How to Clean and Defrost a Refrigerator

Cleaning and defrosting the refrigerator is not something that most people love to do—but it’s one of life’s necessities. It can help your refrigerator run more smoothly, extend the life of the appliance, keep food fresher, and even help out the environment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A refrigerator
• Baking soda

1. Turn off the refrigerator (for older refrigerators), turn to 0, or set to defrost. Unplugging the refrigerator is not necessary.
2. Remove the food from the freezer and refrigerator. Store them separately in cardboard boxes, or a cooler with ice. Store the boxes in a cool place, such as the basement.
3. Put a pan of hot water in the freezer to speed up the process.
4. Put another pan beneath the freezer to catch melting water. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t overflow. Don’t chip at the ice, let it melt on its own.
5. After defrosting is complete, clean out the refrigerator with a mixture of mild soap and baking soda. Make sure the refrigerator is dry before turning it on again.

Tips & Warnings

• Washing the refrigerator regularly is a good idea—once a week, if possible. It will cut down on bacteria and keep food fresh. A box of baking soda will lose its absorbing power quickly if you don’t keep the refrigerator clean. Cleaning the refrigerator will also help the fridge work more efficiently.
• Don’t do a grocery shopping before you defrost. Make sure to defrost at the end of a shopping cycle.
• Defrosting should take around five to eight hours.
• Ice build up in the refrigerator can crack the plastic or cause a refrigerator to break down.