A refrigerator is the most hardworking appliance in any home. It never rests. A house move without a fridge is very rare because it is an essential item. Fridges come in different shapes and sizes depending on so many factors. In this article, we break down the most common types of household refrigerators and top tips to observe when moving fridges.
Types of fridges
- Top-Freezer Fridge
This is the classic type of fridge — the one present in most kitchens. Top freezer fridges come in varying sizes and are generally very affordable. Their small sizes also make them very energy-efficient, and they can fit in small living spaces as well.
- Bottom-Freezer Fridge
Bottom freezers are generally wider than most other refrigerators. They offer a lot more storage space for the freezer and fridge sections, and the freezer usually has drawers instead of shelves, enabling it to accommodate contents in a variety of sizes and shapes. Most users (especially tall people) prefer this type of fridge for the convenience of having the refrigerator section at eye level.
- French Door Fridge
French door fridges bring a modern look to your kitchen. They’re classy and have lots of advantages that have contributed to their increasing popularity. A french door fridge is easy to search through at a glance. They have spacious shelves, big door bins, deep drawer freezers, and adjustable top shelves. Secondly, the ability to open only one fridge door at a time reduces the escape of cool air.
- Chest Freezer
Chest freezers (deep freezers) are becoming increasingly common in homes. They can accommodate large amounts of food and keep them frozen for long periods of time.
- Mini Fridge
Mini fridges are awesome because they provide the cooling power you need in a smaller package. The staple of hotel rooms, they have found their way into a lot of home areas that don’t require a full-sized fridge, such as a home bar or dedicated man cave. If you need to keep certain foods at an exact temperature, mini-fridges are perfect because they’ll allow you to do so without worrying about how the temperature will affect everything else in your fridge. They come in a wide assortment of configurations, with options like double doors and separate freezer compartments. They can either be built-in to a cabinet or standalone.
Mini fridges also come in handy for medicine refrigeration. These include insulin, antibiotic liquids, injections, eye drops, and some creams. These medicines must be stored between 2ºC and 8ºC.
- Side-by-Side Fridge
For smaller kitchens, side-by-side fridges are perfect. They are slimmer in size compared to most other fridges and are incredibly budget-friendly. The split design makes it easy to grab items from both the freezer and fridge and the doors don’t require much space to swing. They are ideal for elderly people and those without good balance since they remove the need to bend in order to stow items. Most models have an external ice machine and water dispenser.
- Wine Fridge
For the not-so-casual wine drinker, a wine refrigerator is important to keep all your various bottles chilled. Wine can be very volatile and fragile, and temperature swings can negatively impact the taste and odour. It is therefore crucial to keep your wine at a stable temperature, and if your home doesn’t have reliable temperature control, a wine fridge is a necessary investment to protect your precious purchases. While you can also use your kitchen fridge, it is often too cool and not humid enough for safe long-term storage.
Moving fridges
The safest way to move a fridge is to carry it in its original packaging. If that’s not available, however, microfiber moving blankets do come in handy.
When it comes to moving fridges, there are a number of considerations to make:
- Food preservation: on moving day your fridge’s primary function is temporarily suspended. As such, Nellions™ usually provides portable freezers to preserve the food while we’re moving you.
- Handling: Refrigerators are always moved/carried in upright positions and if it has to be tilted, this should not go beyond 45 degrees to ensure the fluids in the compressor are not split.
- Refrigerators should always be padded with protective material like mover blankets to ensure no scratches
- Fridges should never be dragged on the floor. They need to be lifted up and where possible carried using dollies for safe handling.
- Size: as with everything else that pertains to moving, volumes matter. Most fridges aren’t problematic, but some are too large to fit in hallways, which may in some rare cases require disassembly.
- Position: When positioning a fridge, leave a space of at least 2 inches from the wall which is good for air circulation which in turn makes the fridge perform better.
- Safety: After moving, fridges should not be plugged in immediately. This is because due to the jostling involved during transit, compressor oil could run out of the compressor and up refrigerant lines. This can cause trouble for the compressor if it’s started before the lubricants have time to flow back where they belong. We recommend leaving it standing for 2-3 hours in its proper position after a move before plugging in.
- For international moving and storage, fridges should be completely defrosted before moving. Leave the doors open so they can dry up completely. This prevents formation of mould and water leakage which could damage other parts of the fridge.
Deodorizing your fridge
For an appliance that stores perishable goods, bad odour is inevitable. The first step is always to ensure that there are no spills inside the refrigerator. Clean all the nooks and crannies, and pay special attention to the shelf supports. Without a thorough cleaning, the entire endeavour will be pointless.
Once your fridge is spotless, you can try the following ways to restore its freshness using easily available items:
1. Use of charcoal
Smash about 12 charcoal briquettes from your grill and spread the chunks on two trays. One goes in the fridge, the other in the freezer. Then crunch up some newspapers and fill the shelves with it. Replace the charcoal as needed until the odour disappears.
2. Use of Baking Powder
Leave an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the refrigerator smell for at least 24 hours. Throw away the baking soda once it completes its job.
3. Use freshly ground coffee
To boost the baking soda’s effect, spread freshly ground coffee on a plate and put it in the fridge for 24 hours.
Instead of throwing the coffee away afterward, mix it with soil to fertilize your houseplants.
4. Leave a fresh scent behind
Soak a few cotton balls in vanilla extract and leave them in the fridge for a few hours to produce a fresh, clean scent. You can also slice up an orange and place it in an open bowl in the fridge to leave an appealing citrusy aroma behind.
Are you moving house or office in Kenya or internationally? Nellions™ is here for you.
