How to clean your refrigerator

Written by Cindy Bailen and Samantha Mangino

Updated February 23, 2023

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Wondering what that stubborn white patch or the sticky red streak is on the shelf of your fridge? Everything from dried milk to maraschino cherry juice can build up over time and make the inside of your refrigerator, well, rather gross. We should all be cleaning our refrigerators more thoroughly and more often. But maybe you don’t know how to clean your refrigerator.

Cleaning your refrigerator isn’t particularly difficult, in fact you probably already have everything you need to clean it. It can be tedious because, in addition to cleaning, you'll need to unload and reload all of your food. The best time to clean the fridge is before you go grocery shopping or anytime your fridge is nearly empty.

When it comes time to clean, you don't want your fridge packed with food for one very important reason: You don't want it to spoil while it's not in the fridge, and for the hour or so it takes for the fridge to get its temperature back to around 37°F. According to the FDA, bacteria grows quickly between 40°F and 140°F.

Here's how to clean your refrigerator.

What you’ll need

Person wearing rubber gloves wipes the outside of a refrigerator with a cloth. — Credit: Getty Images / Andrey Popov

How to clean your refrigerator

1. Clean out the fridge

Remove all food contents from your refrigerator, and then take out any removable shelves and drawers from the refrigerator.

2. Create a baking soda paste

Dissolve two tablespoons of baking soda in a quart of hot water and then wipe the inside of the fridge down. Baking soda absorbs odors without adding its own scent. You can also use a few drops of dish detergent in place of baking soda.

3. Rinse it out

Rinse away the baking soda mixture from the inside of the fridge with clean water. Then dry thoroughly with microfiber cloths.

4. Wash all drawers and shelving

In your kitchen sink, wash the bins, drawers, and shelves with the baking soda solution. (You’ll probably have to make more of it.)

5. Give everything a rinse

Again, rinse these items with clean water and dry with cloths. Once clean and dry, return to refrigerator.

6. Now it’s time for the freezer

Repeat the steps above for the freezer compartment.

7. Clean the outside of the refrigerator

Now that you’ve tended to the inside, turn your attention outward. Wipe down the fridge doors with water and dish detergent. If you have a stainless steel refrigerator, we recommend using a cleaner made for stainless steel.

8. Now, maintain that clean

Once you deep clean your fridge, it’s easier to maintain day-to-day. Wipe up any spills immediately. (Some refrigerators have spill-proof shelves that contain liquids to make cleanup easier.) And, always toss spoiled and moldy foods as soon as you notice them, so they don’t contaminate the rest of the fridge.