Before stuffing the refrigerator for the upcoming holiday season, how about cleaning it out?

Here are some tips to help you tackle the job.

How to Clean Out a Refrigerator:

• Take out all removable parts and wash with warm water and mild soap or detergent. Rinse and dry.
• Wash walls with a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda to one quart warm water. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
• Wash gasket and door liner with warm water and mild soap or detergent. Rinse well and dry.
• For refrigerators with removable drain plugs, remove plug and force warm water mixed with baking soda through the drain. A meat baster works well.
• Wipe down jars, bottles and containers before returning to the ‘fridge.
• The defrost drip pan underneath the refrigerator is out of sight, so special effort must be made to clean it. Remove it and wash thoroughly with warm, soapy water.
• Vacuum condenser coils two to six times a year, more often if you have pets.

Different Ways to Remove Odors:

• Wash interior walls thoroughly with a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda to one quart warm water.
• Pour box of baking soda in jelly-roll pan and place on shelves to absorb odors.
• Buy activated charcoal (available at pet stores and hardware stores), spread onto jelly-roll pans and place on shelves inside the running refrigerator.
• Place freshly ground coffee in cereal bowls inside the running refrigerator for several days. A slight coffee odor may remain but will disappear after washing the inside of the refrigerator.
• While the refrigerator is running, pack each refrigerator shelf with crumpled newspaper. Set a cup of water on the top shelf, or sprinkle the newspapers lightly with water. This method takes five to six days, but strong odors will be eliminated.
• There are several commercial products available for odor removal. Read product labels carefully to determine if a cleaner or deodorizer is safe to use in a refrigerator and around food, then follow instructions for use carefully.

How to Prevent Odor Problems:

• Discard refrigerated leftovers, vegetables and dairy products that are beyond safe-keeping. They can create odor problems if left too long.
• Promptly wipe up any spills that occur.
• Clean refrigerator out every two weeks.

Whirlpool has established a toll-free hotline...1-888-CLEAN-OUT ..staffed by home economists and other "refrigerator specialists" to answer ‘fridge-cleaning questions. The hotline is open Monday-Friday between nine a-m and five p-m (EST).