What To Do When You Get a New Fridge?

There’s usually a feeling of excitement when someone is getting a new appliance. The new dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, or refrigerator all promise to make life easier and more convenient. But when you’re taking this huge step, you may feel a little anxious about whether or not the move is the right one, especially when you consider the financial impact. However, recent research shows that upgrading your appliances is one of the best ways to save money on your utility bill, prevent energy waste, and protect the environment.

As we all know, the refrigerator has quickly become one of the most important appliances to have around the house. In fact, many people don’t even bother with a refrigerator without a freezer compartment. The refrigerator is responsible for keeping our food and drinks cool and fresh, which is why it is so important to keep it in good working order. The refrigerator is the most energy-efficient piece of equipment in the home, and it also helps to keep our home cool by preventing food from getting warm.

Modern refrigerators are all-in-one as they have both the freezer and refrigerator compartments in one unit, something older models of refrigerators lacked. This makes them ideal for those who like to keep their food and drinks cold, but don’t have the space or the money for a traditional refrigerator and freezer.

They also come in a variety of sizes, from small units that can fit in a small kitchen, to large units that can fit in a large kitchen or even a small dining room. They are also quiet, which is especially important if you’re trying to keep your fridge in your living room or bedroom, instead of in the kitchen where it can disturb your family or guests.

They are also much more energy-efficient than older refrigerators, meaning they use less energy and produce less waste. They also come in a wider range of sizes than older refrigerators, ranging from small side-by-side refrigerators to large freestanding refrigerators. Instead of having to buy a separate freezer, many people choose to buy a modern refrigerator that has a built-in freezer. This saves space, energy, and money.

With all these benefits that come with a modern refrigerator, you can pardon someone who’s buying a new refrigerator for showing too much excitement – after all, this is something that naturally would tickle one’s fancy. Beneath all that excitement lies a series of unanswered questions that won’t bother you much until a few months when the honeymoon period is over and reality finally kicks in. Do I need to clean the inside of a new refrigerator? How long does it take a new refrigerator to get cold once plugged in? Can you use a new refrigerator immediately? When can I put food in my new fridge freezer?

You may now take a moment to wonder why you never bothered to find answers to these questions when they first popped up in your mind. Before you start feeling guilty, know that this is totally normal as it is very easy to get carried away by the euphoria surrounding getting a new appliance, especially a refrigerator.

On the other hand, if you’ve not been in such a situation, you can save yourself the trouble of ever dealing with these questions later by finding answers to them as soon as they come to your mind, or, better still, as soon as you get a new refrigerator. Some of the things you need to quickly get accustomed to include how to clean a new fridge before use, what to do with food when getting a new refrigerator, and most importantly, a new refrigerator installation.

You might get lucky with the latter, especially when you’re investing in a new refrigerator from a reputable brand. You might have an expert from the company come down to help install it accordingly because you could encounter some difficulties if you were to install the unit yourself. Otherwise, this is a process you’ll have to try and get through alone, albeit a user manual from the manufacturer could help you through the process by guiding you through the seemingly daunting steps.

How To Clean a New Refrigerator Before Using It

With the whole excitement surrounding getting a new fridge, it’s very easy to get carried away and not do what you’re meant to do before you start using it. According to Deavita, while using your new refrigerator as soon as you get it sounds appealing and normal, it is a “fundamentally wrong decision” because the refrigerator needs to be properly cleaned before you start using it. The impatience can lead to a lot of trouble, and while these problems may not be immediate, you should, at some point, brace for impact because they will eventually come around.

It is very important for you to get it right, and even if you’re cleaning before using the refrigerator, you have to do it the right way to avoid major damage to the refrigerator that must have cost you a lot to get. We know you’re wondering why you need to clean a new refrigerator since it’s coming directly from the company and must have been cleaned before it gets to you. Well, we want to help you eliminate the guesswork, which will only harm you, so we’ll be exploring some of the reasons why your new refrigerator has to be cleaned.

All new appliances come with a specific smell – you must have noticed this if you’re used to getting only new appliances or if you’ve gotten some in recent times and you clearly remember the smell they all had when you first got them. With the odd smell, filling the refrigerator with fresh food items will only contaminate your freshly-produced food items. In some cases, a new refrigerator usually comes with some packaging materials and waste papers that must be removed.

The smell could be as simple as the technical smell of plastic to being some pollution that was accrued during the production of the refrigerator. Whatever it is, you want to make sure it doesn’t affect your fresh food items, which can, in turn, affect your health if you decide to put them in the refrigerator without cleaning the refrigerator. Again, according to Kremena Ruseva of Deavita, household appliances are transported to the production warehouse after manufacturing, and some of these appliances can spend a lot of time in these locations before being moved to the sales area.

While these appliances may be well packed at the factory, it doesn’t still prevent microbes and dust from falling on the appliance. You should also consider the possibility of a wide range of unwanted items in the refrigerator, probably some plastics that have been kept in it for a long time, which end up causing an unpleasant smell. You only need to take your time to clean the refrigerator properly to avoid any future damage to your health.

Disinfecting the refrigerator

A great part of cleaning the refrigerator is to disinfect the work surfaces so you can easily get rid of some unpleasant odors as well as dirt that might have been stuck on it from the warehouse. You can choose between using chemical detergents or the traditional methods we’re all used to – vinegar, baking soda, and lemon. We prefer the latter because they’re safer and they work more effectively, so if you’re using them, follow the steps below;

STEP 1: The combination of vinegar and baking soda usually results in an effective cleaning solution that is safe as well. These elements are also smell absorbers, so they’re a perfect way to get rid of unwanted smells in and around your refrigerator. The first step is to mix a teaspoon of vinegar with about 3 liters of water. Wipe off the surface of the refrigerator and perhaps the inside as well before leaving the chamber door open for a few hours for proper ventilation.

