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It’s Clean Out Your Fridge Day – whoo! Excited? Okay, me neither, but cleaning out your fridge isn’t so bad if you do it regularly. Here are some tips to get you started on a regular routine:

1) Arm Yourself for Battle. Grab a garbage bag and set it next to you. I like to use a paper grocery bag since it stands upright, or you can drag a garbage can from its regular place. I also like to have a roll of paper towels handy and some all-purpose cleaner. You all know I’m a fan of Seventh Generation, but any all-purpose cleaner or a glass cleaner should work  as long as it’s not abrasive. Pick some good music for the background to keep you motivated.

2) De-Stink, De-Stick and Toss the Science Experiment. Starting from the top of your fridge or freezer, throw out old foods. Check expiration dates on sauces, condiments, dressings, eggs, bread, milk, leftovers, etc. When in doubt, toss it. Old refrigerator and freezer food is often the source of mystifying kitchen odors and this is the perfect opportunity to restore your kitchen to a lemony-fresh smell. If you have leftovers to toss, use your garbage disposal to get rid of the food, or use some old plastic bags to contain the smell.

Go ahead and sit on the floor when you reach the bottom of the refrigerator. It will be easier to check for wilted or molded vegetables or fruits that have snuck a place behind another item.

3) Keep the Good Stuff. While you toss old foods, put aside the food items you’re keeping on a counter next to the refrigerator. Don’t worry, we’re not going to leave them out long enough to spoil. This is a good time to wipe condiment caps, or the bottom of cartons that may be contributing to mess in or out of the fridge.

4) Wipe from Top to Bottom. Once your fridge is empty, start again from the top and spray your refrigerator shelves with your all-purpose cleaner. I like to to do one section at a time. You want to start from the top so that as you clean, any crumbs will fall to the bottom, allowing you to scrub in a logical sequence. I actually clean the very top of the fridge and work my way down from there. If you’re doing your freezer in addition to your fridge, you’ll need to allow it to defrost a little to clean any spots or spills.

Make sure you don’t forget any drawers or side door containers. If you want, you can take drawers and containers out and let them soak in your sink with dishwashing liquid while you wipe down the rest of your fridge.

5) Show Off Your Organizational Skills. When you’re finished wiping down (or scrubbing) the shelves, start placing your food items back into the fridge. Be intentional about where you put items. Do you make eggs every day? Those should be easily accessible instead of stuck behind a jug of juice. If you have limited space on your shelves, be sure to put fresh food or items with expiration dates nearing closer to your reach.

6) Not done yet! – Wipe Once More. Even though the interior of your fridge should now be fresh and clean, don’t forget to give the exterior a wipe down as well. Pay special attention to the any handles and seams.

What are your tips? Anything I’m missing? Do share.

Photo via Wide Open Spaces.

Once your dishes are clean, did you know you can then put baseball caps in the dishwasher? You sure can, says Real Simple. And action figures and other small toys too – just put them in a mesh lingere bag. Just don’t put anything with your food. Ick.

“Hairbrushes and combs made of plastic can take a spin,”  reports the magazine, “but not wood or natural boar-bristle brushes. Be sure to remove all the hair first to protect the drain.”

In the food arena, dishwashers can help “potatoes can get nice and clean in the top rack with a rinse-only cycle (no detergent).” It may sound crazy, but makes “mashed potatoes for 20 a lot quicker.”

You can’t put cast-iron, enameled-cast-iron, and copper pots and pans. Why? “Cast iron rusts; enameled cast iron chips; copper dents.” You also should avoid “formal dishes and nice flatware which can get worn with repeated washings. Rule of thumb: If it’s something you would cry over harming or losing, don’t put it in. (If you do put sterling silver in the dishwasher, use about a tablespoon of detergent and don’t mix it with stainless-steel flatware; a chemical reaction between the metals can discolor the silver.)”

You should also avoid putting in wooden spoons or wooden cutting boards “that can warp and crack. If you don’t mind replacing them frequently, throw them in; otherwise wash them in the sink.”

Read more at Real Simple. Apparently, you can cook salmon in a dishwasher too.

What about you? Any new ideas for a dishwasher? What creative items do you put in yours? What do you keep out?