Fridges can become dirty and neglected easily, but since we keep food there, learning how to deep clean your fridge should be a priority. Read on to learn how deep clean your fridge without ruining all of your food!
Although we are well into spring, I’m just now getting into my spring cleaning. I don’t know about you, but when spring rolls around and I get to finally open all of the windows, I get that cliche urge to clean ALL OF THE THINGS. I look around at some of the most neglected spots of my house and go to town. Some of my favorite cleaning tips have come from this behavior, like last week’s post on how to effortlessly remove hard water stains. If we are one in the same, I think you’ll love today’s post where I’m going to share my tips for how to deep clean your fridge without ruining all of your food!
How to Deep Clean Your Fridge
First off, I do suggest deep cleaning your fridge right before you do a big shopping trip and it’s a bit bare. That’s almost always when I do it, mostly because that’s when I can really see all of the ew. (you know, since I’m opening my fridge every 10 minutes to see if it’s measly contents have changed and whatever I’m craving magically appeared.)
Next, go through the contents and check expiration dates, throw out old leftovers, consolidate anything that can be consolidated. Am I the only one that often has like 2 or 3 open bottles of the same condiment? No? Just me? Okay.
We’ll do the doors first. My door shelves come off which I find pretty vital to being able to clean the fridge with food still in it. I’m going to assume that all fridges have this, but if your doesn’t, I apologize since I’m not sure how useful this post will be for you.
Starting with the top shelves, move all contents down to lower shelves or the opposite side of the fridge, and then remove the empty shelves. Quickly clean behind where they sat with a cleaner of your choice before closing the door and washing the shelves in warm soapy water in your sink. Dry and replace shelves, repeating the process with the lower shelves until done.
Finish cleaning the door – make sure you get the grooves for this part that seals the fridge, as it can get nasty. Wipe down the neglected spot near the hinge of the door, and the frame and base of the fridge. If the floor that is usually covered by the door when closed and needs some love, quickly do that as well.
Head to the inside. Again, working from top to bottom move any contents of the fridge down to the next level(s), remove the shelf, and after wiping down the back and sides of the interior of the fridge, wash the shelf in your sink. I like to use a quick spray of glass cleaner as well.
If you have drawers like I do, make sure you pull them out and clean the nastiness that collects under there. We rarely spill in the fridge, but somehow the condensation puddles at the bottom and turns a gross color and just gross. So clean that out.
Return all shelves and food to their proper places. Close the door and if possible leave it closed for a couple of hours – this would be a good time to do that big grocery shopping trip. Be sure to also wipe down the outside of the fridge and the often forgotten top of the fridge.
Now, I’m not writing about how to clean your freezer since I’ll admit – I’m not sure I’ve ever done it. (ew.) But according to Alex and the interwebs, it requires being turned off and coming to room temp to clean it. This looks like a really great tutorial for the Kitchn, though, so I would check that out if you’re looking to clean the freezer.
And there you go – you have now learned to deep clean your fridge without all of your food going bad! It really shouldn’t take more than 15 or 20 minutes depending on the state of your fridge and how distracted you get. I try to do this once a month but I’ll be honest and say I usually end up with 2 hours between cleaning. Oops.
So tell me – any tips on how to deep clean your fridge? Or your freezer? Are there any other cleaning tips and tricks you’d like to see me tackle? I’d love the inspiration (and motivation!)! Let me know in the comments!!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy these!
The Crazy Easy Way to Remove Hard Water Stains
How to Get Smells Out of Wooden Cutting Boards
How to Cure a Smelly Sink Drain
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Christine (Run Plant Based) says
Great information, thanks! I hate deep cleaning the fridge because it’s such an ordeal pulling out the entire drawer assembly, but so important! Our new fridge is due for a deep cleaning soon and one of the reasons I picked it is because it looked like it will be easier to pull apart – we’ll see!
Ellie Crossley says
I’ve just deep cleaned my fridge a couple of weeks ago. It’s actually amazing how much grime builds up in there that you don’t see because of all the stuff!
Janet Vinyard says
Hi Morgan, Great tips & I read several of your other posts while I was here. Enjoyed reading all of them – very useful info! Thanks for sharing. Blessings, Janet
Regina L. L. Wells says
Off to clean the fridge! Good advice and reminder to check the often forgotten germ and nasties collection spots. Thank you! #LinkLove
Kristy @ Southern In Law says
Yesssssssssssssssssssss to this! Our fridge at home drives me crazy because my mum never cleans it out. The only time it’s cleaned out is when I do it and I’m pretty ruthless so my I can only do it when no one else is home so they don’t see just how much is thrown out 😛
Laurie says
Great tips! I’m so bad about checking expiration dates and am amazed sometimes at just how long a bottle of something will sit in my fridge! Pinned to share! Thank you for linking up your posts with us this week for Snickerdoodle Sunday!
Angela @ Setting My Intention says
I really need to do this again. I’ve been doing low stress spring cleaning this year. Doing those cleaning jobs that you so accurately describe as “ew” and actually tackling them! Next up for me is the oven, which I don’t think I’ve given a good cleaning since we moved in! yes – definite “ew”!
Sandra Garth says
One of my least favorite tasks but it has to be done. I typically clean my freezer when I do the fridge. The biggest things is tossing out the freezer burned items and that bag of overripe bananas that falls out each time I open the door. Thanks for linking up with us at Celebrate Your Story!