How to Clean Mold in a Fridge

Mold loves to grow in dark, damp environments. While the inside of your refrigerator is indeed dark, it is usually dry enough to discourage mold growth---until you leave old food in the fridge. Then the mold has a place to take hold; it may even spread to the fridge itself, especially if you've left any spills to sit inside drawers or on shelves. Once mold starts to spread inside your fridge you'll need to take everything out and clean the entire inside of the appliance, so try to prevent it from taking hold in the first place if you can.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic gloves
• Spray bottle
• Bleach
• Paper towels
• Rags
• Sponge

1. Put on plastic gloves to protect your hands. If you are extremely sensitive or allergic to mold, use a disposable face mask and even goggles as well.

2. Remove everything from the refrigerator. If you have another refrigerator to store the food items in, place them there. Otherwise, stock them in boxes or milk crates in the garage or another cool place, and drape towels or blankets over them to help keep them cool while you work in the refrigerator. Don't bother saving anything that has mold on it; discard these items, or at least cut away the moldy parts.

3. Turn the fridge down to its lowest setting so that you don't wear out the motor when you have the door open for cleaning. Wipe off any visible mold with paper towels. Seal the towels inside a plastic bag and discard.

4. Mix a solution of one part bleach to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the inside of the fridge down with this, saturating any place that mold had been growing, until it drips. Close the door to the fridge and let it sit.

5. Remove the shelves and drawers, and spray them with the bleach solution in the bathtub. Again, saturate any places known to have had mold on them.

6. Go back to the refrigerator. Soak a clean sponge with the bleach-water solution and use it to wipe down the inside of the fridge. Wipe up water as it collects in the bottom of the fridge with paper towels or rags. Follow up with a clean, dry rag or more paper towels to make sure all traces of cleaning solution are removed from the walls of the fridge, and to ensure that it is completely dry.

7. Wipe down the drawers and shelves in the bathtub, rinse them under the shower, then wipe dry. Place the shelves and drawers back in the fridge and then put the food items back in the fridge. Turn the fridge back up to its normal setting and close the door.

References

• Mrs. Clean: Tips on Refrigerator Cleaning
• AnyClean: How to Clean a Refrigerator