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[Laundry Favorites](https://cleanmyspace.com/laundry-favorites/) - [Bathroom Favorites](https://cleanmyspace.com/bathroom-favorites/) - [Kitchen Favorites](https://cleanmyspace.com/kitchen-favorites/) [Home](https://cleanmyspace.com/) [General Home Cleaning](https://cleanmyspace.com/category/home-cleaning/ "View all posts in General Home Cleaning") [Kitchen Cleaning](https://cleanmyspace.com/category/home-cleaning/kitchen-cleaning/ "View all posts in Kitchen Cleaning") How to Clean a Fridge – Tutorial - [Kitchen Cleaning](https://cleanmyspace.com/category/home-cleaning/kitchen-cleaning/) ### [How to Clean a Fridge – Tutorial](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/ "How to Clean a Fridge – Tutorial") [Melissa Maker](https://cleanmyspace.com/author/melissa-maker/) \- April 27, 2013 [17](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comments)  ## My fridge is disgusting, help\! That’s a comment we get quite often, so often that we decided to make an in-depth tutorial on how to clean your fridge properly. Now I’ll warn you, it’s not a quick job (if done properly). You can do some quick little cheats which take a few minutes, but for a good cleaning you’ll need to dedicate some quality time to your cool kitchen friend. Fridges are an incredible advancement in modern society, however it seems like we’ve learned how to take advantage of them. They have become notorious for sprouting science experiments and a friend of mine admitted to me he uses it to store old food until garbage day. So, whether you’re housing biological hazards or tomorrow’s garbage, you’ll need to give your fridge a good cleaning. We’ll talk about the regular things to do and at the end, I’ll cover the occasional chores you can tackle that you’ve probably never heard about. Here’s my method. You can give your fridge a good, thorough clean like this every 3-6 months, and I recommend giving shelves and drawers an occasional wipe down between cleans to keep things at bay. I also go through my fridge when I am unloading groceries and get rid of any bad stuff. I find most bad stuff lives in the crisper drawers, sadly. ## What you’ll need - Gloves (optional) - Garbage can - Recycling bin - Dish soap - Cleaning toothbrush (for scrubbing hard to reach areas) - Non-scratching, double sided sponge - All-purpose cleaner - Microfiber cloths - Baking soda (for abrasion!) **Don’t forget to check out [Maker’s Clean line of premium products](https://www.makersclean.com/collections/all). From [microfiber cloths](https://www.makersclean.com/collections/all/products/the-bulk-bundle) to the [Maker’s Mop](https://www.makersclean.com/collections/all/products/makers-mop-bundle), they have a great line of high-quality products that will help you take your cleaning game to the next level\!** ## Let’s Get Started ### The tear down Start by removing items from the fridge, shelf by shelf. Have a garbage can, recycling bin and nose plugs near by, this is the time where you pitch what you don’t need. Check expiry dates, do a smell test, and be realistic about this process. Get rid of the garbage. My general rule of thumb is, if there are no expiry dates and I haven’t used the item in 6 months, I get rid of it. Next, if you can, remove each shelf and place them close to the sink. Given their awkward sizes, you may need to use floor space or alternative space. If you are in a small space you may need to utilize creative real estate, like um, the kitchen floor. You can even lay out a beach towel to assist with safe landings (this will also help with drying later). If you can’t remove shelves, wipe by hand. Be careful with them, they can snap, crack and drop and you’ll be calling a replacement shop and paying ridiculous money to replace the part. Be gentle. Remove the crisper bins and place those on your counter. If you can, remove the side door shelves, exposing the door. Now that you’ve got an empty fridge, take a dry paper towel and brush out crumbs. This is best done ahead of time, since those crumbs get spread all over the place during cleaning otherwise, believe me this really saves time. When that’s done, spray the inside of the fridge down, liberally. Get the product all over the interior. If you have a stained area, apply a bit of baking soda to it and just let it sit. Speaking of baking soda, this is a great time to change your box, so go for it. Baking soda is a fridge freshener, keeping odours at bay. It can be changed every 3-6 months. Have a fresh box ready to go back into the fridge. ### The Cleaning While the fridge is soaking, start cleaning your plastic and glass fridge parts one by one. Fill a sink 1/3 the way with warm, soapy water. Use a microfiber cloth and a non-scratching sponge where required to scrub away any stickiness or build-up. Should you encounter something very challenging, add some baking soda to the surface and then clean the area. This works very well on stains and discolourations too. Clean each piece, and if they are large or don’t fit in your sink, you can clean them over a towel on your stove or counter. Rinse with clean water if possible, or wipe soapy residue off with a clean cloth and buff dry. You may want to use a cleaning toothbrush to get to those hard to reach spots, too! Let these dry on the towel. Now, take your cloth and non-scratching sponge, and begin cleaning the guts of the fridge, starting at the top and working your way to the bottom. You may want to re-spray areas if the product has dried. Take