These pages contain the most important information related to the maintenance of your home.
If you have any questions, you can always ask the property management office for advice.
Clean the refrigerator handles and shelves as part of your normal weekly cleaning. Clean the refrigerator more thoroughly as soon as it appears dirty or when you see frost on the surfaces. A clean and frost-free fridge has a longer service life and uses less electricity.
Read the defrost instructions for the freezer compartment in the manual – some units have a separate defrost setting, while some are simply switched off. Make sure that the drain is not blocked. If necessary, you can clean the drain with a cotton swab and place a container under it to catch the melting water.
While you are waiting for the freezer compartment to defrost, you can discard spoiled and old food from the freezer. Move the food you intend to store to the coolest place possible.
To speed up defrosting, place a container filled with hot water in the freezer compartment. However, do not attempt to remove ice with a sharp object.
Remove the shelves and trays. Wash them in the sink with dish soap and dry them. Wipe the inside of the refrigerator with a microfibre cloth dampened with mild dishwashing detergent water. Clean the door and gaskets as well. Do not use abrasive, soda or acidic cleaner, as they may damage the plastic.
Finally, pull the refrigerator away from the wall, unplug the electrical outlet and vacuum the grill behind the fridge. This is important because the dust accumulated around the condenser causes a fire hazard. In addition, vacuuming every few months reduces the energy consumption of the device. If the melting water from the refrigerator accumulates in a container on top of the compressor, check the condition of the water chute and the container. Reconnect the plug, push the refrigerator back in place and turn on the power. Place the items back in the fridge.
It is advisable to defrost the freezer during the cold season, if possible. Turn off the freezer and move the items to a cooler, boxes lined with newspaper or to the balcony (in the winter). Cover the frozen food with blankets or towels.
Melting water is removed from the bottom of the freezer through the chute at the front or the opening at the bottom. Place a container under the water outlet and protect the floor in front of the freezer with towels or newspapers. You can speed up the defrosting process by removing the ice in blocks as it melts. Do not use tools to remove ice.
When the frost has melted, wipe the freezer inside and outside with mild dishwashing detergent water. You can wash the freezer drawers, for example, in the shower. Dry and ventilate the freezer thoroughly before switching it on again in the freezing mode. When the temperature inside the freezer has dropped below zero, you can move the contents back to the freezer. This is also a good opportunity to make an inventory of what you have been storing in the freezer! You do not have to save everything. Defrost the freezer at least once a year.