How to clean your fridge, according to experts

We all have that stink (you know the one we’re talking about) that always seems to linger in the fridge. Is it an onion? Is it that week-old fried rice?  Refrigerators are arguably one of the most used appliances in any household. That means your refrigerator is likely to endure many accidental spills from opened condiments (we see you ketchup bottle) and food containers, as well as unpleasant smells left from forgotten produce. With that in mind, ensuring you’re taking proper care of your refrigerator is crucial, especially when it can make your groceries last as long as possible.

We spoke with two cleaning experts, both of whom oversee professional cleaning services companies, and asked them about cleaning your fridge and freezer. We rounded up their cleaning advice, as well as their recommendations for effective cleaning products.

SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best products for cleaning a refrigerator | The best products for cleaning a refrigerator | How to clean a refrigerator | How to clean a freezer 

To select the best products for cleaning both the outside and inside of the refrigerator, as well as the freezer, we rounded up products recommended by cleaning experts, including Kadi Dulude, owner of cleaning company Wizard of Homes and William Cotter, founder and COO of cleaning services companies DeluxeMaid and HappyCleans, based in Indianapolis, IN and Oklahoma City, OK, respectively. We also included products that are highly rated on Amazon and have at least a 4.5-star average rating from at least 500 reviews. Some things we considered:

• Food safe: Refrigerator cleaning products should be safe to use on food-contact surfaces. Look for products such as mild dish soap and multi-purpose cleaning sprays that are fine for household surfaces. That said, you shouldn’t use harsh and potentially dangerous products like pure bleach or ammonia for cleaning, which are harmful if ingested and pose a safety risk.
• Scent: Many cleaning products, such as multi-surface cleaning sprays, disinfectant wipes, and antibacterial concentrates, have strong odors. For cleaning the inside of your fridge, it’s best to air on the side of simplicity since you don’t want your food to take on the taste or smell of cleaning products.
• Odor elimination: Removing odor-causing foods from your fridge, such as spoiled dairy or rotting produce, gets rid of bad smells. Common household items like baking soda help. Baking soda is well-known for its odor-eliminating properties, which is why it’s often recommended for cleaning different types of furniture, like your mattress. Additionally, activated charcoal and deodorizing capsules help eliminate household odors.
• Material: The inside fridges often include shelving and racks made from plastic, glass and/or epoxy-coated metal wire. The outside of refrigerators is often made of sheet metal, stainless steel and plastic. To help polish and clean stainless steel refrigerators, you should look for stainless steel cleaning sprays and cleaning cloths that won’t scratch the fridge’s surface. 

To find the best products for cleaning every part of your refrigerator, we consulted with cleaning experts and business owners for their guidance and recommendations. We also included cleaning products with at least a 4.5-star average rating from at least 500 reviews on Amazon.

Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray (Pack of 4)

What we like

• Pleasant scent
• Works on many surfaces
• Food safe

Something to note

• Best for small messes

Dawn’s Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray is popular and loved for its unique foaming properties. Dulude recommends this particular product from Dawn because of its versatility and because you can use it for more than just dishes. “Sometimes when there’s grease splatters, [I use] dish soap,” she says.  “So anything that you use for washing the dishes in the sink is fine in the fridge, too.” Aside from dishes, Dulude recommends using this product to clean the surfaces inside your refrigerator, including the crisper drawers, shelves, racks, sides and any other surfaces. All you have to do to use the product for your fridge is spray it on the desired surface, wipe it using a paper towel or microfiber cloth, and then do a rinse wash, similar to how you would your dishes. 

Utopia Home Fridge Organizer Bins

What we like

• Easy to clean
• Spacious

Something to note

• Limited shapes

This set of plastic food bins from Utopia is recommended by Dulude, who says they’re good for keeping everything organized. Use these bins for different grocery items like bottled and canned beverages, refrigerated snacks, produce, dairy products, and bottled sauce. Additionally, the bins have handles on the sides, making them easy to transfer to and from the sink for cleaning.  

Purriko Refrigerator Deodorizer

What we like

• Easy to use
• Small size
• Lasts 10 years

Something to note

• Available mostly online

Dulude also recommends this refrigerator deodorizer from Purriko for eliminating foul smells from the fridge. The deodorizing capsule decomposes gasses from strong-smelling foods in the fridge and freezer and keeps food in the fridge fresh for longer, according to the brand. The product lasts up to 10 years and eliminates odors in different areas aside from the fridge, including drawers and closets, according to the brand. 

Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner Kit

What we like

• Easy to use
• Comes with a cloth
• Highly reviewed

Something to note

• Doesn’t remove scratches

Weiman makes many cleaning products, each designed to address different surfaces and appliances, including stainless steel. This Stainless Steel Cleaner Kit, which has a 4.7-star average rating from more than 19,000 reviews on Amazon, comes with a spray, wipes and a microfiber cloth. To use the spray or the wipes, you simply wipe the product outside of a stainless steel fridge to erase any fingerprints or smudges and then buffer the surface to leave a shine. 

