A TikTok cleaning expert has shared a simple hack that will make your fridge sparkle and smell amazing
The New Year is the ideal time to spruce up your home, and that includes showing your kitchen a bit of TLC. According to food gurus at Good Food, the fridge is one of the grubbiest appliances in your kitchen. “From door seals and shelf corners to neglected containers and the food itself, there are all sorts of places for microbial life to flourish.
“The mix of cool, freezing cold and hot areas throughout these appliances provides ideal living conditions for an assortment of germs.” However, you don’t need pricey cleaners or hours of scrubbing; sometimes, the secret is hiding right in your cupboard.
With just a single, common kitchen item, you can tackle grease, odours, and grime in one fell swoop.
How to clean your fridge
A cleaning content creator took to TikTok to share a simple cleaning hack that will make your fridge shine. Chantel Mila, also known as @mama_mila, said to mix one cup of water, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and vanilla extract in a spray bottle.
This will “clean tough grime from your fridge and make it smell amazing,” said Chantel. According to Isabella Forgione, a small appliances expert at AO, white vinegar is the magical solution to a dirty and smelly fridge.
Echoing Chantel, Isabella shared with Good Food: “Mix vinegar and water into a solution and wipe this onto your fridge’s shelves and drawers – this will kill any germs and neutralise any lingering odours.
“Wipe this solution onto the door seals too, as dirt and crumbs love to get right into the hidden nooks.”
What else can you clean?
This versatile cleaning solution isn’t just for your fridge; it can also prove incredibly effective in other areas of your home, such as keeping your drains fresh and clear. Chantel suggests combining equal parts baking soda and white vinegar and pouring the mixture directly down your drains.
As the ingredients react, they create a fizzy, bubbling action that loosens stubborn grime and buildup that can accumulate over time. Not only does this help prevent blockages, but it also neutralises unpleasant odours, leaving your drains smelling clean and fresh.
Next, create a powerful cleaning solution by combining one cup of white vinegar, 1/4 cup of washing-up liquid, and a few drops of tea tree oil. This mixture is perfect for tackling stubborn bathroom grime, including mould and soap deposits.
Simply add this mixture to a spray bottle, apply it to the affected surfaces, and then wipe away with a cloth to reveal a cleaner, fresher bathroom.
