How to clean a fridge

Prepare food, cloths and the appliance

Read the manual's cleaning and power instructions. Gather soft clean cloths, a dry towel, a suitable cleaning product and a protected place for shelves. Clear the bench so fragile parts can be set down securely.

Move chilled food into your prepared cold storage. Keep raw meat contained and separate from ready-to-eat food. Discard food that is no longer safe to eat rather than putting it back into a clean fridge.

• Work in a manageable session with everything ready.
• Switch off or isolate the appliance as its manual directs.
• Remove only user-removable shelves, drawers and fittings.
• Keep controls, lights, vents and electrical parts clear of cleaning liquid.

If the fridge is too full for your cold-storage space, organise a smaller clean or a better time. Leaving food on the kitchen bench for the duration is not a useful shortcut.

Cleaning fridge shelves and drawers

Lift parts out using the removal method in the manual. Some shelves clip into place or have stops, so do not force them. Let cold glass reach room temperature before washing it; a sudden change to hot water can crack it.

1. Remove loose crumbs and debris with a soft cloth.
2. Wash or wipe each part using a product allowed for that material.
3. Remove cleaner residue with clean water as directed.
4. Dry edges, runners and corners before refitting.
5. Check that each shelf is properly seated before adding food.

Dishwasher suitability is model-specific. Hand-clean parts unless their instructions explicitly permit the dishwasher. Protect glass from knocks against the sink or other shelves.

How to clean the fridge interior

Start at the top so loosened crumbs and drips do not land on an area you have already finished. Use a soft, damp cloth and the appliance-approved cleaner. Apply it to the cloth where appropriate rather than spraying into vents or fittings.

Wipe the ceiling, side walls, fixed shelf supports and base. Change to a fresh part of the cloth as it becomes dirty. For a sticky patch, allow the approved method time to soften the residue instead of scraping with a sharp tool.

Finish with a clean damp cloth to remove residue, then dry. Check the lower corners and channels where spills can collect, but leave drain or internal maintenance work to the appliance instructions.

What cleaner should you use?

Use the product type the fridge manufacturer recommends. Instructions differ: a detergent accepted for one model may be excluded on another. Avoid abrasive tools, strong fragrances and improvised chemical mixtures.

Clean door seals, handles and the outside

Gently wipe visible crumbs and residue from the door seal without pulling it out of shape. Follow the seal's care instructions, which may call for water alone. Dry the folds you can reach and check that the door closes properly afterwards.

Clean handles with a fresh cloth. For the exterior, identify the finish before applying a cleaner; stainless steel, painted panels and coated finishes have different requirements. Keep water away from controls and polish only if the appliance instructions allow it.

A split seal, persistent leak or door that will not close needs repair advice. Cleaning cannot correct a failed component.

Dry, cool and restock in a useful order

Refit the dry parts and restart the appliance as directed. Confirm it is ready to keep food properly chilled before returning the food from cold storage. Keep containers covered, put items with earlier use-by dates where you can see them, and leave the airflow paths clear.

Wipe up new spills promptly. During your regular kitchen clean, check for leaking containers and forgotten food. A full clean is easier when the weekly shop is not hiding the shelves.

If an odour remains after spoiled food and spills have been removed, check the manual for accessible areas you may have missed. Do not mask an unresolved leak or cooling problem with a perfumed cleaner.

For a wider reset, combine this task with cupboard cleaning. When booking help, explain whether the fridge will be empty and which appliance interiors you want discussed.