Press releases

Refrigerator spring clean

Gütersloh, March 30, 2020 Nr. 019/2020
  • Regular cleaning kills germs

  • Defrosting and clearing out important

Cleanliness and hygiene around the home contributes to a healthy environment. But there is no need for exaggeration: an occasional thorough clean is sufficient to stop bacteria, germs and unpleasant odours. Special-purpose disinfectants, though, are required to put paid to viruses. In such cases, manufacturers' instruction provide information on the surfaces their products are suitable for.​

A thorough clean is performed by wiping the refrigerator interior with water and washing-up liquid. Practical: Many removable parts on Miele units are dishwasher-proof. To clean door gaskets, ideally use soft soap or a mild domestic detergent. Never use vinegar. Although it has disinfecting properties, this traditional household remedy can damage plastics and seals. Damaged and porous gaskets are no longer able to fulfil their purpose of preventing the passage of air. This results in higher power consumption to keep the temperature inside the unit low.

Cleaning the condensate drain is less simple. A cotton bud is ideal for removing crumbs or encrustations. Here's an insider tip: To reach even deeper, insert the sort of thin flexible tubing used, for example, to clean an aquarium.

If not fitted with NoFrost automatic defrosting, freezers should be defrosted regularly. Otherwise, a thickening layer of ice sends electricity consumption soaring – and makes removing the drawers more difficult. The operating instructions provided with the machine explain when and how defrosting is to be performed. Under no circumstances should sharp tools be used to scrape off the layer of ice. The risk of damage to the machine and personal injury is simply too great.

Apart from regular cleaning, it is also important to check the contents of a fridge from time to time: Is food and leftovers still fit for consumption or would it be better to dispose of them? Caution is of the essence when mould is present. Not only is this unappetising; it is also a potential health risk – and capable of spreading to other foodstuffs. Keep track of use-by dates and try only to store items that are needed and will be used up. This is also advisable with a view to reducing food wastage.

Company profile: Miele is the world's leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floor care products. This line-up is augmented by dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washer-disinfectors and sterilisers for use in medical and laboratory applications (Miele Professional). The Miele company, founded in 1899, has eight production plants in Germany as well as one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China, Romania and Poland. These are joined by the two plants belonging to Miele's Italian medical technology subsidiary Steelco. Turnover in the 2018/19 business year was around € 4.16 bn, with a share of business outside Germany of approx. 71%. Miele is represented with its own sales subsidiaries and via importers in almost 100 countries. Throughout the world, the family-run enterprise, now in its fourth generation, employs a workforce of around 20,500, whereof 11,050 are employed in Germany. The company has its headquarters in Gütersloh in Westphalia.

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Ursula Wilms
+ 49 5241 89-1958
ursula.wilms@miele.com

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The interior of a refrigerator should be cleaned regularly using mild detergents.

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Door racks on Miele units are dishwasher-proof.

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