How to Clean Your Fridge

Why a Clean Fridge Matters

Your fridge runs 24 hours a day and stores everything your household eats. Spills, expired food, and moisture create odours and bacteria that can transfer to fresh food. A clean fridge also runs more efficiently — clean door seals maintain temperature better and a clear interior allows cold air to circulate freely. This guide covers how to deep clean your fridge and keep it fresh between cleans.

Browse our full range of fridges at Everyday Home Living.

How Often Should You Clean Your Fridge?

  • Weekly: Wipe up spills immediately and remove expired items
  • Monthly: Wipe down shelves, drawers, and door compartments
  • Every 3 to 6 months: Full deep clean including seals, exterior, and coils

What You'll Need

  • Warm water and mild dish soap or a dedicated fridge cleaner
  • White vinegar (for odours and sanitising)
  • Baking soda (for persistent odours)
  • Soft cloths or sponges — no abrasive scrubbers
  • An old toothbrush (for door seals and crevices)
  • A cooler bag or esky for storing food during the clean

Step-by-Step Deep Clean

Step 1: Empty and Sort

Remove everything from the fridge. Check expiry dates and discard anything out of date. Transfer perishables to a cooler with ice packs to keep them safe during cleaning. This is also a good opportunity to take stock of what you have and plan meals around it.

Step 2: Remove All Shelves and Drawers

Take out all removable shelves, glass panels, vegetable drawers, and door compartments. Allow glass shelves to come to room temperature before washing in warm water — placing cold glass directly into hot water can cause it to crack.

Step 3: Wash Shelves and Drawers

Wash all removable components in warm soapy water in the sink. Use a soft cloth or sponge — avoid abrasive scrubbers that scratch plastic and glass. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before returning to the fridge. A small amount of white vinegar added to the rinse water helps sanitise.

Step 4: Clean the Interior

Wipe down all interior walls, the ceiling, and the floor of the fridge with a cloth dampened with warm water and a small amount of mild dish soap. Pay attention to corners and the back wall where spills accumulate. Follow up with a cloth dampened with diluted white vinegar (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) to sanitise and neutralise odours. Dry thoroughly with a clean cloth.

Avoid bleach inside the fridge — it can leave residues that taint food and damage plastic components.

Step 5: Clean the Door Seals

The rubber door gasket is a common source of mould and odours. Use a toothbrush dipped in warm soapy water to scrub inside the folds of the seal where food particles and moisture collect. Follow up with a cloth dampened in white vinegar to kill mould spores. Dry the seal thoroughly after cleaning.

Step 6: Clean the Freezer

While the fridge is empty, wipe down the freezer interior and check the freezer seal as well. For a full freezer deep clean, see our dedicated freezer cleaning guide.

Step 7: Clean the Exterior

Wipe the exterior door, sides, and top with a damp cloth and mild detergent. For stainless steel doors, wipe in the direction of the grain and finish with a dry cloth to prevent streaking. Clean the top of the fridge — it accumulates dust that can be drawn into the condenser coils.

Step 8: Clean the Condenser Coils (Every 6 Months)

Condenser coils are located at the back or base of most fridges and dissipate heat from the refrigeration cycle. Dusty coils make the compressor work harder, increasing energy consumption and reducing fridge lifespan. Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently vacuum dust from the coils. Refer to your fridge's manual for the coil location and any specific cleaning advice.

Step 9: Return Everything and Deodorise

Reinstall clean, dry shelves and drawers. Return food to the fridge. Place an open box of baking soda or a specialist fridge deodoriser in the fridge to absorb ongoing odours — replace every 3 months.

Tips for Keeping Your Fridge Fresh Between Cleans

  • Store strong-smelling foods (fish, aged cheese, onions) in sealed containers
  • Wipe up spills immediately before they dry and become difficult to remove
  • Don't overload the fridge — overcrowding restricts airflow and reduces cooling efficiency
  • Check expiry dates weekly and move older items to the front
  • Keep the door seal clean and check it monthly for tears or gaps that allow cold air to escape

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