How to Clean a Refrigerator and Remove Odors
Empty and wipe one shelf at a time and you are done in an hour. Just never pour hot water on cold glass shelves.
What you need
Supplies
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 500 ml (2 cups) warm water
- Rubbing alcohol
Tools
- Cooler or large bag
- 2 microfiber cloths
- Toothbrush
- Spray bottle
How to do it
- 01
Empty one shelf at a time
Emptying the whole fridge at once lets food warm up. Work from the top shelf down, one at a time, and keep the food in a cooler. Throw out anything past its date as you go.
- 02
Wash shelves and drawers
Remove the shelves and drawers and wash them with lukewarm water and dish soap. Cold glass shelves can crack if hot water hits them, so let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes first.
- 03
Wipe the inside walls
Dissolve 1 tbsp of baking soda in 500 ml of warm water, dip a cloth, wring it out and wipe the walls and floor. For dried-on spills, lay the damp cloth on them for 5 minutes before wiping.
- 04
Clean the door gasket
Scrub the folds of the rubber door gasket with a toothbrush. If there is black mold, wipe it with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol, and do not pull the gasket hard.
- 05
Finish with alcohol
Finally, spray a little rubbing alcohol on a dry cloth and wipe the interior once more. It sanitizes and dries quickly. Put the shelves back and restock.
Be careful
- You do not need to switch the fridge off. Leaving it off melts frost and causes leaks. Just keep the door open only as long as needed.
- Avoid bleach inside the fridge; the smell can get into food and it may damage plastic.
- Clean the small drain hole on the back wall gently with a cotton swab so it does not clog.
Malkkeum tips
- An open container of baking soda or dried coffee grounds absorbs odors. Replace it every month or two.
- Keep the fridge about 60–70% full so cold air circulates and food spoils less.
- Checking dates once a week, the day before grocery shopping, means fewer big cleanups.
Where fridge odors come from
Most fridge smells come from spilled liquids and spoiled food, especially water pooling in the bottom of the vegetable drawer and sauce spilled under the door shelves. If the smell is strong, check these two spots before reaching for a deodorizer.
If the freezer has thick frost
Frost more than about 1 cm thick lowers cooling efficiency and raises your electricity bill. Move the food out, switch the freezer off and leave the door open to let it melt naturally. Never chip at it with a knife or pick; you can puncture the cooling lines. Most modern fridges defrost automatically, so if frost keeps building up, check whether the door seal is loose.
FAQ
Can I wipe it with vinegar? Diluted vinegar works fine, but the smell may linger, so baking soda water and alcohol are easier for fridges.
