How to Clean a Fridge

We’ll help guide you through how to clean your fridge quickly and easily, removing any unpleasant smells.

We’ll show you the best products to use and give recommendations on less harmful, more eco-friendly products which will help maintain, protect and improve the lifespan of your fridge.

What is the best way to clean the inside of a fridge?

Is your fridge looking a little unsightly? Lingering smells when you open the door? Maybe it’s time to give it a clean?

We can overlook how important it is to clean your fridge. There is so much money wasted on food products that go out of date as you can’t get to them in your fridge.

Keeping your fridge clean also improves efficiency, lowering your energy prices.

An overloaded fridge can actually cost you more money!

Picture of fridge full of food & drinks

Remember, not overloading your fridge and keeping food away from the back wall will prevent freezing and gathering condensation. 

Firstly, clear out your food, throw away any expired products, remove all shelves and drawers.

You’re now ready to make a start on the big clean – this should only take around 30 minutes if you keep up with the day to day hygiene of your fridge.

Quick and easy 30 minute guide:

30 30 minutes

  1. Soak Trays

    Soak trays and shelves in hot soapy water for 20 mins 

  2. Hot soapy water: Corners and seals

    Use a bowl of hot soapy water and a microfibre cloth and wash all the internal walls, ensuring you reach all the corners and seals (grime can build up in these areas)

  3. Damp Cloth

    Use a clean damp cloth to remove and soap residue 

  4. Half a lemon

    Squeeze half a lemon into a bowl of warm water, use a clean cloth and wipe the fridge – this will leave the fridge with a nice lemon scent

  5. Clean the drain hole

    Clean out the drain hole using a flexible drain hole tool

  6. Microfibre cloth

    Dry using a microfibre cloth 

  7. Rinse off soap

    Rinse off the soap residue from your shelves and trays and dry thoroughly.

  8. Replace Trays

    Replace all your trays shelves and food

  9. Expiring food at the front

    Keep your food that is due to expire soon, at the front of your fridge

Your fridge should be smelling fresh and back in tip top condition, and in need of a trip to the supermarket.

Empty Grey Fridge

How to clean a fridge door

Doors and seals can be a magnet for grime; food debris can build up in your seals and cause smells. It isn’t just the inside that counts towards the hygiene and appearance of your fridge.

Sticky hands can mark the external door, leaving more stubborn, hard to remove stains. A daily wipe with hot soapy water will prevent a build up of grime.

A microfibre cloth and soapy water is best to use to wipe down the door and seals, ensuring you dry the seals thoroughly to avoid mould.

  1. Use warm soapy water and a microfibre cloth
  2. Wipe down all the seals paying particular attention to the corners where food debris builds up
  3. Dry thoroughly using a microfibre cloth

Your fridge is now clean and shiny, ready to use again.

How to get rid of smells out of a fridge

Placing a small bowl of unflavoured oatmeal in your fridge will soak up any unpleasant odours. 

Simply wipe your fridge first with warm soapy water and leave a bowl of oats overnight; the oats will absorb the unpleasant smell, then you just throw them away. 

Reducing the amount of cleaning products we use will not just save you money, it is also better for the environment.

How to get rid of fish smell in a fridge

A fish smell can linger for days in your fridge. Whilst it was great to eat at the time, you don’t want to smell it for days after. The smell can cling on to other food – ensuring all food is fully covered in your fridge will prevent the smell from transferring. 

Using lemon juice can reduce the smell also. Add the juice of a full lemon to a bowl and place it on the middle shelf in your fridge. Wipe all shelves with a cloth and hot soapy water and dry using a microfibre cloth.

Your fridge should now be fish free!

How to clean the fridge drain hole

A fridge drain hole is a place to catch the moisture. The drain is usually found at the back of your fridge and there are ridges that will guide the moisture down to the hole. 

Tools can be used to unblock the hole (most fridges come with one). You will know when your hole is blocked as water will pool at the bottom of your fridge. You may also notice more condensation at the back wall. 

Unblocking your drain hole is an easy painless task and will contribute to keeping your fridge working more efficiently.

  1.  Wipe all excess water that has collected at the bottom of fridge
  1.  Once all your fridge is dry, you can clear the debris. You can use the specific tool that has come with the fridge, or a straw, pipe cleaner or even earbud.
  1. Gently poke whichever implement you are using in the drain to remove the debris – make sure you don’t let go as this will block it further.

This process might need to be repeated from time to time. If you notice that pools of water are still forming even after this, then you may have a more serious problem.

As mentioned before, try to keep your fridge free from debris; this will prevent continuously unblocking the drain hole. 

How often should you clean a fridge?

Weekly cleans are recommended to keep your fridge in squeaky clean condition, food rotation will save you money on wastage, it’s a no brainer really! 

If you take care of spills immediately, this will help to eliminate unnecessary scrubbing. Remember not to use scourers on your fridge; this will lead to scratches. 

Cleaning regularly will contribute to the efficiency and maintain the life expectancy of your fridge. It will also save you time, as there will be no need to deep clean. 

It is important to keep your fridge clean to avoid a spread of bacteria contaminating your food – always remember to keep food properly covered.

Can you clean a fridge with white vinegar?

White vinegar can sometimes be very overpowering, nobody wants their house smelling like a chippy. A small amount left overnight in a bowl will reduce the smells though. 

You can also add a few drops to your warm soapy water to wipe down the walls and shelves of your fridge. Remember, don’t go mad with it, less is more!

Can you clean a fridge with baking soda?

Baking powder is used by many people on all types of appliances. Regular use of baking powder can cause discoloration as it’s abrasive. Ever noticed a yellow tinge to your white goods? This could be a sign of overusing abrasive cleaning materials.

Baking soda is extremely messy to use; it will double your cleaning time as it leaves a powder residue which needs an extra wipe. 

Keeping on top of spillages will reduce time needed for a deep clean and keep your fridge in good working order. 

Can you clean a fridge with lemon juice?

Lemon juice is great to use in the fridge, it will keep it smelling fresh and clean for days. 

Lemon isn’t a disinfectant, they have disinfectants properties in them. You will still need to clean your fridge using hot soapy water. 

Above, I have outlined a quick and easy 30 minute guide on how to clean your fridge using lemon juice to eliminate odours.

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Catherine Hayes

Catherine is the mother of two in a busy household and an Operations Director. She is an enthusiast for reviewing products that help and encourage people to buy wisely. She’s a passionate and honest writer with a quirky sense of humour.