Keeping your kitchen clean doesn’t only mean wiping the cabinets and washing dishes. No, it covers much more than that, including ensuring that your refrigerator and other appliances are in a healthy condition.
And when it comes to cleaning most contacted surfaces, we very well know Lysol does well. But how about using Lysol to clean the refrigerator? Can it damage your appliance? Well, this article answers these questions and many more. Just be sure to read it to the end.
Can You Use Lysol To Clean a Fridge?
Lysol is one of the most versatile disinfectant sprays around the house. Ranging from keeping shelves and other surfaces clean to sanitizing door handles and light switches, Lysol is one surefire way to a germ-free space. But can you use it on your refrigerator?
Unfortunately, Lysol doesn’t work well for your fridge. When used, it could lead to cracks on the inside and outside walls of the refrigerator. And while that damage won’t come in a day or two, it will manifest with time when you make Lysol your go-to product every time you want to clean your fridge.
You see, fridges are primarily of steel or other metals. What goes on top of this metal depends on the individual preference of the manufacturer. Some choose to paint it. However, others add a plastic coating. But either way, none of the two interacts well with Lysol – and that’s why you should never use it.
In fact, if you bought a new fridge, you might have seen a label indicating the safe products to use and those that you shouldn’t. Most manufacturers agree that items such as stainless steel cleaners and scouring pads aren’t fit for the task. They also warn against using products containing ammonia, bleach, or vinegar – and that’s what disqualifies Lysol.
You see, while any manufacturer will try as much as possible to keep the risk of faulty returns low, the fact remains they know best what works ideally for their products. As such, it’s better to follow what they recommend than risk using a product they warn against and end up voiding your warranty.
But again, we don’t mean that using Lysol will affect how the fridge works. No, not at all. Your appliance will still perform as it should, but you’ll end up with a germ-free fridge but one that looks ugly.
Apparently, that’s now what you want. You need a microbe-free refrigerator that’s also appealing to the look. And yes, avoiding using Lysol for its cleaning goes a long way!
But besides damaging your appliance, Lysol could also poison your food. That’s because most of the ingredients in this cleaner aren’t safe for consumption. So yes, the effects of using this product go beyond just damaging your refrigerator.
But is it safe for other cleaning chores? Now, that’s coming in our next section. We will be picking a few other common areas and examining whether you can safely use Lysol for their cleaning. Then, we will be guiding you on the right way to clean your fridge.
Can You Use Lysol to Clean the Oven?
Maybe you can use Lysol for cleaning your oven. In other words, whether or not to clean your oven using this cleaner much depends on how you go about it. The outcome could turn negative or positive based on whether you are doing things right.
You see, cleaning your oven frequently is necessary. It will optimize efficiency, make your food taste better, and even more importantly – avert safety risks. When that leftover grease from your previous ignites, you could sustain burns or at least have the oven damaged. So again, always keep everything in perfect condition.
And when it’s oven cleaning time, you need the right products, and one product that might cross your mind is Lysol. Now, with proper use, this cleaner is great for the job.
So, how do you go about it? It’s easy – the key thing is to ensure that the product doesn’t get behind the knobs. Having Lysol go through the knobs definitely will cause you issues. Hence, as you clean your oven, be careful to avoid that from happening.
As for Lysol wipes, don’t use them when they aren’t dripping. You may need to dry the cleaning solution to leave them damp. That way, they will do the work without exposing the internal components to the chemical.
Can You Use Lysol To Clean Carpets?
Yes, you can use Lysol all-purpose cleaning solution for carpet cleaning. This versatile household product will eliminate old stains, kill germs, as well as deodorize the rug, leaving you with a clean, microbe-free, and fresh-smelling carpet.
You see, Lysol is one product with a hundred and one uses around the house. And while it doesn’t suffice for cleaning the refrigerator, it makes a promising go-to option for most carpet cleaning tasks.
It’s easy – begin by mixing the Lysol solution with water to mix well. Two parts of Lysol for every one part of the water is the ideal ratio. Then, pick a small test area, spray this product and leave it for 15 minutes. Using a sponge or dry cloth, dry the place up. If the part doesn’t change, then Lysol is safe.
Now, proceed and spray on the stained areas or the entire carpet if you want to clean the whole of it. Leave the product for about 30 minutes before gently rubbing the target areas with a damp sponge.
