How To Best Clean Inside Of Refrigerator

Your fridge is probably the largest appliance in your kitchen, but you probably don't give much thought to cleaning it like you do your countertops and other surfaces—unless you spill something. But a clean fridge is more energy-efficient and will last longer, so make the effort at least once a year (more often if there's food residue inside). Cleaning this hulking appliance can be an intimidating task, so we've gathered answers to your most common questions about how to get it done right.^[1]

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Gather clean dish towels, dish soap, hot water, and baking soda. Mix 1 part baking soda to 7 parts hot water and stir until the baking soda is dissolved. If you have an empty squirt bottle, you can pour the mix into that—otherwise, you can just dip your clean dishtowel into it.^[2]
- If there are small crevices in your fridge that you don't think you'll be able to reach with a dish towel, use an old toothbrush.
- Avoid commercial cleaners because their scent might transfer to your food. You can also use white vinegar (just dilute it with an equal amount of water), although the smell might linger.

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Yes, take all the food out before you clean the inside of your refrigerator. When you pull everything out, check the quality of the food and the expiration date on the package. Throw out anything that has expired or doesn't look edible. You can leave everything else out on a counter while you clean the fridge.^[3]
- If you think it's going to take you more than 2 hours to clean your fridge, keep your food in a cooler while you work.^[4]
- If you're only cleaning the outside of your refrigerator, it's fine to leave everything in it. If you're going to have to move the fridge, though, taking everything out of it might make it easier to move.

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No, you don't need to unplug the fridge unless you're cleaning the coils. If you're just cleaning the inside and outside of your fridge, you can leave it plugged in. Your fridge doesn't need to be any specific temperature for you to clean it—just use hot water so the cold surface cleans more easily.^[5]
- If you have to pull out your fridge to get to the sides, you might have to unplug it to do that if the cord isn't long enough.

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Take all your shelves and drawers out and hand-wash them. Use regular dish soap and hot water. If your shelves are made of glass, allow them to warm up to room temperature before you wash them—the quick change in temperature might cause the glass to break.^[6]
- If there are spills or food remnants that are harder to get off, let the shelf or drawer soak in the sink for a few minutes. It should come right off.
- Dry your shelves and drawers completely with a clean dish towel before putting them back in your fridge.

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Work top to bottom to clean the inside of your fridge including non-removable shelves. By working top to bottom, you don't have to worry about sweeping crumbs or dirty run-off onto areas that have already been cleaned. For sticky, dried-on residue, hold a cloth soaked in hot water and baking soda over the spot for a minute or so to loosen it up—after that, it should wipe right up.^[7]
- Use a toothbrush to get into crevices and hard-to-reach areas that you can't clean with a cloth.

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Wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth and a drop of dish soap. Make sure your dish soap doesn't contain chlorine, which can damage the finish. This should be all you need to get everyday dust and grime off. Follow up by wiping it with a clean damp cloth, then a dry one.^[8]
- If you have stains that just won't come off, you might need to invest in a cleaner designed specifically for stainless steel. You can find these cleaners online or wherever cleaning products are sold, but don't waste your money just for routine cleaning—simple dish soap and water will usually do the trick.
- Never use abrasive cleaners or sponges on stainless-steel appliances—they can permanently scratch the surface.

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Use a cloth soaked in hot water and dish soap to clean the door seals. Technically called "gaskets," the rubber seals around your fridge's door can collect a lot of crumbs and debris. Wipe them clean, then rub a little vaseline or mineral oil along the rubber to condition it.^[9]
- Keeping the gasket clean helps your fridge door maintain a tight seal, which makes it more energy-efficient.
- While you're cleaning, look for any cracks or tears in the rubber, which can keep your fridge from maintaining a tight seal.

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Clean your fridge's condenser coils at least once a year. Because your fridge's condenser coils are exposed, they accumulate dust over time. Unplug your fridge, then take a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment and gently brush the dust off the coils. Even though most of the dust will get vacuumed up, you might want to wear a dust mask while you do this, especially if you have dust allergies.^[10]
- Use a condenser coil brush for a more thorough clean. You can buy one of these online or at a hardware store for about $10. This brush isn't a one-trick pony—you can use it to clean humidifier or air conditioning coils as well.^[11]
- If you have pets that shed a lot, you might need to clean the coils as often as once every 6 months, especially if your fridge's coils are located at its base instead of on the back.

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Start with hot soapy water, then use oil to remove the rest. Most sticky residue will come off if you put a cloth soaked in hot soapy water on it for a minute or so to loosen it up. If there's still residue remaining, any sort of oil (such as vegetable oil, mineral oil, or even baby oil) should get it off.^[12]
- You might also try a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Soak the residue for a minute, then wipe it off.
- If you're able to get the residue off with oil, clean the area afterward with a cloth soaked in hot soapy water to remove the oil.

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Sanitization is optional but is a good idea if you had spoiled or recalled food. Make a solution of 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of liquid bleach in 1 US gal (3.8 L) of water. Dip a clean, dry cloth in the solution and wipe it all over the inside of your fridge and the shelves to sanitize.^[13]
- If you sanitize, it's a good idea to leave the fridge door open for 10 minutes or so to let the fumes dissipate before you put your food back in and shut the door.
- Regardless of whether you do the sanitation step, wipe down all your bottles and containers before you put them back in your clean fridge—especially if they're sticky or were sitting in a dirty spot.

