If you intend to spend any time at all in your kitchen, one of the first things that you have to remember to do is to keep your refrigerator clean and presentable.  Not only does your refrigerator keep your food cold, but it also helps you organize your foodstuffs as well.  Take some time to review some of the basic steps that will help your refrigerator stay fresh and clear.

1.Buy a box of baking soda
A single box of baking soda will last you for about three months, and you'll find that there's no end to the uses you can have for it.  Simply leaving the box open in your refrigerator can help kill odors and you'll find that by making a paste of baking soda and water, you can scrub most stains and most smells out.  Do keep in mind that the box might need to be replaced if the cardboard itself is absorbing the odors.

2.Take your vegetables out of the plastic bags
It's an interesting fact that vegetables will brown and wilt a lot faster if they stay in the plastic bags.  Take them out and put them into the clean crisper bins.  You'll find that this keeps them green a lot longer.  If you are someone who won't eat your vegetables unless they're right in front of your eyes, leave them out if it will help you eat them before you go bad.

3.Regularly check your condiments
Next to vegetables, condiments can also turn without your noticing, sometimes, just when you need them for some cooking.  A routine check of the back shelves of your refrigerator will stop you from getting any nasty surprises when you reach for the mayonnaise or cream cheese.

4.Eternal vigilance
Make sure that the minute that you notice a spill or a stain that you tackle it.  Because the refrigerator can take things out of site simply by closing the door, it is also possible that the mess will remain out of mind.  Make sure that to clean thoroughly, you'll remove the drawers and the bins, because this is where bacteria and stains that never get out can occur.  To mitigate this, keep your food in closed containers; foodstuffs in open containers can get shoved to the back and be forgotten until someone upsets them.

5.Routine maintenance
Perform at least a perfunctory cleansing with a clean damp towel at least every week, but remember that your refrigerator needs to be thoroughly cleaned- everything removed, washed with soap or vinegar, rinsed and dried- at least every two to three weeks.  This prevents grime from building up.  Don't neglect the outside or the handles as this is a popular breeding place for germs.