How to Clean a Refrigerator
Does opening your refrigerator stress you out? If it does, then this tutorial on how to clean a refrigerator and freezer is just what you need! With food costs rising to ridiculous amounts, it’s more important than ever to use what you have and freeze leftovers so they don’t go to waste.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve really been trying to make sure to waste less food and to do that, I have to be able to see what I have on hand. When my fridge gets messy, things go to waste and it’s a lot harder to meal plan. When my fridge is organized, it’s so much easier to look in and plan meals based on what we have and know what we need to purchase from the grocery store. I’m also working on a guide on how to meal plan, buy, store and SAVE at the grocery store, so be sure to sign up for my Newsletter HERE so you don’t miss that!
This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using one of the links, I will receive a small commission.
More Kitchen Cleaning Ideas
What You’ll Need to Clean Your Refrigerator and Freezer
These are a few of the things that I like to use to clean my refrigerator. Feel free to use what you have on hand instead!
How to Clean Out a Refrigerator
Start by removing absolutely everything from your refrigerator. I know this sounds daunting, but I promise you it’s an important step. It won’t take long to clean your fridge, so everything should be just fine to sit out for a bit. Now, onto the cleaning of your refrigerator.
How to Clean Your Refrigerator
- Start by spraying down the entire inside of your refrigerator with an all-purpose cleaner. If you like more natural cleaners, you can make my Homemade All-Purpose Cleaning Spray and use it.
- While the cleaning spray is setting in and loosening up stains and bits of food, place a damp paper towel in between the glass shelves and the edges of the shelves. Let these sit in place while you continue to clean.
- Use a damp cloth to wipe away any stains and food residue on the shelves, in bins and the entire inner surface of the refrigerator.
- For drawers and food bins, use a Mr. Clean Damp Duster to remove any bits that are hard to pick up with a cloth or paper towels. If you don’t have a damp duster, no worries, just use a paper towel or damp cloth to remove the food bits and pieces.
- Remove the paper towels from the edges of the shelves and wipe away anything left behind.
How to Organize Your Refrigerator
- Before adding your food back into your refrigerator, separate food items into groups of similar items. For example, group condiments, sauces, salad dressings, cheeses, meats, fruits, vegetables and drinks in separate groups. While grouping items together, check expiration dates and toss anything that has expired or has signs of mold or rot.
- Next, decide where in your refrigerator each one works for you. This is important! If it’s easier for you to see your fruits and veggies when they are higher up and it’s easier for your kids to be able to grab snacks from lower shelves, place them where they work for your family. There doesn’t have to be a rule about where each item goes…do what works best for YOU.
- Use clear bins and containers to store like items together. This way you can see exactly what you have. Try to use clear, stackable containers for leftovers so items don’t get hidden in the back…they are stacked and visible instead. I even went an extra step and removed my crisper drawers and use bins instead so I can take them out of the refrigerator to access items easier. THESE are the food storage bins I purchased, or you can find them at most stores now, especially a Homegoods, Marshalls or TJ Maxx.
How to Clean and Organize a Freezer
- Follow the same cleaning method as we used for the refrigerator to clean your freezer. For cleaning a freezer, the damp duster really comes in handy, because it easily picks up any bits and crumbs that may have fallen into the bottom or corners of your freezer with ease.
- Use file folder bins (I linked to some on Amazon, but they are a bit pricey. Check Target/Walmart for less expensive options) to store frozen meats, fruits and veggies together. I like to buy my meat in bulk and section it out into 1lb. portions or into individual portions for things like chicken breast, steak and pork chops, then stack together so I can always see exactly what I have on hand for meal planning.
- These deli containers are great for storing and freezing leftover foods that can easily be thawed out and reheated in the same container, they are even microwave safe. These are a game changer when it comes to storing everything. We use them for soups, chili, rice that I make in bulk, pasta dishes, fajitas and so much more.
- Store larger bagged items together, and make sure you can see the contents. This way you know how much you have left, and it makes meal planning so much easier.
FAQs About How to Clean a Refrigerator
I like to use an all-purpose cleaner, but you can also use a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar.
No, you should not use Clorox wipes to clean the inside of a refrigerator.especially on surfaces that come into contact with food, because they are designed for non-food-contact surfaces.
It’s best to deep clean your refrigerator once a month to keep expired and rotten foods out and to prevent bacteria from food spills from growing.
Printable Refrigerator Food Storage Chart
Different foods last in the refrigerator for certain amounts of time. To help you make sure that your food is safe to eat, I have created this Free Printable Refrigerator Food Storage Chart. You can print it out if you like or download it to your phone or tablet to reference when you need to.
Printable Freezer Food Storage Chart
I’ve also made a Free Printable Freezer Food Storage Chart so you can keep track of how long it is safe to keep items in your freezer. You can also print or download it and use it however works best for you.
