3 Non-Toxic Ways to Clean Out Your Fridge Before the Holidays
The Oily Home Companion
As you prepare your home for the holidays, don’t forget one of the most important areas to prep for the season: your refrigerator! The fridge is one of the most widely used spaces in the home. But, it often gets forgotten in the cleaning routine. We doubt we need to convince you that cleaning your fridge is important, as you have probably had the experience of opening the door to a dreadful odor or mysterious sticky substance on a shelf. However, the way you clean your fridge is equally important because of what you fridge holds: food! Do you want to use toxic chemical cleaners where you’re keeping your food? We didn’t think so. That’s why we love using Young Living’s non-toxic solutions so we can be more confident about what we’re ingesting. Ready to get started?
Start by taking every single item out of your fridge. This allows you to take inventory and check expiration dates, but also clears out every space for optimal cleaning. Any food item you’ve cooked 5 or more days ago should be thrown out. If you have items that have broken seals or have a poor odor, toss them. If some food items, like meats, are still good but you’re not sure you can use them soon, freeze them! For your condiments, sauces, and the like, check expiration dates and throw out the old. You can also toss the things you haven’t used in months, because clutter leads to chaos and you don’t need that during the holiday season. Do the same for your freezer. Once everything is out, use these 3 simple tips for non-toxic fridge cleaning:
Deep clean the dirtiest areas first. Find the odors, the sticky substances, the stains, the spills, and other tough spots, then tackle them with a homemade Thieves deep cleaner. Mix a capful of Thieves Household Cleaner with 1-2 cups water, depending on how difficult the area is to clean, then start scrubbing. No gloves or face mask necessary!
Remove shelves and drawers, and clean every square inch of space. Use Thieves Wipes or a homemade Thieves all-purpose cleaner. Mix 1 part Thieves Household Cleaner with 30 parts water in a spray bottle. For glass shelving, make a glass cleaner by mixing 1 part Thieves Household Cleaner to 50 parts water in a spray bottle.
Use a deodorizer to keep things fresh. Before putting everything back in the fridge, find a small corner and place an uncovered bowl of baking soda with a few drops of Lemon Essential Oil to prevent future odors. Replace this with a fresh bowl once a week for optimal freshness, and for a reminder to clear out the old!
To learn more about the power of Thieves Essential Oil products, read this post!