STEP 2: If you’re opting for baking soda, mix 2 tablespoons of it with 3 liters of water. Apply the paste-like solution to the refrigerator surface, leave it for a few minutes, and rinse it properly with water.

STEP 3: Once you’re done with this, ensure to use a clean towel to wipe the refrigerator dry.

Cleaning the refrigerator

The cleaning of your refrigerator should be thorough – must be cleaned inside-out, the door, the top of the refrigerator, and the side walls. Carefully follow the steps below if you’re trying to clean your new refrigerator.

STEP 1: The first step is to decide which solution you’ll be using to clean the refrigerator. You can choose to opt for chemical/commercial cleaners or the traditional methods which include baking soda, lemon, and vinegar. Whatever you decide to do, always ensure you’re opting for something you feel comfortable with. If you believe commercial cleaners will get you the best results, don’t hesitate to use them – just ensure you use them as safely as you can by reading the instructions that come with them.

STEP 2: Once you’ve decided on the cleaner you want to use, the next thing is to get a good napkin you can soak in the cleaning solution to efficiently clean both the interior and exterior of the refrigerator.

STEP 3: You have to clean the inside of the refrigerator first. Make sure you touch all the boxes, grates, shelves, and other items in the refrigerator. Don’t forget the back wall as well as the drawers in the freezer compartment.

STEP 4: You don’t want any residue in and around the refrigerator so you have to make sure you rinse carefully and properly before wiping with a dry cloth.

N.B.: If you’re using a detergent bought from the store, you have to rinse the refrigerator properly with a napkin soaked in clean water to get rid of any unpleasant smells that may linger on after the process. Also, never use chlorine-based cleaners to clean the refrigerator. Chlorine will do a lot of damage to the plastic parts of the refrigerator, even the rubber seals. You should also avoid abrasive cleaners because they will damage the refrigerator’s appliance, especially when it’s stainless steel.

Read more on how to remove stains from a stainless steel refrigerator in this article.

How Long Should I Wait Before Plugging In A New Refrigerator?

For safety reasons, it’s okay to wait for a while before plugging your refrigerator after you’ve just cleaned it. Again, impatience will only cause you more problems, after all, you’ve waited this long to clean the refrigerator in the first place, so why not wait a few more hours? You need to leave the refrigerator to completely dry for about 4 to 6 hours. By doing this, you’re letting the remaining moisture go out completely out of the refrigerator, so the technical components of the refrigerator can be ready for operation.

If you attempt to plug the refrigerator when you still have some moisture in it, you risk getting electric shocks, which pose a greater danger to your health and the state of the refrigerator.

How About Maintenance?

You can give a lot of first care to your refrigerator. However, if you don’t follow it up with consistent maintenance, you will only be getting the unit damaged in a few years and that means you’ll be cutting your loss on an appliance you spent a lot of money acquiring. According to Onsitego, the refrigerator is one appliance in the house you leave running almost every day all year long to keep your food items fresh. An appliance that’s as hardworking as the refrigerator needs to be properly maintained to keep it functioning at the highest level.

You don’t want your refrigerator to break down in the middle of the summer when temperatures are at their highest. Food supplies will quickly be destroyed, so you want your refrigerator to keep functioning all the time. The little price you have to pay? Regular maintenance. Below are some of the maintenance tips you can use to keep your refrigerator at the highest level possible.

• Always set the correct temperature for proper cooling.
• Arrange the items in the refrigerator properly to avoid overloading.
• Clean the condenser coils of the refrigerator regularly because they can cause the refrigerator to stop cooling efficiently.
• Clean the inside of the refrigerator at least every week.
• Don’t leave the refrigerator door opened for too long to avoid coolness escaping from the unit.
• Check the refrigerator door seals for cracks and hardness. If they’re damaged, they can cause the door not to close properly.
• Regularly defrost the refrigerator.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long do I have to wait to put food in a new refrigerator?

Before you start putting food in your new refrigerator, you need to have gone through the cleaning process. The cleaning process includes carefully washing the interior and exterior of the refrigerator, after which you’ll leave it to completely dry. Also, you must have plugged in the refrigerator for a number of hours before you eventually put food in it. This is to ensure the food gets the right temperature as soon as it goes into the unit.

• Why do you have to wait 24 hours to plug in a fridge?

Some experts give that time because they want you to be as safe as possible when you finally get to plug in your fridge. Many experts will tell you as long as you give your refrigerator enough to completely dry after you’ve cleaned it, you shouldn’t wait till 24 hours before plugging it in. Always ensure you read the user manual that comes with the refrigerator to perfectly understand the safety tips.

Conclusion

Getting a new refrigerator usually comes with a lot of excitement. However, you shouldn’t be too fazed by this excitement as there are things you need to do before you start using the refrigerator. One of the most important things you need to do is clean the refrigerator. This will keep your refrigerator running smoothly and will make sure that your food stays fresh. Cleaning the refrigerator is not difficult, but it does take some time and effort. Once you can get the basics done, you will not have any issues with the refrigerator going forward as long as it’s properly and regularly maintained.