What to do with your fridge when going on vacation

Are you among those who are counting down the days until going off to their favourite place for a week or two? Before your suitcase is packed and you’re ready to go, here are a few tips that will help you keep your fridge in perfect shape during your time away:

1. Consume all perishable foods. Nobody wants to come home, relaxed after unforgettable vacation to find spoilt food in their fridge. Therefore, it’s recommended to use all perishable items that would otherwise expire before your return. At the same time, it might be a good idea to buy less groceries during the week leading up to your vacation.

2. Switch to HolidayMode. If you’ll be leaving for more than a couple of days, switching to HolidayMode will help you save energy that would otherwise be used to keep the low temperature in the refrigerator. Just keep in mind that during HolidayMode, your fridge should be empty, as the temperature is not low enough to safely store food.

3. Unplug it. If your refrigerator doesn’t have HolidayMode or you’ll be away for more than a month, empty the it completely, unplug it and clean it. This will be especially easy, if you have an appliance with the NoFrost function, like for example the Gorenje NRS9181VXB side by side refrigerator. Finally, make sure you keep the door open to prevent mould or unpleasant odours.

4. Clean the fridge before you leave. Since your fridge will be mostly empty anyway, it’s the perfect opportunity to clean it. Remove the shelves and the bins, then wipe them and the fridge interior with a mild solution of water and baking soda. Make sure the interior walls and all removable parts have dried completely, before returning them to the fridge. It might seem like an annoying chore to do before a vacation, but you’ll be happy to see your fridge sparkling clean and smelling fresh when you return.