Like other household appliances, the wine cellar also requires periodic maintenance. As it plays an important role in the preservation and quality of wine, thorough cleaning is essential to preserve its longevity and proper functioning. Certain tasks are recommended during cleaning, while others are strongly discouraged in this context.
While we are often focused on the aging potential of our bottles, on the organization of our cellar, or the next bottle we are going to taste, prioritizing the maintenance of our wine cooler is part of the reflexes that we should all adopt.
Below are five tips to keep your wine cellars working smoothly.
1. Handle it Meticulously
A wine cabinet can hold very fragile bottles. Like “old people,” some bottles require much care when handled.
After unplugging the wine, try to remove the bottles as gently as possible and avoid exposure to light.
Do not forget to clean the accessories. Everything must be dusted with a sponge, a water mixture, and neutral. Then, rinse everything with clear, lukewarm water and dry with a clean cloth.
2. Change the Carbon Filter change Every Year
Permanent ventilation of the cellar makes it possible for white wine temperature storage. To avoid the development of bacteria in the cellar, which could eventually infiltrate through the bottle caps and alter the taste, Liebherr wine cellars have an activated carbon filter or a fresh air carbon. This accessory cleans the air in the cellar by retaining bad smells.
The carbon filter thus helps protect the wine since it contains activated carbons that absorb harmful molecules. To ensure its proper functioning and continue to guarantee the purity of the air in the cellar, it is necessary to replace it once a year.
3. Dust the Exterior of the Cellar Weekly
Without regular cleaning, certain impurities present outside the cellar can sometimes infiltrate. A simple cleaning with a cloth moistened with warm water and neutral soap can prevent this. There is a stainless-steel protective/polish spray or a stainless-steel cleaning product for stainless steel cellar models to avoid all fingerprints.
These spray products provide a glossy and protective finish and must be applied to the entire surface to be treated (doors, sides, etc.). Also, remember to clean the ventilation grille (also called the condenser.
Finally, to maintain a good seal, all the external elements of the cellar – such as the door, the seals, and the ventilation grille – must be dried with a clean, dry cloth.
4. Clean the Wine Cellar Thoroughly At Least Once a Year:
To clean it thoroughly, follow the steps below:
- Unplug your appliance.
- Empty it of wine bottles and accessories such as thermometers, hygrometers, or shelves.
- Apply a mixture of water and neutral soap inside and outside using a sponge.
- Rinse off with lukewarm water.
- Clean and rinse the air vent in the same way.
- If your wine cellar has a carbon filter, change it.
5. Clean the Essential Parts
The wine cabinet contains a multitude of accessories. Here are the essentials to clean as part of its maintenance:
● The carbon filters
This accessory is the mainstay of the machine insofar as it guarantees the quality of the air. This is why the carbon filter requires periodic checking. Moreover, remember to change it when you notice any failures during the major annual cleaning.
● The lava stones of a wine cellar
Some wine cellars have lava stones wine coolers which take care of the increase in hygrometry. In other words, they take care of the correct distribution of humidity in the machine’s compartments.
As with the inside of the cellar, it only requires soap and water for cleaning. As for its drying, it is enough to expose it to the sun and the open air.
● The condenser
The condenser or the so-called ventilation grille ensures good air circulation in the wine cellar. It is for this reason that it is vital to clean it. The cleaning method consists of dusting it with a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth.
In general, the maintenance of a wine cellar is not expensive because it does not require the use of special products. The only budget to be provided for is the possible replacement of the carbon filter or the re-humidification system of the device in the event of malfunction of the latter.