How to Clean Refrigerator Coils

Every 6 months or so, it's important that you clean the coils found on your refrigerator. The coils at the back of your fridge will have dirt and debris build up on their exterior that needs to be removed. This can prevent refrigerator breakdowns and ensure that it runs properly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Unplug the fridge. This is a very important step. Coils should not be cleaned on a refrigerator that is still plugged in.

2. Move the fridge away from the wall. You should pull it out far enough so that you can access the rear of the model.

3. Remove the cover on the fridge. The cover is used to protect the coils and may be found on the front or rear of your model. The cover can either be pulled off with gentle force or may require screws to be removed.

4. Use a vacuum with an attachment piece. The longest and thinnest attachment should be placed on the vacuum. Suck up all of the dirt and debris from the refrigerator coils.

5. Take a bottle brush to remove any dirt that was not picked up during vacuuming. Gently scrape away at the dirt in order to prevent any damage to your fridge.

6. Put the refrigerator back in its place and plug it back in. The cover will also need to be put back on.

Tips & Warnings

• You may wish to read your refrigerator's manual before attempting to clean the coils.
• There are coil cleaning brushes available for cleaning the fridge. However, a bottle brush works just as well and costs less.