According to refrigerator repair professionals, the fridge doesn’t fail to function optimally due to major problems. It’s often due to improper use of the appliance and other minor issues. Would you like to know how to keep your fridge at peak performance? Here are a few things you should do:

Declutter the refrigerator

Even at a time like this when almost the entire world is in lockdown, don’t overfill the fridge. It’s often said that an empty refrigerator is bad, but an overfilled one is worse.

It’s tempting to fill every inch of the appliance but don’t do this as it brings about plenty of problems: you might forget some food and it goes bad, the air vents might get blocked, you might impede airflow, or even reduce the efficiency of the appliance.

Just as you should avoid overfilling the refrigerator, you also should avoid keeping it empty—stock in a few water bottles which when chilled, help the appliance maintain cool temperatures. The best place to have your appliance is two-thirds full.

Don’t just toss things in

When you are restocking or cleaning the refrigerator, don’t just toss things in. Put items that go together. For example, keep peanut butter and jelly, eggs and milk, deli meats and cheeses.

If you aren’t sure about how you should pair the items, think about your eating habits.

Separate the fruits and vegetables

You can keep the vegetables in perforated plastic bags then place them in the fridge’s crisper drawer. In storage, keep a close eye on ethylene producing fruits as they will make your other vegetables decompose faster.

Some of these fruits that you should be cautious about include: passion fruit, mangoes, kiwis, pears, apples, and stone fruits.

Fruits known to be sensitive to ethylene include: carrots, broccoli, lettuce, avocados, cucumbers, avocado, and eggplant.

You must have heard that you should cut the fruits and vegetables before storing them in the refrigerator to encourage healthy snacking. This is a lie. Enough data is supporting that chopped up produce deteriorates faster as more surface area is exposed.

The best way of going about it is only washing the fruits and vegetables when you are ready to consume them.

Give the pantry products a new home

Did you know the pantry products you place on the shelves can be much better in the fridge? Maple syrup, soy, nut butters, soy sauce, nut milk, nut flours, and whole grains can give you better results when you store them in the chilled environment.

Take the milk out of the door

The refrigerator’s warmest parts are inside the door and at the top shelf. Since milk is highly perishable, you should place it on the middle shelf. Here it enjoys consistent temperatures, so the bacteria don’t act too much.

If your refrigerator has dedicated spots for dairy and meats, take advantage of them.

Other than milk, you also shouldn’t store eggs in the egg compartment of your door.

The best things to store on the door are condiments rich in vinegar and salt.

Place meat and fish at the bottom

The bottom drawer is the coldest part of the refrigerator, making it the ideal place to keep uncooked meat and fish. To keep the meat away from other foods to prevent cross-contamination, store the meat in a crisper drawer.

Inspect the door seals

Loose door seals allow air to seep out, wasting energy and causing the refrigerator to work harder than it should. At least twice a year, inspect the door seals for food residues that might have accumulated there and remove them.

You also should find out whether the seals are broken. If they are, replace them. When undertaking the replacement, go for high-quality sealing products that will last the test of time.

Clean the refrigerator

You not only want the fridge to look good, but also to function at optimum levels. Cleaning also keeps appliance repair Springfield professionals at bay. When it comes to cleaning, don’t just clean the outside of the appliance. Also, pay attention to the inside of the unit.

At least once a week, remove all the food in the fridge and clean the insides. While you are at it, also inspect the coils and clean them if necessary.