Spring Cleaning!

Is it time for your Spring Cleaning projects yet?  Here are some ideas to get you started:

Freshen Up Your Fridge

If your refrigerator is anything like mine, it collects its share of smears and dribbles, plus a selection of partially used containers, and even a science experiment or two that somehow got pushed into a hidden corner. Here’s how to give it a good makeover: Pull out your picnic cooler and unload everything from the fridge into the cooler. Take out all the removable shelves and bins and set them aside, wipe out any loose crumbs, and spray down all the interior surfaces with a nontoxic spray cleaner (see our story on nontoxic cleaners for an easy recipe). Close the fridge door to let the cleanser soak the insides while you clean the bins and shelves that you removed. Spray those, and clean using a scrub brush or rough sponge on the shelves, and a regular sponge or damp cloth on the bins (so you don't scratch them). The bathtub makes a good place to do this if your sink is too small. A retired toothbrush is great for getting into cracks where food residues may lurk.

Allow the bins and shelves to dry (outside in the sun if possible). While they're drying, scrub or wipe all the surfaces inside the fridge clean. Be sure to scrub in and under the door gasket. Wipe off the dirty water with clean terry cloth rags until everything is sparkling and dry. Reinstall all the shelves and bins, and put your food away, careful to dump or compost anything that's unrecognizable, moldy, or past its expiration date. Clean off any sticky containers, too, before replacing them.

Do the same thing for your freezer, only wipe down sprayed surfaces immediately so your cleaner doesn't freeze. Put an open container of baking soda in each part of the fridge to soak up stray odors.

Spring is also a good time to clean dust off the condenser coils of your fridge so it works more efficiently and uses less energy. If the coils are on the back of your fridge, pull it away from the wall and unplug it, and use your vacuum cleaner or a damp sponge to remove dust buildup on the coils. If they're on the bottom, unplug your fridge and remove the coil cover panel. Vacuum the coils with the wand attachment until you don't see any more dust (use a flashlight if need be).

Oven Overhaul

Keeping baked-on messes in check will reduce the amount of fumes released every time you turn on your oven. But noxious, chemical oven cleaners can be the harshest products in your kitchen because they contain corrosive ingredients that can burn skin and trigger asthma attacks (particularly if they're in aerosol form). I’d also skip the stove's automatic-cleaning feature, as it uses up fossil fuel and releases all that crud into the air, but if you do use it, be sure to run your exhaust fan the entire time.

Ready to tackle you cleaning project yet?  Be sure to check out the whole list of ideas here:  http://www.organicgardening.com/living/how-spring-clean-your-kitchen?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-OrganicGardening-_-Content-Living-_-clean