Cyrico Refrigerator Liners

What we like

• Easy to clean
• Non adhesive
• Adjustable size

Something to note

• Only works on flat surface

In addition to sprays and wipes, you should consider using these Cyrico Refrigerator Liners to keep your fridge clean. These clear liners act as a barrier between food and food containers and the actual surface of your fridge, which makes cleaning easier. That’s because you can install and remove the liners as needed for cleaning by hand instead of having to crouch or kneel to wipe or spray the inside of your fridge. Remove the liners from the fridge and clean them in the sink with dish soap as you would your dishes. Rinse the liners and dry them completely before putting them back in the fridge and restocking them with groceries. 

Vergali USA Activated Charcoal Odor Absorber

What we like

• Works in different areas
• Lasts 2 years

Something to note

• Available mostly online

In addition to baking soda, ingredients like activated charcoal are commonly used as odor eliminators. Cotter places a bowl of activated charcoal in the fridge as he cleans it to help absorb and rid of any off-putting smells. This Activated Charcoal Odor Absorber from Vergali USA comes with individual bags of activated charcoal pieces, each with hooks installed so you can hang them in different areas around the house, including the fridge. Activated charcoal is porous in texture — meaning it has many absorbent pores on its surface — which gives it odor-eliminating properties, according to the brand. 

Therapy Clean Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish

What we like

• Plant based
• Highly reviewed

Something to note

You’ll need to clean the outside of your fridge in addition to the inside. If you have a stainless steel fridge on the outside, consider using a cleaner and polish such as this one from Therapy Clean. When it comes to stainless steel fridges, you’ll often run into visible streaks, scratches and fingerprints on the outside, especially if your fridge has handles. According to the brand, this cleaner and the included microfiber cloth will help eliminate these imperfections and achieve a more sleek and shiny finish to the outside. The plant-based cleaner, made with a coconut oil-based formula and has a lavender scent, has a 4.5-star average rating from over 18,000 reviews on Amazon.

Homexcel Microfiber Cleaning Cloth (12 Pack)

What we like

• Absorbent
• Highly reviewed
• Cleans many type of messes

Something to note

• Small size

While you can use rolls of paper towels to clean your fridge, opt for a more reusable option, such as these microfiber cloths from Homexcel. Microfiber cloths are popular for cleaning with different cleaning products like multi-purpose sprays because they’re extremely absorbent, more durable than paper towels and machine washable. This means you can cut down on your paper towel usage (which could save you some money in the long run) and still get a thorough cleaning of your refrigerator. These cloths, which come in a range of different colorways, are made of a blender of polyester and polyamide, which makes for a texture that is sturdy enough to rid of stains, spills and grime but gentle to not scratch the surfaces of what you’re cleaning, according to the brand. Additionally, these clothes have a 4.6-star average rating from over 21,000 reviews on Amazon.

AmazonBasics Clean Plus Toothbrushes

What we like

• Good for cleaning small spaces

Something to note

• Doesn’t have firm bristles

Cotter often uses a toothbrush to clean small spaces and crevices in and around the refrigerator, especially for areas such as the rubber gasket that lines the door of both the fridge and freezer. This set of toothbrushes from AmazonBasics, which has a 4.5-star average rating from more than 10,000 reviews, comes with ten brushes, which you can keep solely for cleaning your fridge and other appliances around the home, such as window sills, toilets and microwaves. Use the dish soap spray to coat the fridge’s surface and then scrub with the toothbrush. Do a rinse-wash and then dry thoroughly. 

A tip: Consider taking on this project right before you plan on restocking on groceries, such as on a Sunday. This way, you can empty out your fridge, clean it and add your new groceries, without having to remove any newly bought foods from the fridge that would otherwise sit out at room temperature while you clean and potentially spoil.

