Honey it's time to clean behind the fridge again!. Review on Maintaining a Refrigerator

You know how you sometimes get into one of those “CLEANING” moods. On a very rare occasion I get into one of those moods. And every one in the family tries to run for shelter. My poor husband never gets away. Poor guy. But his ability to help out around the house is one of the many reasons I love him.

Well one day I got into one of those moods and decided to have my husband pull out the refrigerator so that I could clean behind it. You know most people don’t think about doing this. Let me remind us all; it gets really dirty back there and needs to be cleaned at least two times a year. All kinds of things can be found under mine. Lost hot wheels, pencils, refrigerator magnets, paper and those awful dust bunnies. Not to mention dirt and grime.

When my husband got the refrigerator pulled out the children forgot what they had run for and came to see “the dirt and grime.” I looked at them and told them they could help me clean it up. “Not me,” one said, “me either” the other said. “Chickens” I said. I was appalled with myself for letting the floor underneath my refrigerator get so dirty! And around the coils was just as bad. My husband cleaned and vacuumed out from back there for me and cleaned that whole area on the backside. He took the vent from the front bottom off and cleaned that for me as well. He also made sure that the drainage was still working correctly. It is really amazing how bad something gets when you let it go. These things are expensive to replace and I am going to take better care of mine from now on.

I went into a store to see just how much refrigerators are now days. I was amazed at how many there were to choose from! They range from 500.00 and up to 3000.00. Depending on what you want, the size, color and warranty.

You can get the usual white. Which are standard and no extra cost. You will pay extra for colors. Black for instance will cost you an extra 10.00 to 25.00 depending on the store you are shopping in. There are sales prices all the time and I highly recommend looking at those. There are clearance models as well that do come with the same type warranty package as a model currently available. And sometimes this is the way to go.

We all know that refrigerators come with the standard racks, drawers, and temperature control. Some come with egg trays and some don’t. Some come with a separate temperature control in the drawers. This can be handy if you eat a lot of vegetables, fruits and salads. But if you don’t need it, then don’t pay the extra money for it.

Icemakers are good to have. Be sure that your home has a connection for an icemaker. If not you can purchase a kit. They run around 20.00 and you can install them yourself. I highly recommend getting one. They make life easier. That is my personal opinion. I hated breaking out those ice trays when I was younger and I hope never to do that again.

You need to measure the area in your home. Don’t go looking for a 22 cubic foot model when your area will only hold a 19 cubic foot. You also need to measure the area for height. You don’t want a model that is too tall. I believe that you can purchase a 26 cubic foot as well or larger even. The larger the cubic feet the more it cost. Some people have them custom built to fit in there kitchens. For instance, some people have refrigerators that are plush to the wall. You need to also look for wheels on the bottom. This makes for an easier way in getting the unit out for cleaning and for not tearing up your floor.

You need to consider energy and efficiency as well. For example, if you live alone or just two in the family then you obviously don’t need a very big refrigerator. However if you have a larger family of four or more or are newly wedded and planning a large family, then look at the larger models. In the long run you will be glad you did. The ratings are usually posted via stickers on the outside of the refrigerator. Look at these carefully. It is very useful information. If your kids stand with the door opened a lot trying to decide what they want, (I know mine do.) then you should consider the more cost efficient models.

There are upright models and side-by-side models. I personally like the side-by-side. They come with icemaker and water options in the door and do run more money. But for me the convenience is wonderful. Of course you can buy a side by side without the icemaker and water. You can even buy the side by side with just one or the other. You can also buy them with the doors in the front that allow you to put sodas, juices, milk, etc in them for even easier convenience. The upright refrigerators give a small freezer section. If you have a large family this may not be the type for you. Of course if money is an issue then this type is the way to go, they are less expensive. Icemaker units are available for the upright models also. But take up space.

There are various warranty plans available and I highly recommend you looking into them. They vary in price from 200.00 dollars and up. Depending on what you want or may need. In the long run, should something major go out in your refrigerator that cost a lot of money, a warranty will cover it. Some people don’t believe in the extra cost and that is fine also.

Keeping your refrigerator clean is just as important and purchasing one. Keep the inside clean as well as the out side. And remember to move the unit at least 2 times a year and clean behind it and under it.

The bottom line is that buying a refrigerator is serious, however you don’t have to make yourself sick over doing so. There are all kinds to choose from, and you need to keep your budget in mind. Don’t buy what you can’t afford, I don’t care how pretty the model is or how much extra stuff comes with it. IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD IT DON’T BUY IT! Check around for the best deals. And don’t let anyone sell you anything that you don’t want or need!