Refrigerators and Freezers

• Cleaning the refrigerator
  I've always used baking soda solution to clean the inside of the refrigerator. For refrigerators that you had to turn off and defrost from time to time, I always wiped the trays and shelves with a strong solution. As well as cleaning up greasy marks it removes any odors from spills, milk bottle bottoms, and cheesy whiffs. With the larder fridge we have now, I remove any uncovered food, wipe down with paper kitchen towel before putting the food back in.
  
  If you are planning on turning off your refrigerator while you are away on a long vacation, or are moving house and need to leave it switched off for a while, using baking soda is a good way to save time and prevent mold from forming. I use it to clean out the fridge-freezer in our home in France when we leave each time, leaving the doors open and the power off. The only time we went back to black moldy deposits in the freezer was when a helpful workman closed the freezer door (to be fair, he did think he was doing us a favor) and I hadn't given the shelves the treatment. On return, a quick wipe over with a solution of baking soda in cold water was all that was needed before starting up the unit again. Any stubborn stains that have sat at the back of the refrigerator for a while may be removed with a tablespoon of baking soda mixed with a squeeze of toothpaste.  

• Freezers
  Use Baking Soda and water when the spare freezer in the garage has been off, or we've stored various family members' freezers etc. Cleaning with baking soda and warm water has always kept the units fresh-as long as the door is kept propped open.
  
  If you defrost the freezer, wait for all the ice to melt, then wipe carefully with warm water solution and let it dry thoroughly. Restart the freezer... and close the door!