How to clean your fridge inside and out.

What you’ll need.

Before you get started, make sure you have the following cleaning products and tools on hand:

• Dishwashing liquid
• Hot water
• White vinegar
• Spray bottle
• Soft sponge and/or microfiber cloth
• Large basin or sink
• Clean towels
• Long-handled brush or coil cleaning brush
• Bucket
• Stainless steel cleaner (if your exterior is stainless steel)
• Gloves (optional)
• Baking soda (optional)

Step 1: Prep your fridge.

First things first, turn off and unplug your fridge. That way, if you happen to spill any cleaning solutions near the outlet, you won't shock yourself.

After that's done, empty the fridge completely. This includes taking out all food, shelves, trays, and other removable parts.

Pro tip: To prevent food from spoiling, you'll need to work a little fast. We recommend cleaning your fridge on a cooler day or when you don't have a lot of perishables. If you have a second fridge (perhaps in your garage), make space for the perishables you're removing from your kitchen refrigerator.

Step 2: Clean the interior.

The interior of your fridge is likely where hidden stains lurk in plain sight, so give this area a good scrubbing.

Fill a bucket with warm water and dish soap, then use a sponge to wipe down the interior walls. If you have a lot of debris, you might even get creative and use a vacuum cleaner to suck out crumbs. Dry everything off with a clean towel.

Step 3: Brush the coils.

Follow these steps to clean your fridge's coils. You'll need to use a long-handled brush to gently remove dust and debris.

Step 4: Tackle the shelves, trays and drawers.

Next, you'll want to clean the glass shelving and trays. Clean these toward the end of the process to give these items time to warm up to room temperature. That way, they don't shatter in the warm water.

Fill a sink or a large basin with hot water and dish soap, then submerge the components. Using a soft sponge or clean cloth, wipe and scrub away stains, residue, and spills. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow the parts to air dry.

Step 5: Put it all back together.

Once everything is clean, it's time to reassemble. Put your shelves and trays back in order, then replace all your food.

If you still notice some unusual smells, consider adding an open box of baking soda inside the fridge to absorb these odors.

Step 6: Wipe down the door and door seals.

Cleaning off the fridge door and door seal ensures your fridge closes tightly — which means you'll use less energy to cool your food.

Start by making your own mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on the door and door seal, then wipe it off with a sponge or cloth. Dry the door with a clean cloth.

Step 7: Clean the fridge's exterior.

Before cleaning your fridge's exterior, use a soft, damp cloth to remove any loose debris or dirt particles.

Most refrigerators these days are made of stainless steel. If you're in that boat, use a special stainless steel refrigerator cleaner (there are also DIY stainless steel cleaning solutions). Spray this onto the surface, then wipe along the grain to avoid scratches. For other materials, soapy water works well.

No matter what your fridge is made of, work from top to bottom to ensure you don't have drips and streaks. When you're all done, wipe it down with dry cloth to prevent water spots.

Refrigerator cleaning mistakes to avoid. 

Learning how to clean a refrigerator is relatively simple, but there are still things you need to watch out for. For example:

• Never use harsh chemicals, bleach, or abrasive cleaners. Not only can these damage surfaces, but they could also get into your food.
• When wiping down your refrigerator, don't use a cloth that's soaking wet. Always wring it out a bit so excess water doesn't drip into critical electrical components. 
• Make sure you're always using fresh, clean cloths and sponges. If you're using the same sponge you've used to wash dishes for the past two weeks, you're just spreading around bacteria.
• Don't put spoiled food back into the fridge. It's a good idea to check expiration dates as you're putting things back. Toss anything that smells weird or is past its prime. After all, putting spoiled or expired food back into your sparkling-clean fridge will undo all the progress you've just made.

How often should you clean your fridge?

As a general guideline, aim to clean your fridge at least once every 3 to 4 months. Consider scheduling a cleaning at the change of every season, for example.

If your fridge gets heavily soiled or has spills and stains, you may need to clean it more often. Do a visual check every week or so to look for spills, stains, or signs of mold or mildew. If you notice any of these, it's time to drag out the cleaning supplies.

Thumbtack can help you clean and fix your fridge.

Let's be real: cleaning a fridge isn't fun. Luckily, there are plenty of pros out there who'd be happy to tackle this project for you.

Find top-rated house cleaners in your area by downloading the Thumbtack app. Ask them if they offer fridge cleaning as part of their services. And if you think there's something wrong with your appliance, you can also hire an appliance repair technician to diagnose, troubleshoot, and fix your fridge.

FAQs.

Can you use Clorox wipes inside the refrigerator?

It depends on the type of Clorox wipes you choose. Standard Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are not meant to be used on food-contact surfaces. However, Clorox Free & Clear Wipes are specifically designed without dyes, bleach, or ammonia, making them safe to use around food.

Should you turn off the fridge when cleaning?

Yes, you should turn off your fridge when cleaning for a couple of reasons. First, it can help keep you safe in case you drip any water onto electrical components inside the fridge.

Second, it's also more energy-efficient. Your fridge won't be wasting energy trying to stay cool when you have all of the doors open for an extended period.