The Natural Product That'll De-Grime Your Dirty Fridge In An Instant

When was the last time you had a look at the crisper drawer in your fridge? Or any shelf that's housed raw fruits, vegetables, or jars containing food and liquids? Little chunks of food like leaves or stalks, juice from something overripe and dribbles from a pot of jam can all migrate south and settle. Over time, they can get stubborn, defying your go-to cleaning solution of soapy water. So before the next big clean, consider pre-treating grimy spots first. If you like using natural products where possible, glycerin can unstick the mess from the surfaces of your refrigerator.

If you've never used it before, glycerin is clear and has the viscosity of light corn syrup. It's a sugar alcohol compound that is naturally derived from plant or animal fats, or can be made synthetically. It's generally used in three domains: in cosmetic ingredients; to sweeten and preserve foods and drinks; and in some medicines like throat lozenges and ointments. It is completely non-toxic, has other household uses, and even works wonders on tough stains. Note that manufactured glycerin may have fillers like salt and water, so stick with the organic version.

Glycerin is a prominent ingredient in skincare products because it's a humectant, a substance that retains moisture. Perhaps it's glycerin's plumping and moisturizing action that revives desiccated vegetables, allowing you to scoop them up with ease. You can usually purchase a bottle at your local drugstore or at chains like Walgreens or CVS. As with any refrigerator-related cleaning task, you'll want to prep by putting all your food into coolers outfitted with ice packs or by placing everything on ice in the sink. Locate all the stuck-on food particles on shelves and at the bottom of veggie drawers, and saturate each spot with three or four drops of glycerin. Let it absorb for 15 minutes, then come back with a moistened scrubby sponge and wipe the grime away.

You can follow that up by using the perfect cleaning product to wash the inside of your fridge –- hydrogen peroxide. If you prefer using mild soap and water, go for it, but just remember that no matter what you use to clean, thoroughly rinse any surface that comes into contact with food with clean water. That way, you'll ensure you remove all traces of soap and chemicals.