Few large kitchen appliances get such frequent use as refrigerators, so it’s crucial to keep them clean. A pristine fridge exterior can help brighten your whole kitchen, while a clean interior looks great, uses space more efficiently and can help you keep food fresher. This guide reviews the steps for how to clean a fridge inside and out.
Tip: Plan on cleaning a refrigerator at least every three months, and definitely before major holidays like Thanksgiving, to make room for the extra ingredients, dishes and eventual leftovers.
* Turn Off the RefrigeratorIf your fridge has removable shelves and you’re careful about keeping the door shut, leaving the fridge on while cleaning should make little difference. Nevetheless, keeping the fridge open for long periods of time can waste electricity, and it’s safer to have the fridge unplugged when dusting the coils and cleaning the drip pan. If you can’t easily move the fridge or access the plug, turn off the circuit breaker that serves the refrigerator.
* Empty the RefrigeratorLearning how to clean a fridge starts with emptying the refrigerator completely of all items, including condiments, boxes of baking soda and more. Put perishables such as opened cartons of milk in a cooler and leave other items on the counter. Do not leave the food out for more than an hour. Inventory the food and throw out old leftovers and expired foods. This is a good time to get rid of items that no one in your house really likes and are just taking up space.Compost old produce and recycle containers when possible. Take out the trash with the old food right away.
* Clean the Removable Refrigerator PartsTake out all of the removable shelves and drawers. You can clean them more thoroughly when they’re outside the fridge, and this gives you better access to clean the refrigerator’s interior. Mix fragrance-free dish soap with warm water in a sink or basin. Wash the items with a dish sponge, as you would hand-wash dishes. Rinse to make sure no traces of dishwashing liquid remain. Make sure shelves and other removable items are completely dry (and the interior of the fridge has been cleaned) before putting them back in place.
* Clean the Refrigerator InteriorYou can use various kinds of multi-purpose cleaners on a refrigerator, but many people are more comfortable using products that are edible, like white vinegar or baking soda, which also absorbs odors. Wondering how to clean a fridge with baking soda? Fill a spray bottle with a cleaning solution of two tablespoons baking soda and a quart of hot water. Apply the fridge cleaning spray to all interior surfaces of the appliance, including the walls, non-removable shelves and the inside of the door. Wipe with a sponge or microfiber cloth. Scrub trouble spots with a toothbrush or small scrub brush dipped in hot water and then wipe with a dry cloth. Cover more stubborn stains in a paste of baking soda and water, allow it to sit for at least ten minutes, then wipe up. Regarding how to clean a refrigerator with vinegar, fill a spray bottle with a cleaning solution of one part white vinegar to three parts water. Apply using the same cleaning method as the baking soda solution.
* Clean the Refrigerator Exterior
Wipe down the outside of the fridge with a cloth moistened with warm, soapy water or your cleaning solution of choice. Do not forget to clean the top of the fridge. Dry with a microfiber cloth or paper towels. If you have a stainless steel refrigerator, apply a stainless steel cleaner or another appropriate cleaner using a microfiber cloth. Carefully use a coil cleaning brush to dust the condenser coils.Empty, clean and dry the drip pan, then put it back in place.Vacuum around and under the fridge wherever accessible with a hose attachment. If you can roll your fridge away from the wall, sweep and vacuum the floor where the fridge normally sits.