Welcome to Talbot Terrace: Your New Home in the Heart of London, Ontario
December 05, 2024
Tenant Tips: Maintenance of your Fridge
The fridge is probably the most used appliance in your apartment, it also is at fault for using the most energy than any other appliance. There are a few things you can do as needed to help maintain your Fridge while also keeping down the energy consumption.
Check out these 4 tips on how to care for your fridge:
1. Clean off the condenser coils
Condenser coils are responsible for removing heat from refrigerators and freezers. They're the large, radiator-like coils located at the back or beneath the unit. When dust and dirt cling to the coils, it's harder for the refrigerator to remove heat. The result is increased energy consumption. Without regular cleaning, this can lead to problems and costly repairs.
For a step-by-step guide, check out House Tipster's post on Why You Should Clean Your Refrigerator Condenser Coils.
2. Clean and replace the rubber door seal
The gasket is the rubber seal that outlines your refrigerator and freezer doors. It's an often overlooked part that has the critical job of sealing out warm air. Clean it periodically with a universal cleaner such as Goo Gone Concentrated spray. Over time, gaskets wear and no longer seal the way refrigerators and freezers need to operate efficiently. It's common for gaskets to weaken, loosen and tear within just a few years. When this happens, warm air enters the interior of the refrigerator or freezer, making it work harder to remove the heat. Fortunately, gaskets can be easily replaced by your building manager.
3. Clean the interior
Weekly, use a cloth dampened by warm water to wipe down and remove crumbs and spills from shelves and walls. An all-purpose cleaner will make the job easier and take on stains and sticky spills without a lot of elbow grease. You can also use this cleaner on doors and handles.
For stainless-steel units: Find a cleaning solution that is specifically designed to remove dirt and finger print marks on stainless-steel refrigerators. While wiping, it's best to follow the"grain" or pattern of the stainless steel.
4. Deodorize
Freshen and remove odours with a deodorizer that's specifically designed for refrigerators. Or you can use a jar of baking soda with some added essential oils to freshen up the fridge, another trick we found was using ground up coffee beans. Having these in a open jar at the back of your fridge for 2-3 days will help reduce odour.