How Gross Is Your Refrigerator?

Today is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. In the back of every refrigerator, there’s some dried-out, moldy item that once was tasty food. It could have been a restaurant leftover that you had every intention of eating. But one day becomes two. Two days become four. Then it becomes weeks and it’s still there.

It was originally right in front, but now it’s all the way in the back of the fridge. You know it’s there. You just don’t want to deal with it.

Some people don’t bother with it until it begins to stink. Then you have to do something about it. You might have to hold your breath, put on some rubber gloves, throw it into a plastic bag, tie it up and get it out of the house. We’ve all been through it.

Who wins the prize for the worst refrigerator surprises? Usually, it's the workplace refrigerator. Clay stored some bait in one of our fridges once.

Strangely, we got a notice earlier this week that the fridge is going to be cleaned out and any dishes or containers that aren’t claimed will be thrown out. Was that coincidence, or did somebody know today is the day to clean out the fridge?

So why is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day always on November 15? The speculation is it was created just before Thanksgiving to clear room in the fridge for all those holiday leftovers.

And it also coincides with America Recycles Day, dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products.

The Boy Scouts have a slogan for the day: “Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.”