Here's how you can take better care of your refrigerator

The refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in any household. It keeps our food fresh and our drinks cold, the perfect solution for hot days.

To make sure your fridge will be serviceable for a long time, here are some easy refrigerator care tips shared by home and cleaning expert Ace Lara on GMA-7's "Unang Hirit."

1. Take everything out

First, you have to accept that cleaning a refrigerator is a step-by-step procedure that involves a lot of time and patience.

For a deep and thorough clean, Lara says it's best to take all the fridge contents out and transfer them to temporary containers.

It's okay if you don't have a cooler, because frozen goods can stay frozen for a couple of hours which should give you enough time to clean the fridge.

By the way, the cleaning process would be a whole lot easier if your refrigerated items are properly organized and kept in sealed containers like zip-lock bags.

2. Unplug before cleaning

Remember to switch off the refrigerator before unplugging it from the socket.

This is simple appliance care 101, but it's also an important safety precaution that can easily be overlooked.

3. Cleaning solutions

When it comes to cleaning the inside of your ref, Lara recommends a simple solution of white vinegar, which you can mix with warm water and a little dishwashing liquid.

If that doesn't do the trick, you can always try getting rid of stains, residue and the smell with a stronger solution of hydrogen peroxide with a little bit of baking soda.

"Just soak it around 15 minutes so when you scrub, the stains would be removed instantly," Lara said in Filipino.

4. Deodorizers

You might be wondering why parents keep putting a bowl of charcoal inside the fridge.

According to Lara, this is actually an effective trick to get rid of unpleasant smells inside a refrigerator.

You can also try other "deodorizers" like baking soda, citrus fruits, oatmeal and coffee beans.

5. Bonus: Don't put hot food in the fridge

There's a good reason why your parents always tell you not to put food in the refrigerator while it's still hot.

As we've learned from an earlier interview with a food safety and hygiene consultant, this can actually damage the appliance—which can cause a lot of problems for your food stock (and budget).

—Margaret Claire Layug/MGP, GMA News