your sponge and use an ‘S’ pattern to clean each side of the fridge, including the top and bottom. Wipe with a clean cloth to remove residue, and if you wish, add some vanilla extract to a paper towel and wipe down the interior…this freshens the interior of your fridge. No, it doesn’t stain the fridge brown. ### Putting the Puzzle Back Together Now, start putting this Mr. Potato Head back together, ideally with the right configuration, and then replace the foods where they belong. You may want to reconfigure your shelves at this time, if you know you need more room for one and less on the other. As I replace each food item, I’ll wipe any sticky ones with a cloth (sides and bottoms) to avoid messing up my now super clean fridge. Consider lining your crisper bins with paper towel and replacing the paper towel sheets each week when you buy new produce. This helps reduce staining and keeps the drawers clean. ## Ongoing Maintenance A couple things you can do once or twice a year include unplugging the fridge and vacuuming the coils at the back, less dust means a more efficient, quieter and less expensive fridge to power. Just remember to plug it back in after, or else you’ve got a way bigger problem on your hands. You can also clean the vent at the bottom, and some fridges come with drip trays at the bottom. If you can find yours, you may want to pull it out and give it a wipe down. If you don’t know where yours is, consult your user manual. That’s all, my friends\! Let me know your fridge cleaning tips or any questions you may have. **If you want to dig deeper and start taking your cleaning a bit more seriously then check out our [E-Book Bundle](https://cleanmyspace.com/product/e-book-bundle/)! It encompasses 3 fantastic e-books (Complete Guide to Essential Oils, My 3-Wave Cleaning System, 50 DIY Cleaning Recipes) that will get you started in the right direction\!**  AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on amazon.com. ## Looking for a BETTER & EASIER Way to Clean Your Home? Cleaning Expert Melissa Maker is here to help with her game-changing **3 Wave Cleaning System** that will help you clean your house faster and easier than you ever thought possible\! [Learn More About The 3 Wave Cleaning System](https://cleanmyspace.com/product/my-secret-3-wave-cleaning-system/) - TAGS - [baking soda](https://cleanmyspace.com/tag/baking-soda/) - [fridge](https://cleanmyspace.com/tag/fridge/) - [kitchen](https://cleanmyspace.com/tag/kitchen/) - [spring cleaning](https://cleanmyspace.com/tag/spring-cleaning-2/) Previous article [The Kitchen: Kickstart Your Cleaning](https://cleanmyspace.com/the-kitchen-kickstart-your-cleaning-800869100/) Next article [The Den: Kickstart Your Cleaning](https://cleanmyspace.com/the-den-kickstart-your-cleaning/) [Melissa Maker](https://cleanmyspace.com/author/melissa-maker/) Melissa Maker is an entrepreneur, cleaning expert, founder of Toronto’s most popular boutique cleaning service, and star of the Clean My Space channel on YouTube (but she still hates to clean!). Every week, Melissa delivers new videos dishing expert advice on cleaning products, tools, DIY substitutes, and practical, timesaving solutions to everyday problems. Melissa has appeared on the Today Show, and has been featured in InStyle, Real Simple, and Better Homes and Gardens. #### 17 COMMENTS 1. [Albert](https://www.trendvoic.com/) [October 26, 2018 At 8:17 pm](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-87072) One tip that I learned somewhere, for after the refrigerator is clean, line the shelves with Glad Press N’ Seal. It makes items slide easier and protects them from getting dirty, you can just change it out as needed. I only use it on the shelf I store milk on as it makes the cartons slide easier. [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-87072) 2. Suzy Homemaker [October 29, 2016 At 1:41 pm](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-67966) Hey, Melissa!! Nice start to the fridge cleaning, but what about the coils – under the fridge and behind it. I know it’s a HUGE job, but if you want the fridge to work efficiently and last as long as it should, you do need to give the coils a little love as well. Read the manual that comes with the fridge and go for it!! I’d love to see you do a video on this huge and “not fun” project! I always end up on my belly on the floor with a flashlight and extension nozzle on my vacuum to make it happen. Maybe you have a better way and I’d love to see it!\! [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-67966) 3. carrieloveskeith [October 1, 2016 At 3:00 pm](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-67518) I live in an apartment and I’m pretty sure the bottom of my fridge has never been cleaned in a few decades! There is this disgusting pink layer of gunk that is the thickness and consistency of chewed gum lining the bottom of my fridge. I have no idea what this is or how to get rid of it! I tried cleaning it but it was so thick and sticky I don’t even know where to begin! Help\! [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-67518) 4. Segunda Gallegos [April 9, 2016 At 1:19 pm](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-64260) I love your videos. You are amazing and cute [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-64260) 5. [Tina Bevington](https://plus.google.com/112284965194723303526) [May 3, 2015 At 4:58 pm](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-56939) If the fridge is extremely! nasty, you can use lemon ammonia, which