If you thought your refrigerator is sparkly clean, germ, bacteria-free, think again.

For many of us, our refrigerators are like our prized possessions, but they could also be a breeding ground for bacteria crawling all over your food.

According to studies, around 50 million people in the US alone suffer from food poisoning annually, including a million cases of very lethal salmonella poisoning.

Spills and stale food in the refrigerator can put to at the risk of bacterial infections like listeria monocytogenes that thrive in colder environments. These bacteria cause several food borne illness and diseases.

Ways To Keep Your Fridge Clean:

Wipe Spills: If there are any spills in the shelves of the refrigerator, wipe it immediately. If you are storing meat, store it in a covered container to avoid spills and cross contamination with other food items.

Scrub The Shelves: Scrub the shelves at least once in a fortnight with a sponge and warm soapy water. Rinse it with clean water and wipe it a dry cloth. Do not use chemical cleaners in the shelves as they mass on the smell, taste to the food items and infections. Keeping an open box of baking soda in back of refrigerator will clean unpleasant odours.

Clean The Handle: The fridge handle is the main source of bacteria, germs lurking in shelves. Keep your fridge handle clean by wiping it with warm soapy water at least thrice in a week. 

Throw Out Old Food: Clearing out food at least once a week, throwing out expired foods will save you from visiting a doctor. Do not ever let food items to hibernate in the shelves for months together.