Care And Cleaning; Behind The Refrigerator; Cleaning-Inside And Outside; Under The Refrigerator - GE 21 Guide D'utilisation Et D'entretien

Cleaning—Outside
The water and ice dispenser spill shelf should be wiped dry
immediately to prevent spotting. Water left on the shelf may leave
deposits that you can remove by soaking with undiluted vinegar. You
can also use a paste of non-precipitating water softener (such as
Calgon brand) and water, or 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of citric acid powder
per pint (500 ml) of hot tap water. Soak until the deposit disappears or
becomes loose enough to rinse away. Usually 30 minutes soaking time
is adequate. Avoid using wax on the spill shelf and trim.
The soft door handles (on some models) are easy to keep clean if
they are waxed every few months. Use a household wax such as
Pledge brand or Jubilee brand to coat the handles. Soil will then easily
wash off with a dish detergent and water or a non-abrasive all-purpose
cleaner.
The long door handles and trim (on models with trim kit) can be
cleaned with a cloth dampened with a solution of mild liquid
dishwashing detergent and water. Dry with a soft cloth. Don't use wax
on the door handles and trim.
Cleaning—Inside
Inside the fresh food and freezer compartments should be cleaned
at least once a year. Unplug the refrigerator before cleaning. If this is
not practical, wring excess moisture out of sponge or cloth when
cleaning around switches, lights or controls.
Use warm water and baking soda solution—about a tablespoon
(15 ml) of baking soda to a quart (1 L) of water. This both cleans and
neutralizes odors. Rinse thoroughly with water and wipe dry.
Other parts of the refrigerator—including door gaskets, meat and
vegetable drawers, ice storage bin and all plastic parts—can be
cleaned the same way. After cleaning door gaskets, apply a thin layer
of petroleum jelly to the door gaskets at the hinge side. This helps
keep the gaskets from sticking and bending out of shape. If the freezer
baskets don't slide freely after cleaning, lubricate them with petroleum
jelly. Do not use cleansing powders or other abrasive cleaners.
Avoid cleaning cold glass shelves with hot water because the extreme
temperature difference may cause them to break.
Behind Refrigerator
Care should be taken in moving your refrigerator away from the wall.
All types of floor coverings can be damaged, particularly cushioned
coverings and those with embossed surfaces. Pull the refrigerator
straight out and return it to position by pushing it straight in. Moving
your refrigerator in a side direction may result in damage to your floor
covering or refrigerator.
When pushing the refrigerator back, make sure you don't roll over the
power cord or icemaker supply line.
10

CARE AND CLEANING

Keep the finish clean. Wipe with a clean cloth lightly dampened with
kitchen appliance wax or mild liquid dishwashing detergent. Dry and
polish with a clean, soft cloth. Do not wipe the refrigerator with a
soiled dishwashing cloth or wet towel. These may leave a residue that
can erode the paint. Do not use scouring pads, powdered cleaners,
bleach or cleaners containing bleach because these products can
scratch and weaken the paint finish.
Protect the paint finish. The finish on the outside of the refrigerator
is a high quality, baked-on paint finish. With proper care, it will stay
new-looking and rust-free for years. Apply a coat of kitchen/appliance
wax when the refrigerator is new and then at least twice a year.
Appliance Polish Wax & Cleaner is available from GE Service and
Parts Centers.
To help prevent odors, leave an open box of baking soda in the
rear of the refrigerator, on the top shelf. Change the box every 3
months. An open box of baking soda in the freezer will absorb stale
freezer odors.
Drain opening in freezer compartment.
During yearly cleaning, remove bottom freezer
basket and flush a solution of baking soda—
1 teaspoon (5 ml) and 2 cups (500 ml) of hot (not
boiling) water— through the drain line with the
help of a meat baster. This will help eliminate
odor and reduce the likelihood of a clogged drain
line. If drain becomes clogged, use a meat baster
and baking-soda-and-water solution to force the
clog through the drain line.
Under Refrigerator
For most efficient operation,
you need to keep the area under the
refrigerator clean. Remove the base
grille and either sweep away or
vacuum up dust that is readily
accessible. For best results, use a
brush specially designed for this
purpose. It is available at most
appliance parts stores. This easy
cleaning operation should be done
at least once a year.
Do not wash any plastic parts from your refrigerator in
your automatic dishwasher.
Clean the condenser
coils at least once a year.