cuts thru the nastiest and crustiest grime inside and outside and leaves it smelling lemony fresh… Dollar General has a mild lemon ammonia gallon for \$2… also cuts thru stove grime… [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-56939) 6. Rebecca Horwitz [January 1, 2015 At 10:17 pm](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-51660) I kicked butt cleaning out my fridge today! Thanks for the tutorial. [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-51660) 7. Kerri [December 27, 2014 At 4:22 pm](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-51621) Need to know how to remove acrylic or glass panels in shelves and drawers that can’t be cleaned otherwise. [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-51621) 8. ALISHA [October 24, 2014 At 11:16 am](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-44024) Isnt is best not to clean out your fridge if you dont like it so then it will look so dirty that you will need to get a new one then you can keep clean until it goes out of date [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-44024) 9. ALISHA [October 24, 2014 At 11:12 am](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-44023) You are cool I will pay you to fix my granmas fridge how does \$78 sound ? [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-44023) 10. padma [August 30, 2014 At 1:09 am](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-42153) I found this tips very useful to me. thankyou. please can you give tips for how to clean electric chimney [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-42153) 11. Allena [July 26, 2014 At 11:48 am](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-40212) Refrigerator is our important part of kitchen.it is necessary that we clean our refrigerator with the help of this blog we get amazing tip for cleaning and organizing it. Maintenance of Refrigerator is so importance to use it long life.Thank you for sharing this tips with us. [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-40212) 12. Martina [July 10, 2014 At 7:45 am](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-39676) Hi! Your videos are amazing ! Thank’s\! [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-39676) 13. Poonam Shores [January 8, 2014 At 8:01 pm](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-22656) Melissa, Great videos!! I don’t know how to clean the outside of the fridge, it’s all steel on the outside and I can’t find an easy way to make it look clean and shiny. Will appreciate your input on that. Thank you\! [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-22656) - Poonam Shores [January 10, 2014 At 8:57 pm](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-22675) OK, I found the answer to my question on one of your videos. Thanks\! [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-22675) 14. Kelvin [January 7, 2014 At 5:29 pm](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-22648) I always get put off by the uncertainty and enormity this daunting task. Hopefully this step-by-step guide will help motivate me 😀 [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-22648) 15. Joy Anderson [August 17, 2013 At 6:51 am](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-20953) I was taught to clean the inside of the fridge with baking soda and water. That leaves a clean smell and no chemicals. If there is something sticky or messy, add a few drops of Dawn dish soap to the baking soda and water to clean with. Joy in Cypress [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-20953) 16. Aranha [May 13, 2013 At 6:58 am](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-20243) The fridge in our rental home is built into a cupboard and attached to the wall. Do you have any additional tips for that situation? I always get a little scared thinking about what kind of dust and filth is building up between the back of the fridge and the cupboard wall… But there is no way to reach it… or clear the vents. Is there any additional maintenance I can do? Thanks so much\! [Reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#comment-20243) ### LEAVE A REPLY [Cancel reply](https://cleanmyspace.com/how-to-clean-a-fridge-tutorial/#respond) - [FREE Cleaning Newsletter](https://cleanmyspace.com/join-the-clean-my-space-community/) - [About Melissa Maker](https://cleanmyspace.com/melissamaker/) - [Decluttering Challenge](https://cleanmyspace.com/the-3-day-decluttering-challenge/) - [Terms of Use](https://cleanmyspace.com/terms-of-use/) - [Privacy](https://cleanmyspace.com/privacy-policy/) - [Contact](https://cleanmyspace.com/contact-us/) © Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv

 ## My fridge is disgusting, help\! That’s a comment we get quite often, so often that we decided to make an in-depth tutorial on how to clean your fridge properly. Now I’ll warn you, it’s not a quick job (if done properly). You can do some quick little cheats which take a few minutes, but for a good cleaning you’ll need to dedicate some quality time to your cool kitchen friend. Fridges are an incredible advancement in modern society, however it seems like we’ve learned how to take advantage of them. They have become notorious for sprouting science experiments and a friend of mine admitted to me he uses it to store old food until garbage day. So, whether you’re housing biological hazards or tomorrow’s garbage, you’ll need to give your fridge a good cleaning. We’ll talk about the regular things to do and at the end, I’ll cover the occasional