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Deep-clean your fridge once every 3-6 months. How often you clean your fridge really depends on how much traffic it gets. In a larger household with several people constantly in and out of the fridge, plan on cleaning it more often. At a minimum, though, you should deep-clean your fridge at least twice a year to keep it working optimally.^[14]
- You still want to clean up any spills as soon as possible. Once something is dried, it's a lot harder to clean than if you get to it right away.

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Put an open box of baking soda in the back of the fridge to absorb odors. Baking soda is a natural odor-absorber without a scent of its own, so you don't have to worry about it transferring different smells onto your food. The box works for this purpose for a couple of months, after which you should change it out.^[15]
- If space in your fridge is limited, buy a fridge deodorizer that will stick to the side or back of your fridge. These are available online or anywhere you would normally buy cleaning products.

Add New Question

Question

Why does the front of the fridge get so dirty at the bottom?

Aaron Beth is the founder of Aaron's Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie's Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.

Appliance Technician

Expert Answer

That's where the condenser is. What happens is that anything in front of your fridge ends up getting sucked into the grate there. It can get especially dirty for people who have pets.
Question

How often do I need to clean my refrigerator coils?

Aaron Beth is the founder of Aaron's Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie's Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.

Appliance Technician

Expert Answer

It depends on where you live, but the general rule of thumb is to do it twice a year. That's probably a safe estimate for most people.
Question

How do I get the sticky marks, left by sticky labels, off my new fridge?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Any kind of oil (such as mineral oil, vegetable oil, or baby oil) should break down the adhesive so you can wipe the residue off. Then, clean the area with a cloth dipped in soapy water.
Question

What temperature should my refrigerator be when I clean it?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

The temperature of your fridge doesn't matter. You don't have to unplug it to clean the inside, so whatever temperature it's normally at is perfectly fine. If you're cleaning the condenser coils, check to see if they're hot to the touch. If they are, wait a few minutes to be safe—you don't want to accidentally burn yourself.
Question

How long should I wait after cleaning and moving the fridge to turn it back on?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You don't have to wait any time at all—once your fridge is clean, it's ready to go. If you unplugged it and moved it to get to the condenser coils, make sure they're dry. Other than that, it'll work immediately.
Question

How can I clean the plastic area above the bottom shelf? It is attached to the frame, and liquid and food get trapped there but it doesn't come off for cleaning.

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You can use the hose attachment of a vacuum cleaner to suck up any crumbs or dry debris. For anything else, a small scrub brush or even a toothbrush should get into the small crevices if a cloth won't fit.
Question

How can I clean up any liquid that has gotten trapped between the glass and the plastic layers of the bottom shelf?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

See if the layers are designed to come apart. If so, you can pop the glass out and clean it with soap and water that way. Otherwise, soaking it might work because the soap and water would get between the layers just like the trapped liquid did. If your sink isn't big enough to completely submerge the shelf, you might need to use the bathtub.
Question

To place baking soda inside the fridge, do I have to unplug it first?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

No. You can place the open box of baking soda in your fridge just as you would any other food. If you're cleaning the inside of your fridge with baking soda, you don't have to unplug it for that either.
Question

How can I check the door seal of my fridge? I am not sure it's closing properly.

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wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Cut out a small piece of paper or fold a Post-It note in half. Before shutting the refrigerator door, slide the paper in where the seal closes and then shut the door completely. The paper should be caught there. Try tugging it; if it won't budge or is hard to move, then the seal is still good. However, if the paper is loose or pulls out with ease, then the seal is worn and needs to be replaced.
Question

Where can I put the food to keep it cool while I clean the fridge and freezer?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You can store them in an ice box or cooler, or place in frozen food carrier bags available from supermarkets and outdoor stores. Pay special attention to ice cream by placing it in the middle and surrounding the ice cream with the other frozen foods. If it's a long clean and the kitchen is quite hot, then wrap with a wool blanket or duvet to provide some insulation.

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Check your fridge's user manual for tips on how to clean various parts and how often you should do so. If you don't have a paper copy, you can find a digital copy online! Just search for the manufacturer's website.^[16]

If food in your fridge spoils or is recalled, clean your fridge after you dispose of it. Germs could spread to other parts of your fridge and infect other food.^[17]

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Article SummaryX

To clean your refrigerator, first take everything out of it and store it in the freezer or a cooler filled with ice packs. Then, pull out any removable drawers and shelves, and scrub them clean using a sponge and hot, soapy water. Scrape off stubborn grime with a wooden spatula or toothpick. Rinse the shelves and drawers and let them air dry. Next, fill a spray bottle with 2 parts water and 1 part white vinegar, and spray the inside of your fridge. Wipe down the interior with a cloth, then use a new cloth to wipe the vinegar away. Finally, place any drawers and shelves back in the fridge and restock all of the food. To keep your newly-cleaned fridge smelling fresh, leave an open container of baking soda in it, which will absorb bad odors. To learn more about how to clean the interior parts of your fridge, like the coils and fan, keep reading!

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