accidentally change the temperature settings of our fridge or freezer without noticing, so make sure to check them regularly and adjust them accordingly. You may also use a fridge thermometer for consistent and accurate temperature readings.
5. Keep the Condenser Coils Clean
To help keep your fridge running at optimum performance, you should check these coils regularly. The condenser coils could be found either at the back or underneath the fridge. Their role is to release excess heat to the outside, thus cooling the kitchen appliance. When dust and other particles stick to the coils, they prevent them from performing at their best, and the fridge is forced to work harder, resulting in increased energy consumption.
The coils would benefit from a good cleaning at least twice a year by vacuuming and brushing them.
6. Clean the Drainage Hole and Drip Pan
Almost all fridges have a drainage hole and drip pan. These components collect and evaporate condensation. Even when a refrigerator is regularly cleaned, they can become clogged with food debris. Checking the drip pan and drainage hole regularly and cleaning them properly will ensure your fridge is in optimal condition.
For cleaning, you can use a small brush or a pipe cleaner.
By following the above simple steps, you can help your fridge or fridge-freezer run at peak performance, and save on electricity and food bills.
Even if you take cleaning and maintenance seriously and take care of your fridge and freezer regularly, having them inspected annually by a professional kitchen appliance technician is very beneficial. An appliance repair engineer can inspect for damages we wouldn’t be able to spot, and will ensure that the fridge or freezer is working perfectly well.