Category: Kitchen Mold

5 Ways to Prevent Mold in Your Fridge

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ways to prevent mold in your fridge

You’ve heard of mold showing up in your basement. You’re also aware that mold can show up in your kitchen and bathroom. However, mold in your fridge is something you might not have heard of, because it isn’t as common. But it is possible. Moisture build up, accidental spills and spoiled food can create the perfect combination for refrigerator mold.

While refrigerator mold can be very annoying to deal with, it is also very easy to avoid. With proper maintenance and cleanliness, you can ensure mold doesn’t even come near your fridge. To help you out, the team at RestoPros has created a list of ways to prevent mold in your fridge.

1. Consistently Clean It Out

About once every couple of months, do a thorough cleaning of your fridge. We’re talking turning it off and removing all its contents. Yes, it takes time, but you end up with a clean fridge that will perform well and will most likely be mold free. Here is a quick guide to thoroughly cleaning your fridge:

  • Remove Food from the Fridge

This is obvious. To do a thorough cleaning of your fridge, you will have to remove all the jars and containers. To avoid spoiling your food, it’s best to do this cleaning before your weekly shopping trip so you have lesser items in the fridge. Also, remember to have a cooler to store items that need to be kept cool.

  • Take Out All Removable Parts and Wash

Take out removable parts such as crisper bins and shelving and wash them with regular dish soap and warm water. Be sure to let them dry out completely. You don’t want any moisture left over because it’s a clear invitation for mold. Use baking soda to clean particularly stubborn stains.

  • Clean the Gasket

The gasket is the rubber-like seal on your fridge’s door that keeps cold air from escaping. Use a solution of ½ water and ½ white distilled vinegar and wipe down the gasket—then, pat it dry with a paper towel.

2. Immediately Clean Up Spills and Get Rid of Spoiled Food

The moment you spill something in the fridge, clean it up immediately. If the spill is recent, you can use a paper towel or a cloth to soak it up. Then, use regular wipes or diluted vinegar to sanitize the area. If it’s a heavy spill, you can remove the shelf and wash it like we mentioned before.

If you notice any spoiled food in your fridge, it’s important you get rid of it by putting it in a plastic bag and throwing it in the trash. It only takes a few minutes and its one of the easiest ways to prevent mold in the fridge.

 3. Always Keep Food in An Airtight Container

This also seems like a no-brainer but one of the ways you can prevent mold in your fridge is by sealing the containers you keep your food in. You can store food in well-sealed Ziploc bags or Tupperware containers. Keeping food sealed in airtight containers keeps it fresh and away from mold spores floating in the air.

4. Use Up Processed Meats Quickly

Processed, cured or smoked meats such as ham, salami, bologna and pastrami must be used up quickly. While it’s normal for some cured meats to have some surface mold on them (scrape the mold off the meat to remove it), they should not be showing other signs of mold growth. It’s best to be smart about how much meat you purchase so you don’t end up getting rid of most of it due to mold.

5. Prevent Excess Condensation

Excess moisture can build up in your fridge, even though your refrigerator is designed to remove and control moisture. This usually happens when the fridge is frequently opened and closed, leading to warm air entering the fridge. Avoid doing this, especially in humid and hot weather.

Moisture might also be accumulating because of open food containers, moisture laden foods or a deteriorated gasket.

See Mold? Call RestoPros!

If you can’t seem to get rid of the mold accumulated in your fridge, it’s time to call RestoPros! We offer a variety of services such as mold testing, mold remediation and water damage restoration. Call us today at 855-587-3786 or fill out a service request form on our website! 

4 Kitchen Mold Prevention Tips

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kitchen mold prevention tips

The kitchen is the last place where you want mold to grow; it’s where all your edible products are kept, and you do NOT want mold near your favorite snacks. However, with enough moisture and no proper maintenance, mold can hide in various places in your kitchen. And if you ignore it, it can become a real problem.

Luckily, you don’t have to worry too much because the experts at RestoPros know a thing or two about avoiding mold growth. Below are some kitchen mold prevention tips to ensure your favorite space at home is mold free!

1. Keep an Eye on Moisture Levels

Mold requires a consistently humid environment to thrive. That is why it’s important you keep an eye on the moisture levels in your kitchen and do your best to get rid of excess humidity. Here are some effective ways you can control the moisture levels in your kitchen:

  • Perform frequent pipe checks to make sure there are no leaks under your kitchen sink. A consistent leak in a damp, dark space can lead to mold growth within a few hours. To find a leak under your sink, look for water stains or use a dry tissue to wipe the pipe connections, then look for a wet spot on the tissue. 
  • The humidity in your kitchen can be on the higher side during summer or when you’re cooking frequently. Turn on the exhaust fan to get rid of the excess heat and humidity in your kitchen. Open your windows for more thorough ventilation.
  • Make sure the caulk around your sink is doing its job. The caulk around your sink is the waterproof seal that keeps water from seeping under your kitchen’s sink.

2. Clean Out Your Dishwasher

You might think that every time your dishwasher runs a cycle it is cleaning itself along with your dishes. That’s simply not true—your dishwasher requires proper maintenance like all the other appliances in your home. Without proper cleaning and upkeep, your dishwasher can become an ideal place for mold growth. Below are some things you should remember about preventing mold in your dishwasher:

  • The rubber seal or gasket around your dishwasher needs to be cleaned frequently as food particles and dirt can build up here.
  • The spray arms in your dishwasher often have holes in them with some leftover food particles. Soak these arms in warm water then gently use a toothbrush to remove the food build up.
  • Vinegar has antibacterial properties. Once a month, fill a dishwasher safe container with vinegar, place it in the top rack of the dishwasher and run a cycle.

3. Clean Up Your Fridge and Pantry

One of the most common kitchen mold prevention tips is to maintain cleanliness, specifically in your refrigerator and pantry. Often food might spoil, or liquid might spill and if it’s ignored for too long, it can lead to mold growth. Take a few minutes every weekend to make sure there is no rotting or expired food in your fridge and pantry.

Pro tip: When doing any through cleaning inside your fridge or pantry, try using DIY mold cleaning solutions as they are non-toxic alternatives to other cleaning solutions.

4. Keep Your Garbage Disposal Bacteria-Free

Your garbage disposal is one of the many places in your kitchen where mold might settle down because food scraps are often left in there. Avoid filling up your disposal with food scraps it can’t handle such as pieces of bone, potato peels or grease. These items might not go down the drain and will be left in your disposal to spoil.

Clean your disposal every month or so by pouring 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain. Let them sit for 10 minutes then pour hot water to wash the baking soda and vinegar out.

Call the RestoPros Team!

As experts in mold removal, we have several solutions to prevent mold from overtaking your kitchen. If you are looking for professional help with mold testing, removal or remediation, call RestoPros today at 855-587-3786 or fill out a service request form on our website!