chores you can tackle that you’ve probably never heard about. Here’s my method. You can give your fridge a good, thorough clean like this every 3-6 months, and I recommend giving shelves and drawers an occasional wipe down between cleans to keep things at bay. I also go through my fridge when I am unloading groceries and get rid of any bad stuff. I find most bad stuff lives in the crisper drawers, sadly. ## What you’ll need - Gloves (optional) - Garbage can - Recycling bin - Dish soap - Cleaning toothbrush (for scrubbing hard to reach areas) - Non-scratching, double sided sponge - All-purpose cleaner - Microfiber cloths - Baking soda (for abrasion!) **Don’t forget to check out [Maker’s Clean line of premium products](https://www.makersclean.com/collections/all). From [microfiber cloths](https://www.makersclean.com/collections/all/products/the-bulk-bundle) to the [Maker’s Mop](https://www.makersclean.com/collections/all/products/makers-mop-bundle), they have a great line of high-quality products that will help you take your cleaning game to the next level\!** ## Let’s Get Started ### The tear down Start by removing items from the fridge, shelf by shelf. Have a garbage can, recycling bin and nose plugs near by, this is the time where you pitch what you don’t need. Check expiry dates, do a smell test, and be realistic about this process. Get rid of the garbage. My general rule of thumb is, if there are no expiry dates and I haven’t used the item in 6 months, I get rid of it. Next, if you can, remove each shelf and place them close to the sink. Given their awkward sizes, you may need to use floor space or alternative space. If you are in a small space you may need to utilize creative real estate, like um, the kitchen floor. You can even lay out a beach towel to assist with safe landings (this will also help with drying later). If you can’t remove shelves, wipe by hand. Be careful with them, they can snap, crack and drop and you’ll be calling a replacement shop and paying ridiculous money to replace the part. Be gentle. Remove the crisper bins and place those on your counter. If you can, remove the side door shelves, exposing the door. Now that you’ve got an empty fridge, take a dry paper towel and brush out crumbs. This is best done ahead of time, since those crumbs get spread all over the place during cleaning otherwise, believe me this really saves time. When that’s done, spray the inside of the fridge down, liberally. Get the product all over the interior. If you have a stained area, apply a bit of baking soda to it and just let it sit. Speaking of baking soda, this is a great time to change your box, so go for it. Baking soda is a fridge freshener, keeping odours at bay. It can be changed every 3-6 months. Have a fresh box ready to go back into the fridge. ### The Cleaning While the fridge is soaking, start cleaning your plastic and glass fridge parts one by one. Fill a sink 1/3 the way with warm, soapy water. Use a microfiber cloth and a non-scratching sponge where required to scrub away any stickiness or build-up. Should you encounter something very challenging, add some baking soda to the surface and then clean the area. This works very well on stains and discolourations too. Clean each piece, and if they are large or don’t fit in your sink, you can clean them over a towel on your stove or counter. Rinse with clean water if possible, or wipe soapy residue off with a clean cloth and buff dry. You may want to use a cleaning toothbrush to get to those hard to reach spots, too! Let these dry on the towel. Now, take your cloth and non-scratching sponge, and begin cleaning the guts of the fridge, starting at the top and working your way to the bottom. You may want to re-spray areas if the product has dried. Take your sponge and use an ‘S’ pattern to clean each side of the fridge, including the top and bottom. Wipe with a clean cloth to remove residue, and if you wish, add some vanilla extract to a paper towel and wipe down the interior…this freshens the interior of your fridge. No, it doesn’t stain the fridge brown. ### Putting the Puzzle Back Together Now, start putting this Mr. Potato Head back together, ideally with the right configuration, and then replace the foods where they belong. You may want to reconfigure your shelves at this time, if you know you need more room for one and less on the other. As I replace each food item, I’ll wipe any sticky ones with a cloth (sides and bottoms) to avoid messing up my now super clean fridge. Consider lining your crisper bins with paper towel and replacing the paper towel sheets each week when you buy new produce. This helps reduce staining and keeps the drawers clean. ## Ongoing Maintenance A couple things you can do once or twice a year include unplugging the fridge and vacuuming the coils at the back, less dust means a more efficient, quieter and less expensive fridge to power. Just remember to plug it back in after, or else you’ve got a way bigger problem on your hands. You can also clean the vent at the bottom, and some fridges come with drip trays at the bottom. If you can find yours, you may want to pull it out and give it a wipe down. If you don’t know where yours is, consult your user manual. That’s all, my friends\! Let me know your fridge cleaning tips or any questions you may have. **If you want to dig deeper and start taking your cleaning a bit more seriously then check out our [E-Book Bundle](https://cleanmyspace.com/product/e-book-bundle/)! 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