How to clean a refrigerator properly, shelf by shelf

Step by step: how to clean a refrigerator properly, shelf by shelf

Safety first. Unplug the refrigerator or switch off the breaker before cleaning the condenser coils. Do not pour warm water on cold glass shelves, which can crack them, and never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia.

1. 1

   Move the food into a cooler

   Pack meat, dairy and leftovers into a cooler with ice packs so they stay cold while you work. Throw out anything past its date, any leftovers older than about four days, and anything that smells off. Aim to finish within an hour or two.

2. 2

   Take out shelves and drawers

   Lift out the glass shelves, drawers and door bins. Use both hands on glass shelves, which are heavy. Set them on a towel and let glass warm to room temperature for about 20 minutes before it touches warm water.

3. 3

   Wash the removable parts

   Wash drawers, bins and shelves in the sink with warm water and a little dish soap, then rinse and dry them. Do not put shelves with built-in LED lights in the dishwasher, and check your manual before putting any part in it.

4. 4

   Wipe the inside top to bottom

   Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a quart of warm water. Wipe the ceiling, walls and floor of the fridge, working from the top down so drips land on areas you have not cleaned yet. Use the toothbrush on shelf rails and corners.

5. 5

   Sanitize if raw meat leaked

   If meat juice or spoiled food leaked, wipe those areas with 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid bleach in a gallon of water, then rinse with clean water. Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners.

6. 6

   Clean the door gaskets

   Wipe the rubber seals with warm soapy water, opening each fold with your fingers and a cloth. Use the toothbrush for black residue in the creases, then dry them. A clean, dry gasket seals better and does not grow mildew.

7. 7

   Do the freezer the same way

   Move frozen food to the cooler, remove bins and wipe the freezer with the baking soda solution. Air moves between the two sections, so a dirty freezer can make the fridge smell.

8. 8

   Dry everything and reload

   Dry the inside with a clean cloth, put the shelves and drawers back, and return food in groups: raw meat in a sealed container on the bottom shelf, ready-to-eat food above. Wipe sticky jars before they go back in.

9. 9

   Clean the outside and the coils

   Wipe the handles and doors, following the grain on stainless steel. A few times a year, unplug the fridge, remove the base grille and vacuum the condenser coils and grille with a soft brush.

What is the right order to clean a fridge?

Work from the top down and from the inside out: food out, removable parts out, interior wiped, gaskets cleaned, then the outside and coils last.

Whirlpool’s interior cleaning instructions recommend cleaning both sections about once a month, hand washing bins and shelves with a mild detergent, and never cleaning cold glass shelves with warm water, since sudden temperature changes can break them. They also note that shelves with under-shelf LED lighting are not dishwasher-safe.

Food safety drives the timing. Keep the fridge at 40°F or colder, and keep perishables in a cooler while the doors are open. If you unplug the fridge for a long clean, plug it back in and let it cool down before you reload.

Do you need bleach to clean a refrigerator?

No, not for routine cleaning. Warm water with baking soda or a little dish soap is enough. Save a bleach solution for spills of raw meat juice or spoiled food.

The bleach ratio comes from USDA food safety guidance, summarized by Purdue Extension, which also advises washing the interior with hot water and baking soda and leaving the door open for about 15 minutes afterward. Avoid solvent cleaners and abrasive powders inside a fridge, which can leave fumes and tastes that end up in your food.

How to clean refrigerator coils and the outside

Vacuum the condenser coils every few months if you have pets, a dusty home or a busy kitchen; in a typical home, it is needed less often.

Whirlpool’s coil instructions say to unplug the fridge or switch off the breaker, remove the base grille, and vacuum the grille and the area behind it with a soft brush, without bending fins or disturbing water lines. Some models have coils on the back or need no cleaning at all, so check your manual.

For a stainless steel door, Whirlpool advises warm soapy water or a stainless steel cleaner, rubbing in the direction of the grain, and avoiding vinegar, ammonia, citrus cleaners and abrasive pads. Our guide to cleaning stainless steel appliances has the full method.

Mistakes to avoid

• Washing cold glass shelves in hot water, which can crack or shatter them.
• Leaving food on the counter for hours instead of in a cooler.
• Mixing bleach with vinegar or ammonia to get a stronger clean.
• Skipping the door gaskets, where mildew and crumbs collect.
• Using abrasive powders or solvent cleaners inside, which scratch liners and leave odors.
• Pushing the fridge back against the wall right after vacuuming, before checking the water line is not kinked.