Sticky shelves, suspicious smells, and a jar of something nobody remembers buying. Fridges quietly collect a surprising amount of mess. To start cleaning it, move chilled food into an insulated cooler with ice bricks, discard anything spoiled or unsafe, and allow cold glass shelves to reach room temperature before washing them. You’ll want to clean from top to bottom with a mild dishwashing solution prepared according to the detergent label, using baking soda for stubborn grime and odours. Then, dry everything thoroughly and store sealed raw meat on the lowest suitable shelf. Always remember to wipe spills immediately, check the fridge weekly, deep-clean it every three to four months.

Knowing how to properly clean a refrigerator isn’t only about making it look presentable again. A thorough clean helps reduce cross-contamination, reveals spoiled food, and stops small spills from becoming harder to remove.

Here’s how to tackle the job safely and efficiently.

Table of Contents

What You’ll Need

Get everything ready before removing food. The less time chilled items spend sitting on the kitchen bench, the better.

You’ll need the following items for this house cleaning task:

An insulated cooler with ice bricks
A mild dishwashing solution prepared with warm water according to the detergent label
A baking soda solution made with one level tablespoon of baking soda and approximately one litre of warm water
Two clean microfiber cloths
A soft brush or old toothbrush
Clean tea towels
A vacuum with a narrow attachment
Rubbish bags
An appliance-safe stainless-steel cleaner, if needed

Never mix bleach, vinegar, ammonia, or other cleaning chemicals. These combinations can release hazardous chlorine or chloramine fumes. Using more product doesn’t necessarily produce a cleaner result. Sometimes it just means more fumes.

Keep potentially hazardous food at 5°C or colder. If anything has been outside refrigeration, use Food Standards’ 2-hour/4-hour rule to decide whether it can go back in the fridge, needs to be used immediately, or should be thrown away.

How to Clean the Inside of Your Fridge

1. Empty and Sort Everything

Move chilled food into your insulated cooler. Group similar items together so you can return everything quickly.

Throw away:

Food past its use-by date
Spoiled or mouldy food
Leaking packages
Leftovers you can’t confidently identify or date

A best-before date relates mainly to quality. A use-by date relates to safety, so don’t treat the two as interchangeable.

2. Remove Shelves, Drawers, and Door Bins

Take out any removable shelves, drawers, and bins. Let cold glass reach room temperature before washing it. Putting a cold glass shelf straight into hot water can crack it.

Wash each part with the prepared dishwashing solution. Rinse it with clean water, then dry it thoroughly with a clean tea towel.

If a component won’t come out easily, don’t wrestle with it. Check the manual. Hidden clips and unusual fittings are common, and forcing them can cause damage.

3. Clean from the Top Down

Start with the ceiling and upper walls, then move down towards the base. That way, crumbs and dirty water fall onto surfaces you haven’t cleaned yet.

For anyone wondering how to clean a refrigerator with baking soda, mix one level tablespoon of baking soda with approximately one litre of warm water. Apply it with a soft cloth, wipe the surface again with clean water, and dry it fully. Baking soda can loosen grime and help with odours, but it isn’t a disinfectant.

For dried-on spills, soak a clean cloth in the baking soda solution, wring it out, and leave it over the mark for about 10 minutes. Once the residue softens, wipe it away gently. Don’t use a knife or metal scraper, as either could damage the fridge liner.

4. Deal with Seals, Corners, and Hidden Grime

Use a soft brush and the prepared dishwashing solution to clean around door seals, gasket folds, shelf tracks, and tight corners.

Be gentle around the seals. Knives, abrasive pads, and aggressive scrubbing can damage them and prevent the door from closing properly.

Drainage holes and channels are located in different places depending on the model. Consult the manual rather than poking an object into an unfamiliar opening.

If a smell remains, inspect beneath the produce drawers. Your manual may also explain how to access and clean the drip tray, drainage channel, water dispenser, or ice maker. Don’t dismantle or flush these parts without model-specific instructions.

5. Dry and Reload

Make sure the interior and every removable component are completely dry before putting the fridge back together.

Store ready-to-eat foods above raw meat and seafood. Keep raw products sealed and place them on the lowest suitable shelf, so leaks can’t drip onto other food. Leave enough space between items for cold air to circulate.

Before returning jars, bottles, and containers, check their bases and lids for sticky residue. Wipe dirty containers with the prepared dishwashing solution, remove any soap with a clean damp cloth, and dry them.

Clean the Doors, Handles, and Exterior

Handles collect fingerprints, grease, and whatever was on your hands when you reached for the milk. Wipe them with a cleaner that’s suitable for the appliance’s finish.

If you’re wondering how to clean a stainless refrigerator without leaving streaks, start with the manufacturer’s instructions. Apply the prepared dishwashing solution to a cloth, or use an approved stainless-steel cleaner according to the label instructions. Then:

Wipe in the direction of the visible grain
Remove any cleaner residue
Buff the surface dry with a clean microfiber cloth

Avoid steel wool, abrasive powders, and chlorine-based products. They can scratch, stain, or corrode stainless steel.

If you can safely reach the top of the fridge, remove loose dust first. Wipe the surface with the prepared dishwashing solution, follow with a clean damp cloth, and dry it.

What If There’s Mold?

If you’re wondering how to clean a moldy refrigerator, it depends on how much growth you find and where it’s located.

For a small, accessible patch:

Wear gloves and remove affected food without smelling it closely
Wash removable parts and interior surfaces with the prepared dishwashing solution
Rinse and dry everything thoroughly
Use an approved sanitiser only if it’s suitable for the refrigerator, mixing or diluting it according to the exact instructions on the product label
Never combine cleaning or sanitising products when trying to remove mould

Arrange a professional assessment if the mould covers a large area, keeps returning after cleaning, or appears to extend into parts of the appliance that can’t be safely accessed. If the mould developed after a power outage, discard any unsafe food and clean the refrigerator according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t assume that baking soda or vinegar will sanitise every mould-affected surface.

How to Clean Beneath and Behind the Fridge

If you’re working out how to clean under a refrigerator, first check whether the appliance can be moved safely. Large, plumbed-in, and built-in fridges may require another person or professional help.

If it’s safe to proceed:

Switch off and unplug the fridge
Protect the floor before moving it
Don’t stretch, crush, or bend the cord, water line, or tubing
Vacuum loose dust and debris
Wash the exposed floor with the prepared dishwashing solution
Wipe away any residue with clean water, then let the floor dry
Clean accessible coils only if the manual tells you to
Return the fridge to its position, leaving the required ventilation clearance

Some modern fridges have enclosed condensers that don’t need routine coil cleaning, so follow the instructions for your model.

How Often Should You Clean Your Refrigerator?

Use this simple schedule:

Immediately: Wipe spills and leaks

Weekly: Check food, handles, and visible crumbs

Every three to four months: Complete a full interior clean

As directed by the manufacturer: Clean vents, coils, dispensers, ice makers, and the area underneath

A Proper Fridge Clean Without Lifting A Finger

A properly cleaned fridge is safer for food, less likely to develop persistent smells, and far easier to maintain.

If yours needs more than a quick wipe, Simone’s Cleaning Services offers tailored house cleaning across Melbourne’s western suburbs, including fridge cleaning. The team also provides NDIS cleaning, real estate cleaning, and commercial & office cleaning.

We’re an Australian-owned family business with expert cleaners that are professionally trained, police-cleared, identity-checked, and equipped with the products and tools required for each job.

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