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How to Deep Clean Your Fridge Like a Professional

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Every refrigerator needs cleaning. Every. Let’s go over how to deep clean your fridge like a professional and get it sparkly fresh in no time.

In nearly every home in America there is a refrigerator.

Every fifteen minutes the motor turns on and it magically keeps things cold. Magically making them last longer and keeping moms everywhere from having to go to the store every day like they had to in the ’50s. Thank. Goodness.

However, without routine maintenance and sanitation, your fridge can become a hazard. Or it can just be downright stinky as all get-out and disgusting.

Wouldn’t you love to to know how to deep clean out your fridge the way professionals do!  From keeping it running safely to keeping it healthy and sanitary, there are several steps in how to professionally clean out your fridge and keep it that way.

If you’d like more cleaning tips you’ll love, check out these 6 Speed Deep Cleaning Tips that no one should be without.

how to professionally clean out your fridge

Best Way to Clean a Fridge

Routine Refrigerator Maintenance

  • Vacuum condenser coils: For most refrigerators, the heat exchange coils are underneath the refrigerator, there is an access at the front, bottom of the refrigerator. This panel pops off and allows you to clean the coils using one of your vacuum cleaner attachments.  When the coils become dust covered, the dust acts as insulation which makes heat exchange more difficult. Your refrigerator has to work harder which increases the cost of operation.
  • Clean drain hole and drip pan:  Refrigerators typically have a drain hole and a drip pan to catch water condensation. Clean any food particles or deposits out of the drain hole.  Clean the drip pan in soapy water to prevent bad odors.
  • Change water filter (if applicable): If your refrigerator has an automatic ice-maker or chilled water dispenser, then you may also have a water filter in the water supply line.  The filter in this line should be changed out in accordance with your manufacturer’s recommendation.

Keeping a refrigerator clean and sanitary on the inside is just as important as the routine maintenance. The refrigerator can be one of the most bacteria-ridden places in your home.

Refrigerator Sanitation and Cleaning Tips:

Start by removing everything from the refrigerator. Throw away any wilted produce or old leftovers. Check the expiration dates on all products, throwing away anything outdated.

De-frost/clean freezer and ice-maker: Never let frost in freezer build-up more than ¼ inch.  Do not use metal or sharp instruments to scrape off frost, as this could cause damage to the inside of the freezer. After frost has melted, clean the inside with a solution of baking soda and water.  Clean any mineral deposits from the automatic ice-maker, if applicable.  Defrosting helps improve the energy efficiency.

Then, carefully remove all of the shelves, racks, drawers and supports and put them in your bathtub. Spray them with a bleach/water solution or a commercial disinfectant spray cleaner. Let them sit in the tub while you direct your attention to the refrigerator.

Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Use any cleaning spray containing bleach or a bowl of warm bleach water. Use a kitchen sponge soaked in the solution to scrub down the interior, from top to bottom, including door seal. Allow debris to collect at the bottom, then soak up excess water and debris from bottom with paper towels and throw into the trash. The bleach/water mixture will kill mold and its spores that you cannot see.

After the interior is cleaned to your satisfaction, use an old toothbrush to reach into the crevices, around screws and support hardware. Also clean the outside of the door and the handles.

Dump the dirty water and replace with warm clean water and a clean cloth. Rinse the inside of the refrigerator to remove the bleach. Rinse your cloth regularly during this process. Make sure that you thoroughly rinse all the bleach from any gaskets or other soft plastic on the inside. Then dry thoroughly with a clean soft, lint-free, absorbent cloth.

Now back to the racks shelves and other items that are soaking in your bath tub.

You may need to re-wet these items then give them a good scrubbing with a household sponge that has a scrubber side to remove all dried on spills. Rinse well with clear warm water and allow draining. Then dry thoroughly with a clean, soft absorbent, lint-free cloth and place them back into the refrigerator. Line the vegetable drawer with paper towels.

Place all products that did not get thrown away, neatly back into the refrigerator. Open a new box of baking soda and place in the refrigerator door to absorb any odors that may build up over time. Replace the box of baking soda once per month.

How to Clean the Outside of a Refrigerator

Start by pulling the refrigerator away from the wall. You don’t need to pull it out far, but you may need to unplug the refrigerator. If that’s the case, you’ll want to plug it back in as quickly as possible so work fast.

Sweep and mop where the refrigerator normally sits. If you have anything stuck on the floor, you can be pretty save making a warm soapy water mixture with dish detergent to help break up the grease that sometimes builds-up under appliances.

Then you’ll want to grab a clean towel you don’t like or a few paper towels. Get it nice and damp with your bleach/water water to wipe the side of the fridge or a commercial disinfectant cleaning product.

Wipe every side of the fridge, all of the surfaces and seals.

If you have a stainless steel refrigerator, you’ll want some stainless steel cleaner and microfiber cloths to wipe down all of the stainless steel surfaces.

Cleaning spills as they happen is the best way to keep your refrigerator sanitized. A deep cleaning as described above should be done at least once a month, or more if needed.

More Cleaning Tips You’ll Love

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Laurie

Friday 30th of May 2014

I loved your Tip Me Tuesday link last week. {thanks girl!} Would you like Tip Junkie to feature your blog post to over 200,000 creative women? If you upload this blog post into your Tip Junkie craft room using at least 2 images, 2 steps, and blog post URL then I can easily feature it in my RSS feed, home page, and all my social networks instantly. {squealing with delight} ~ Laurie {a.k.a. the Tip Junkie} http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/how-to-add-a-craft-room-project-on-tip-junkie/

Cindy Howell

Wednesday 21st of May 2014

I really, really need to do this soon! Thanks for the useful tips. :)

Kelli Miller

Monday 26th of May 2014

Turn the kids into professionals ;-)

Carrie Groneman

Monday 19th of May 2014

Stopping by from Making Mon Party and this is a great list! You did a wonderful job putting this together. Carrie, A Mother's Shadow