Knowing how to clean a fridge and freezer properly — not just wiping the shelves — keeps food fresher, kills smells at the source and cuts your energy bill because a clean condenser runs cooler. A dusty coil at the back can push electricity use up by twenty per cent, and a cluttered fridge with poor airflow can leave dairy sitting a full degree warmer than the dial suggests. Set aside an hour, block the calendar, and follow this order top to bottom — the trick is doing everything in the right sequence so you never end up wiping a shelf twice.
Quick answer
To clean a fridge, empty it into a cool bag, switch it off, and remove every shelf and drawer to wash in warm soapy water. Wipe the interior with a solution of bicarbonate of soda (one tablespoon in 500 ml of warm water), paying close attention to the door seal folds. Rinse with clean water, dry, and reassemble before switching back on. Repeat for the freezer after defrosting. Deep clean every three months.
Before you start
Pick a day when the fridge is nearly empty — the end of a shopping week is ideal. Transfer perishables to a cool bag with ice packs; they will hold safely for three to four hours. Turn the temperature dial to zero or unplug the appliance so the compressor is not fighting an open door. Bin anything past its date, tired-looking or unlabelled — this is your one moment of the year to see the back of the top shelf. If yours has a coldest-setting quirk, our guide on the fridge coldest-setting mystery explains which number means what.
Tools you’ll need
- Bicarbonate of soda (a full tub)
- White vinegar in a spray bottle
- Two microfibre cloths and a clean tea towel
- A cool bag with ice packs
- Cotton buds for door-seal folds
- Vacuum with a soft brush attachment for the condenser coils
Step-by-step fridge cleaning
- Remove every shelf, drawer and door bin.
- Let glass shelves reach room temperature before running warm water over them — cold glass cracks under warm water.
- Wash shelves in warm soapy water and stand to dry.
- Mix one tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda into 500 ml warm water.
- Wipe the interior top to bottom, paying attention to the door seal folds — pull each fold back and clean inside with a cotton bud.
- Rinse the cloth in clean water and go over everything again.
- Dry with a clean tea towel — moisture encourages mould, especially around the seal.
- Reassemble in the reverse order and turn the fridge back on before restocking.
Read also: Remove fridge odours naturally
Cleaning the freezer without a flood
Never chip ice off with a knife — you can puncture the coolant lines behind the plastic and write off the appliance. Defrost properly using towels and a shallow tray.
- Line the freezer floor with old towels and slide a baking tray under the front lip
- Place a bowl of hot (not boiling) water on the top shelf and close the door
- Change the water every 20 minutes until the ice slides off in sheets
- Wipe out with the bicarbonate solution — pay attention to the door seal and the drain hole at the back
- Dry thoroughly before refreezing so no ice crystals form on day one
Our step-by-step guide on how to defrost a freezer covers the timing in detail.
Don’t forget the outside
The back of the fridge — the black condenser grille — is often thick with dust. Pull the fridge out (carefully; the water line and cable are short), unplug it and vacuum the coils gently with the brush attachment. This one job can shave real money off the annual running cost. Wipe the door handle with a food-safe antibacterial spray, and pull out the drip tray under the fridge to clean it too — that hidden puddle is a common London mould source.
Read also: Carbon monoxide from gas cookers — what you should know
Handling mould on the seal
Black spotting on the rubber door gasket is the single most common fridge complaint. Pull the seal back gently to expose the underside and wipe with a paste of bicarbonate of soda applied on a cotton bud. Leave for ten minutes, then wipe clean. For heavier mould, mix one part white vinegar to one part water and dab on with a cloth — do not soak the seal, or the rubber softens. A worn or cracked seal that no longer grips a five-pound note pulled out at door-close is losing cold air constantly and should be replaced.
Ongoing fridge hygiene tips
- Wipe spills immediately with a damp cloth
- Store raw meat on the bottom shelf in a lidded tray
- Keep an open pot of bicarbonate of soda in the back to absorb odours — refresh monthly
- Deep clean the fridge every three months
- Defrost the freezer once ice reaches 5 mm thick
- Check dates weekly — most food waste happens in the second half of the shelf
Read also: How to defrost a freezer without a mess
Conclusion
A properly cleaned fridge runs more efficiently, keeps food safer and simply smells better. Empty, unplug, wash, wipe, dry, restock — in that order, once every three months, and the smell that some kitchens carry never gets a foothold. If cleaning day has grown into a full appliance overhaul, or you are prepping for a tenancy inspection, book a professional at Maggie’s appliances cleaning in London.
