Health starts with taking care of your refrigerator

In daily life, household refrigerators are an important tool for us to store food, and their hygiene is directly related to our health. However, have you ever thought that this seemingly closed and clean space may actually hide various harmful microorganisms? Today, let us explore how to clean and disinfect household refrigerators, and let health start from the details.

1. Why do you need to clean and disinfect the refrigerator?

Although refrigerators can prolong the storage time of food, they are not "safes". Due to the suitable temperature and high humidity inside the refrigerator, plus food residues and spilled liquids, it is easy to become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. A refrigerator that is not cleaned for a long time will not only emit unpleasant odors, but also cause food to spoil, leading to health problems such as food poisoning. Therefore, whether you can see the dirt in the refrigerator or not, it is an important part of ensuring our food safety to regularly clean the inner wall of the refrigerator, unclog the sewage outlet in the refrigerator, and fully disinfect the inner wall.

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2. Clean the inside and outside surfaces of the refrigerator regularly

First, turn off the power to the refrigerator to defrost the ice, take out all the items in the refrigerator, clean the refrigerator from the inside out with a soft cloth dipped in household detergent, and then wipe it with clean water. Note that there is usually a colored pull ring on the inner wall of the refrigerator. Pull it out, use a washing bottle with an elbow or a drinking water bottle with a small hole drilled on the top cover in advance, fill it with tap water or warm water, and flush water into the small hole in the pull ring until all the dirt flows out with the water. Wipe repeatedly until it is visibly clean.

3. How to disinfect the refrigerator?

1. 75% alcohol wiping method

Alcohol is a common disinfectant in our daily lives, and a concentration of 75% is the most suitable. You can use a soft cloth to dip in an appropriate amount of 75% alcohol and then wipe the refrigerator [1]. From the top to the bottom of the refrigerator, from the inner wall to the sealing strip, do not miss any corner. After wiping, close the refrigerator door and let it stand for 15-30 minutes to allow the alcohol to fully evaporate. Finally, wipe the inside of the refrigerator with clean water and a clean rag. This method not only has a good sterilization effect, but the alcohol evaporates quickly and does not leave any odor.

Image source: Pixabay

2. 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde aqueous solution spray disinfection method

Have you ever heard of glutaraldehyde? This magical chemical is widely used in the medical and health fields. It has a strong bactericidal ability and its disinfection effect is better under alkaline conditions. Before use, it should be activated with sodium bicarbonate, and then sprayed evenly on the inner wall and every corner of the refrigerator with a 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde aqueous solution. Close the refrigerator door and let it stand for 30 minutes to allow the glutaraldehyde to fully exert its bactericidal effect. After that, wipe the inside of the refrigerator clean with clean water and a clean rag. This method is simple and efficient, but it should be noted that glutaraldehyde is somewhat irritating, so gloves and masks should be worn when using it. In addition, alkaline glutaraldehyde has poor stability, so it is recommended to be prepared and used immediately[2].

3. Soda Cleansing

In addition to chemical disinfectants, we can also use natural soda water to clean the refrigerator. Dissolve an appropriate amount of baking soda in hot water, dip a sponge in the soda water, and wipe the inner wall and every corner of the refrigerator. Soda water has a good decontamination and sterilization effect, and can easily remove stubborn stains and odors in the refrigerator. After wiping, rinse the inside of the refrigerator with clean water. This method is both environmentally friendly and safe, and is very suitable for home use.

4. What should you pay attention to when disinfecting the refrigerator?

1. Regular disinfection: It is recommended to fully disinfect the refrigerator at least once a month.

2. Food processing: Before disinfection, take out all food in the refrigerator and seal them with plastic bags or plastic wrap to prevent contamination.

3. Ventilation: After disinfection, open the refrigerator door for a while to allow the air inside to circulate and avoid residual odor.

4. Personal protection: When using chemical disinfectants, you must wear gloves and masks to avoid direct skin contact and inhalation of harmful gases.

Disinfection of household refrigerators may seem complicated, but it is crucial to our food safety and health. Mastering some effective disinfection techniques can not only easily solve the problem of bacteria and viruses in the refrigerator, but also keep the refrigerator clean and hygienic, and avoid odor. Let's start with the little details and work together to protect the health of our family!

[1] Gao Minli. Don’t forget to disinfect the refrigerator when it’s hot [J]. Family Medicine and Happy Health, 2011, (7): 65.

[2] Gao Fuhong. Research progress of glutaraldehyde disinfectant[J]. Journal of Anhui Agricultural Sciences, 2016, 44(30): 121-122+126. DOI: 10.13989/j.cnki.0517-6611.2016.30.043.

Source: Chongqing Science Writers Association

Author: Yan Jing, public health physician, Chongqing Yongchuan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Zou Jingbo, chief technician

Audit expert: Li Hanbin

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