The Plastic Wrap Hack That'll Cut Down On Your Refrigerator Cleaning Time

Fridges can get pretty messy. They store all of our favorite sauces, freshly bundled vegetables, and last night's leftovers. And as you shuffle things around, spills and upset containers eventually happen. But one easy way to cut back on your cleaning time is to use plastic wrap as a temporary shelf liner.

Cleaning a fridge can be pretty cumbersome. You have to remove everything off of the shelves, spray down the surfaces with a cleaning agent, scrub them clean, and then wipe them dry. An easy way to shorten that process is to use saran wrap.

Simply rip off a sheet big enough to cover an entire shelf and press it smoothly on the surface. Its natural cling will have it adhere to the shelf, and when a spill occurs or crumbs accumulate, simply take it off and throw it in the trash. And just like that, that specific chore is off your to-do list!

If you don't have saran wrap in the house, you can also use Glad's Press'n Seal, which is a type of cling film. It's stickier than regular saran wrap, creating a leak-proof and airtight bind. That's because while saran wrap clings, this seals. That might make it a better option for your fridge hack since it won't move around as you shuffle things.

If you rather use something that isn't disposable, you can also use plastic placemats. You might already have some lying around the house, or you can buy them relatively cheap at grocery stores or thrift shops. Line your fridge shelves with them, and remove them whenever there is a mess. You can simply wash them in the sink, wipe them dry, and place them back inside the fridge. These might even be more convenient than cling wrap since it won't bunch up or slide around.

If you're trying to reduce plastic use in your household, you might be looking for a similar fridge hack but one that's a little eco-friendlier. In that case, why not try using something you have an excess of in your house? For many people, that's baking sheets. There are XL-versions that can span the whole shelf, but you don't have to go that extreme if you don't want to. You can also use a smaller baking sheet and only place things on it that tend to leak or spill, like maple syrup, barbecue sauce, or last night's leftovers stored on a plate. It achieves the same thing.

For the side doors, you can use old washcloths to do the same thing. Simply line them in the shelves, and they'll catch any leaks from milk gallons or juice bottles. When they get dirty, just pop them into the wash and reuse them.