Then, spray the whole carpet with a light mist solution and leave it for about 15 minutes before vacuuming and leaving it to dry. Only ensure that you don’t walk on the carpet immediately after it dries up. Actually, the rule of thumb is that you keep off from it for at least several hours.
A patch test is necessary because some materials don’t interact well with Lysol. Keep in mind that this product is primarily for disinfecting soft substances and not necessarily sanitizing carpets. In fact, that’s why it doesn’t work with leather, rayon, satin, and acrylic plastics.
Can You Use Lysol To Clean the Washing Machine?
Yes, you can use Lysol for cleaning your washing machine. This product will kill bacteria, remove odor, and give your washing machine long-lasting freshness. So yes, if you are thinking of using it for your washer, then it’s safe.
Healthy living means looking at things from several perspectives and not one angle. For instance, you could eat healthy foods but fail to get enough sleep. You will have failed. The same applies when you get the two right but fail in hygiene.
Now, if you have to keep your laundry hygienic, the first step to that is ensuring that your washing machine is super clean. Your washer won’t give you germ-free clothes when it’s teaming up with bacteria – and that’s where the idea of Lysol comes in.
Lysol will disinfect your washing machine. A simple wipe of the wash drum goes a long way to freshen up the appliance. In fact, it’s something you need to practice occasionally if you want to keep your laundry in tip-top condition.
What Should You Use To Clean the Shelves in the Fridge?
When cleaning the fridge, you need to first begin with the shelves. Remove them to make the cleaning work easier for you. Taking them out will also give you better access to the inside parts of the fridge that could have otherwise remained hidden.
So, what products should you use when cleaning the shelves? Now, that will depend on the type of dirt.
If your refrigerator shelves aren’t heavily stained and a simple wipe would do, then don’t go beyond soaking them. Here, you will need a basin with warm water and dishwashing soap.
For shelves with stubborn stains, get a dedicated cleaner for the fridge. You may also have to invest in food-friendly antibacterial cleaner. But if you don’t want to go for the commercial products, sometimes a natural homemade solution should do the job just fine.
Now, before we proceed, it’s important to point out that glass shelves shouldn’t go straight from the fridge into warm water. The sudden trigger for expansion would make them break easily. So yes, allow them to heat up before immersion. Again, don’t place them directly onto the floor to reduce the risk of breakage.
How To Clean a Refrigerator That Smells?
We already said that Lysol isn’t the appropriate product for cleaning the fridge. It would still do, but the downsides of using it outweigh the upsides. Instead, use products recommended by the manufacturer.
Here is the procedure for getting the job done;
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
The initial step is to first get everything you need for the job. You don’t want to leave your disassembled fridge and rush into a local store for something you would have bought earlier.
Paper towels, trash bags, and a bucket of warm water are all a must-have. Other products like the cleaner to use will depend on the level of dirt and what the manufacturer recommends.
Step 2: Remove Everything
Empty the fridge together with the freezer. Removing the contents will offer you better access when washing. And as you take out the contents, check the products’ expiry date. You don’t want any expired product to go back to the refrigerator after cleaning it. If you have another fridge, you can have the perishables go there.
Step 3: Take Out All Loose Components
After removing all the foodstuffs, do the same for all removable parts. That includes shelves, trays, drawers, ice trays, and any other loose component. The reason here remains the same as with that of removing the foods. How to clean them is already covered in the last section.
Step 4: Deal With The Doors And Fridge Interior
You’ve taken out the shelves and every other component and even washed them. It’s now the best time to tackle the fridge itself. Wipe the inside as well as its interior. Wipes here will go a long way to disinfect and clean any food stains.
Step 5: Air It Out
Here comes your test of patience. Once you’ve cleaned the fridge walls and the doors, leave it open for at least a day to allow any bad smell to disappear. To create a pleasant smell, enclose a few cotton balls soaked with vanilla inside the fridge and freezer for a few hours.
Step 6: Get Everything Back to Place
Once you’ve cleaned the fridge and aired it out, return the things you had removed. Shelves and drawers are obviously the first to go in. After their placement, pick your food items and put them in the fridge.
The way to go here will depend on your preference. However, the general rule of thumb is that things that you use often should take the compartment that’s easiest to access.
Conclusion
Lysol does well for several cleaning chores around the home. However, it isn’t the product to use for your fridge. When used, Lysol can cause scratches and cracks in your fridge. Luckily, we have lots of other products safe for the job. The good thing is that these products are available in most local stores.