• Start by removing and throwing out any foods or drinks that smell bad, are expired or visibly spoiled. Pay special attention to the expiration dates of dairy products, cold cuts and produce. If you plan on cleaning your fridge for an extended time, you could even consider unplugging it, according to Cotter. “For the fridge, if you’ll only wipe minor spills, turning it off is not necessary,” he says. “But if we’re talking about deep cleaning, which can take at least 30 minutes and require you to leave the doors open, it’s best to unplug first to avoid wasting energy.” Do the same with items in the fridge. 
• Cotter recommends dividing things into two piles, one for things you’ll keep and another for things you’ll throw out. That said, for items you plan on keeping, be sure they’re safe and stay out at room temperature for longer than 30 minutes. Many condiments, for example, are typically fine to leave out at room temperature for this amount of time. However, foods such as dairy or raw meat and poultry should never be left at room temperature for extended amounts of time, especially for 2 hours or longer, according to the Centers for Disease Control. 
• Remove the drawers, shelves, racks and ice maker box from both the fridge and freezer. Remove and clean each of these one at a time if it’s easier. Cotter and Dulude recommend using a dish soap spray, such as Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray, to clean each part. If your removable shelves are glass, Dulude recommends letting them come to room temperature before cleaning, as the change in temperature with hot water can shatter glass. Spray each part thoroughly, scrub with a sponge and soapy water, rinse them off with warm water and dry with a paper or cloth towel. Dish soap effectively removes grease and grime, which makes it great for cleaning the fridge. To clean the rest of the fridge’s inside, including any parts that aren’t removable, spray the inside and back with dish soap spray, wipe with a sponge and rinse with a wet paper or cloth towel. Let dry. 
• Cotter recommends using a mild all-purpose cleaner for tough stains or residue in the fridge. Treat these messes with the all-purpose spray and proceed to rinse and dry as mentioned above or per the manufacturer’s instructions. Many all-purpose cleaning sprays are safe on food contact surfaces and don’t require a rinse wash, though you can always do one if you’re unsure. Spray the cleaner inside the fridge, wipe with a sponge, paper towel or cloth and rinse. Use a paper towel or cloth to dry.
• Clean in between any small cracks and crevices, including on and behind the rubber gasket on the fridge door seal. The gasket is especially important to clean because it can trap odors, according to Cotter. Additionally, this part of the fridge is likely to be forgotten because it’s not the most obvious when cleaning the rest. To clean it, spray the foaming dish on, around and behind the gasket. Use a toothbrush to scrub in the crevices. Rinse with a wet paper towel or cloth and dry thoroughly. 
• Install clear refrigerator shelf liners and add plastic or acrylic food storage containers. When you go to restock your cleaned fridge, you don’t want to reverse the work you just did. That’s why Dulude recommends using the Cyrico Refrigerator Liners and the Utopia Home Fridge Organizer Bins. You can apply the liners on the glass or plastic shelving in the fridge after you clean and dry them (if you have a fridge with wire racks, skip this part). They aren’t adhesive but stay in place on the shelf and you can trim them to fit with scissors, which means you can use them for fridges of different sizes. Then, rinse the plastic food storage bins and use them to hold common grocery items like canned soda, eggs,  string cheese, fruits, vegetables and bottled beverages. These will reduce 

Use a stainless steel cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth. Once you’ve finished cleaning the inside of the fridge and restocked it, start on the outside. A stainless steel cleaning spray or wipe will eliminate fingerprints, water stains and smudges and give your stainless steel fridge and other appliances a shiny and polished appearance. To use the Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner, you first wipe the surface of the fridge doors and handles and the buffer in a back-and-forth motion to polish, according to the brand. 

Use foaming dish soap spray to clean the outside of a white or other non-stainless steel fridge. You can use a mild dish soap, such as the one you’d use to clean the inside of the fridge to clean the outside as well. As directed on the product, spray the outside of the fridge doors and the handles, including handles built into the sides of the doors. Wipe the spray with a paper towel or cloth to remove any residue or grease, rinse and dry with a wet towel. For tough stains, use an all-purpose cleaner that’s food-safe,  doesn’t contain bleach or ammonia, rinse-wash and dry.

Tip: If you want to clean your freezer, but have food in it that you don’t want to waste, Cotter recommends keeping these items in a separate cooler with ice while you clean. Foods like ice cream, frozen dinners and frozen meat or poultry shouldn’t be left out for any extended amount of time to avoid the growth of bacteria.

• To deep clean your freezer, transfer any food you want to keep to a cooler with ice or throw it out. Additionally, Cotter recommends unplugging the fridge if the freezer has a lot of frost and ice buildup and letting it melt. “Place thick towels or old blankets around the base of your freezer to catch any water that may drip during the defrosting process,” he says. “Gently scrape away the ice buildup from the walls and shelves of your freezer using a plastic or silicone scraper.”
• As the ice in the freezer starts to melt, be sure to add something to help catch any ice or frost as you scrape it off. Just be sure to throw out the water. Additionally, Cotter says to drain any water using the drain hole. “Locate the drain hole at the bottom of your freezer,” he says. “Make sure it’s not clogged with ice or debris. If it is, use a small tool, like a pipe cleaner, to clear any blockages.” Once the ice and water are removed from the freezer, proceed to clean the freezer.
• Remove the shelves in the freezer and clean with dish soap spray as described above for the fridge. Use the dish soap spray to clean the freezer’s interior as well, including the bottom and sides. Rinse and dry thoroughly with a towel—this will prevent ice from building up again. Plug the fridge back in and allow it to come to the proper temperature before using it again.

At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Will Cotter is the founder and COO of cleaning services companies DeluxeMaid and HappyCleans. 
• Kadi Dulude is the founder and owner of cleaning company Wizard of Homes, where she oversees over 100 employees.

Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor at NBC Select, covering topics such as food, kitchen, home, cleaning and wellness. He spoke with cleaning experts who own and help oversee cleaning companies. 

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Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com