How to Help Your Fridge Keep It's Cool

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By jamaclassics
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (3 Ratings)

Clean Me!

Summertime is the perfect time to do some easy maintenance on your refrigerator that will keep it cooling efficiently and make it run less, which in turn will save you some money.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Vacuum cleaner with attachments, extensions
Cleaning supplies

Step 1

Unplug your refrigerator and pull it out enough that you can access the back. Vacuum any dust, pet hair, or lint that you see on the back side.
If there is a plumbing connection, vacuum that as well and wipe it clean of any debris. Pay special attention to the bottom where stuff is most likely to accumulate.
Step 2

Remove the access panel in the front by pulling or popping out the clips, or if it's held in by screws, remove them. Using an extension and a brush attachment, vacuum the bottom of the coils thoroughly. If the brush is too big to get in there, use the crevice tool, or just the attachment and hose. Be sure to do a thorough job, leaving nothing on the coils, since debris there reduces their ability to disperse heat and increases the workload of the compressor.
Step 3

If there is a drip tray, remove, empty and wash it. Wipe it dry and reinstall it. Wipe any other dirty surfaces with a damp rag. Clean the access panel in warm soapy water, rinse and let dry. Wipe the entire outside surface clean with spray cleaner, including the cord if it needs it. For stainless surfaces, polish with protective cleaner.
Step 4

Replace the access panel, plug the refrigerator back in and push it back into place. This should be done at least once a year, or if you have pets more frequently, since the coils get clogged more quickly. This easy maintenance can even make a refrigerator that has stopped cooling work again, since many times it is just debris on the coils that makes them stop.

Comments

ScarlettOHairy said

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on 7/16/2009 Thanks, I took your recommendations and cleaned the back of my fridge. Can you say dust?

elaineee said

on 7/10/2009 Everyone needs to know this as most people never think to clean those coils.

sonni57 said

on 7/8/2009 I thought my fridge was going out, it quit on one of the hot days. It seemed strange, so I went and flipped all the breakers off and on and it came back on.