Cleaning with Squirrels and Limoncello
I’ll admit it – I’m a closet slob. For years, when I was living at home with my too-forgiving parents or in cramped rental apartments, I just didn’t care enough to keep things tidy. Papers were strewn about, and you could usually find me by following the trail of discarded shoes on the floor. My dad even left me a note once that said, “Dear Lil, Please close us! Love, Your Drawers.”
But all that changed when my husband and I bought our own place and started building our life together. Suddenly, I felt driven to overcome my innate disorganization. Every day is a battle between the angel and the devil on my shoulders – every fiber of my being wants to just dump that jacket on the ground instead of carefully hanging it up. But most of the time, the angel wins out, because my desire to provide a lovely home for our little family is stronger.
Nowhere is my lingering internal messypants more evident than in my fridge. I finally have a big, beautiful stainless steel fridge, but I’m still working out how everything should fit in it. That is, until the day I had to pull it out to catch a squirrel. Yep, you read that right – a squirrel had somehow made its way into my fridge. As I was yelling instructions to my six-year-old to guard the hallway, I grabbed both sides of the fridge and hauled it out at an angle so the squirrel only had one way to go. My black lab Tucker, overcome with instinct, snatched up the squirrel. Then he looked up at me with panicked eyes, as if to say, “What do I do now?!” We ran to the door together, and thankfully the squirrel was unharmed (though I think the stress was too much for its little heart).
In the aftermath, I realized that pulling the fridge out wasn’t as hard as I’d thought – it’s actually meant to be pulled out for cleaning. And that’s exactly what I did. As I went through everything, I found all sorts of treasures – nifty marinades, tasty pesto, and even a forgotten bottle of Limoncello. It was like Christmas come early!
The Benefits of a Clean Fridge
Cleaning out the fridge isn’t just about sanitation and hygiene (though that’s certainly important). For me, it’s about so much more. That inventory part is amazing – I always find things I forgot I had, which suddenly makes dinner prep so much more exciting. And occasionally I’ll stumble upon some veggies that need a quick use, leading to all sorts of delicious, freebee-feeling dishes.
But there are other benefits too. When your fridge is sparkling clean, healthy food looks more appetizing. It’s like giving your food a beautiful frame. And cleaning the fridge inside and out increases its efficiency, which helps it last longer and use less energy.
So, what’s the secret to a clean, organized fridge? Let me share my six-step process:
- Take out all the food, tossing anything that’s moldy, spoiled, or expired.
- Remove all the removable parts like shelves and drawers, and wash them with a mild, non-toxic soap.
- Wipe down the inside of the fridge and the door with the same soapy solution.
- If there’s any lingering food smell, wipe it down with a baking soda and water mix.
- Put everything back, making sure taller items are on the top shelf.
- Add a box of baking soda to keep it smelling fresh.
And don’t forget to do the freezer too!
Cleaning Products You Can Feel Good About
Now, I know what you’re thinking – what about all those harsh chemicals? The truth is, you don’t need bleach or ammonia to get your fridge sparkling clean. In fact, those can leave behind nasty fumes that get absorbed by your food. Instead, I swear by Sal Suds and Castile soap – they remove all the grime and bacteria without any harsh residues.
The best part is, these plant-based cleaners are much safer for you and the environment. Sal Suds shows over 60% biodegradation after just 28 days, so you can feel good about using them. And they rinse off so cleanly, leaving no soapy taste or smell behind.
So why not take some time this weekend to clean out your fridge? You never know what kind of hidden treasures you might find – maybe even a forgotten bottle of Limoncello! And the best part is, you can do it all with natural, non-toxic cleaners that won’t compromise your family’s health. Happy cleaning!
