Households urged to put washing up liquid in fridge

It's another of those household cleaning chores that you probably don't do nearly as often as you should, then one day you open the fridge door and you suddenly realise: yeah, this needs a deep clean.

While supermarkets and DIY stores alike are chock full of pricey solutions for cleaning kitchen appliances like fridges, from lemon sprays to antibacterial spritzes, mould and mildew control to odour banishing powders, and other chemical stuffed cleaners.

But they're all beaten by one thing, say experts - washing up liquid. According to cleaning experts, a humble bottle of Fairy liquid (other brands are available) can lift away stains, remove unwanted smells and kill germs in your fridge, restoring it to a shiny, clean and ultimately, safe place to store your food. That's especially useful in the summer, when food can go off much faster in hot conditions if your fridge isn't performing as it should because it's full of grime.

Instead of splashing out on a pricey or even chemical-laden cleaning solution, simply reach for a bottle of washing up liquid, say cleaning specialists Housekeep.

All you need to do is fill a washing up bowl or sink half or three quarters full, then spray two squirts of washing up liquid into it.

Remove all the food and all the shelves from your fridge, and the drawers, and leave these to soak in the sink.

Then use a mild solution of washing up liquid mixed with water to tackle the inside of the fridge.

As Housekeep explains: "Use a mild solution of washing up liquid and water to clean the inside of the fridge. If you have a spare spray bottle, this will come in handy. You can also use a bucket containing your solution too if that's easier. You should only need a couple of drops of washing up liquid to make the solution.

"Drop your microfibre cloth in the solution and wring, so that you're left with a wet - but not soaking - cloth. If you have a spray bottle, spray the solution directly onto the surfaces, and use a slightly damp cloth. Starting at the back corner of the fridge, wipe left-to-right and top-to-bottom, ensuring you reach all of the corners.

"Most marks should lift easily, although any stubborn spillages may require a little elbow grease.

"Repeat this process on all sides of the fridge, as well as on the inside of the door.

"With your damp cloth, give the seal around the door a thorough wipe. Then close the fridge door, and wipe the handle and the front of the fridge too. Again, go back over with a dry cloth so that no soap or watermarks are left behind."

They added: "Schedule your fridge clean just before your weekly shop - so it's running low. This will speed up the emptying & refilling stages, and ensure that there's not lots of fresh produce out at room temperature while you're cleaning."