A $3.50 hack saves me cleaning an entire fridge shelf if anything leaks

Whether you're defrosting meat or storing a fresh purchase to cook later on, the last thing you want is to find it has leaked all over the fridge shelf.

This doesn't just make the fridge grimy and sticky, it also creates a safety hazard thanks to the bacteria from raw meat.

But there's a hack for avoiding this problem that I've been using for a year now that turns what could be an annoying situation into something super quick and easy to deal with.

Watch the video above.

READ MORE: This toiletry works wonders on grease-stained oven doors

That trick comes from cleaning expert Kelsey Gent and it is to have a specific container in the fridge to place proteins in.

She shared the advice in an Instagram reel featuring her top tips for cleaning out the fridge.

For her the plastic tray is for any meat that needs throwing out "in case anything leaks".

Instead, I use this for frozen meat that is thawing out or meat I've purchased from a butcher or the deli counter of the supermarket.

This hack actually saved me from a bigger clean up when raw meat juice leaked from raw chicken that was packaged in a plastic bag wrapped with paper.

Thanks to my meat tray I only had that to clean with disinfectant before washing in hot soapy water, rather than the shelf or potentially shelves if it leaked further.

It also prevented any other food in the fridge from being contaminated, which would have been a waste.

READ MORE: Powerful DIY cleaner that can transform ovens and grout

The container I use for this purpose is the $3.50 medium and narrow clear drawer from Kmart, but you can get a similar container from wherever you like.

While mine is 30cm by 10cm, a wider or deeper one might suit your needs better, so consider what would work best for you if you want to try this hack.

READ MORE: Amazon offers early Prime Day deals with discounts on must-have tech

Another of Gent's fridge storage tips you might like to try is having a "use first" container to pop things like vegies, cheeses and snacks that are either partially used or getting close to their expiry date.

You can use a similar tray to the one mentioned above or something larger if that suits your household better.

Just make sure you label these trays, not just to avoid cross-contamination but because seeing the words "use first" will remind you to take food from that container before it goes off.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.