Complete Guide: How to Clean Your Refrigerator Easily and Naturally

November 22, 2024
by Brodie Cook

Is your refrigerator starting to look messy inside? Don't worry - cleaning it doesn't have to be hard. This guide will show you the simple steps to get your refrigerator clean and fresh again.

A clean refrigerator does more than just look nice. It helps keep your food safe, stops bad smells, and can even save you money on power bills. Plus, when you use cleaners made from natural ingredients, you can feel good knowing your food is stored in a safe space.

We'll show you exactly what you need and what to do. Our steps are easy to follow, even if you've never deep-cleaned a refrigerator before. No fancy tools or harsh chemicals needed - just simple, straightforward cleaning that works.

What You Need to Clean Your Refrigerator

Before you start cleaning your refrigerator, gather these supplies:

Multi-purpose cleaner sheets (We recommend Lucent Globe's natural cleaning sheets - plastic-free and tough on stains)
Warm water
Microfiber cloth or soft cleaning cloths
Spray bottle
Baking soda
Storage container for food items

Pro Tip: Our all-purpose cleaner sheets dissolve completely in warm water, creating a powerful but natural cleaning solution that's safe for food storage areas.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clean Inside Your Refrigerator

1. Prepare Your Refrigerator

Before you start cleaning, you need to get your refrigerator ready. This step takes about 15 minutes and will make the rest of the cleaning much easier.

First, turn off your refrigerator. You don't need to unplug it - just turn off the power switch or temperature control. This helps save energy while you clean.

Next, take out all the food. Put items that need to stay cold in a cooler with some ice. This keeps them fresh while you clean.

While you're taking food out, check the dates on everything. Throw away:

Any food that has gone bad
Items past their use-by date
Things you don't remember when you bought
Anything that smells odd

Quick tip: Put the food from one shelf at a time on your kitchen counter. This makes it easier to put everything back later.

2. Clean Refrigerator Shelves and Drawers

Now it's time to clean all the parts inside your refrigerator. This step takes about 20 minutes.

Take out all the parts you can remove:

Glass shelves
Door shelves
Drawers
Compartments

Wait! Let these parts warm up to room temperature first. Cold glass and plastic can crack if you put them in hot water right away.

Fill your sink with warm water and add one multi purpose cleaner sheet. Let it dissolve fully. This makes a strong but safe cleaning mix.

Wash each part one by one in the sink. Use your cloth to clean:

The tops and bottoms of shelves
Inside the drawers
The tracks where drawers slide
All edges and corners

Dry everything with a clean, soft cloth. Make sure each part is completely dry before you put it back.

Quick tip: If your sink is too small, you can clean larger parts in your bathtub.

3. Clean Inside Surfaces

Now let's clean the inside of your refrigerator. This part takes about 15 minutes.

Put your cleaning mix into a spray bottle. Spray it on all the surfaces inside:

The back wall
Side walls
Top surface
Bottom surface
Inside the door

Wipe each area with a clean cloth. Start at the top and work your way down. This way, dirt won't drip onto areas you've already cleaned.

Don't forget the door seals! These rubber strips keep your refrigerator cold. Clean them well with your cloth, getting into all the folds.

Got tough stains? Here's a simple fix:

Mix baking soda with a little water to make a paste
Put the paste on the stain
Wait 5 minutes
Wipe it off with your cloth

Quick tip: Use a toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach corners and grooves.

4. Clean Outside of the Refrigerator

Last step - let's make the outside of your refrigerator shine! This will take about 15 minutes.

Use the same cleaning mix and a fresh cloth to clean:

The front doors
The sides
The handles (they can get very dirty from food and hands)
The edges around the doors

Don't forget the top! It often gets dusty up there. A quick wipe will make a big difference.

If your refrigerator has a water dispenser or ice maker, clean these areas well:

The drip tray under the water dispenser
Around the ice maker opening
The water dispenser paddle
Any buttons or controls

Quick tip: For extra shine, dry all surfaces with a clean cloth to prevent water marks.

How to Clean Specific Refrigerator Areas

Cleaning Refrigerator Door Seals

Door seals often harbour mould and debris. Use our all-purpose cleaner solution with a soft cloth to clean thoroughly without damaging the rubber.

Cleaning Behind Your Refrigerator

Pull your refrigerator out slowly and carefully. You might need someone to help you move it. Once you can see behind it, use a vacuum to clean the condenser coils - these are the black or grey metal tubes at the back. Clean coils help your refrigerator work better and use less power.

While you're there, wipe down the wall and floor behind the refrigerator. If your refrigerator has a water line for ice or drinking water, check that it's not leaking and wipe it clean. Push the refrigerator back carefully when you're done.

Cleaning the Ice Maker and Water Line

First, turn off the water supply - you'll find the valve behind your refrigerator or under your sink. Take out the ice bin and throw away any old ice. Wash the bin with warm water and let it dry completely before putting it back.

Clean all parts of the ice maker you can reach with a soft, clean cloth. If your refrigerator has a water filter, check when you last changed it. Most filters need to be replaced every 6 months to keep your ice and water clean and fresh.

How Often Should You Clean Your Refrigerator?

A quick clean once a week helps keep your refrigerator fresh. Just wipe spills and check for any old food. This takes only 5 minutes but makes a big difference in keeping things clean and fresh.

For bigger cleaning jobs, follow this simple plan: deep clean the inside every 3-4 months, clean behind the refrigerator every 3 months, and vacuum the condenser coils every 6 months. This keeps your refrigerator working well and helps it use less power.

Cost-Effective Cleaning Solutions

Using Lucent Globe's cleaning sheets offers several advantages:

You only need one product to clean your whole refrigerator. Each sheet is strong enough to make enough cleaning mix for a complete job. Just one sheet in warm water gives you all the cleaning power you need.

Our sheets come in plastic-free packaging and are made from natural ingredients. They work just as well as regular cleaners but without the waste. No more buying different cleaners or throwing away plastic bottles!

Quick tip: Cut your sheet in half for small cleaning jobs. Save the other half for next time.