A full fridge deep clean takes about an hour: empty it, pull the shelves and drawers, wash them in the sink, wipe the interior with warm water and dish soap or a baking soda solution, and clean the door seals and the coils. Do it quarterly, and always before you hand back the keys on a move-out, when an empty and clean fridge is one of the first things a landlord or buyer opens. Here is the order that avoids food sitting out for an hour.
Before you start
Turn the temperature dial up or switch the fridge off if the cleaning will take more than 30 minutes. Line a cooler or a laundry basket with towels for the food. Have a garbage bag, a recycling bag, dish soap, baking soda, two microfiber cloths and a toothbrush ready.
Step by step
- Empty it top to bottom and sort as you go. Expired, unrecognizable or half-empty jars nobody will finish go straight in the bag. Cold food goes in the cooler.
- Pull the shelves and drawers. Let glass shelves come to room temperature for 10 minutes before they touch hot water, or they can crack. Wash everything in the sink with dish soap, rinse, and let it air dry.
- Wipe the interior. Warm water with a squirt of dish soap, or 1 tablespoon of baking soda per litre of water for odours. Work top to bottom so drips land on surfaces you haven’t done yet. Use the toothbrush on the shelf rails and the drain hole at the back.
- Clean the door. Shelves, the seal, and the seal’s folds, where crumbs and syrup collect. A cloth wrapped around a butter knife gets into the fold.
- Dry everything before it goes back. A damp shelf in a cold fridge grows mould faster than you’d think.
- Outside and behind. Wipe the top (it’s dusty), the handle, and the front. Pull the fridge out if you can, vacuum the coils and the floor behind it. Dusty coils make the compressor run longer and cost you on hydro.
- Restock with an open box of baking soda on a middle shelf. Replace it every three months.
How often
| Situation | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Normal use | Every 3 months |
| Spill, leak or smell | Same day, at least the affected shelf |
| Before a move-out or a sale showing | Full deep clean, fridge left empty and unplugged with the door ajar |
| After a power outage longer than 4 hours | Empty, discard perishables, full clean |
Moving day: what landlords and buyers check
In Quebec, a move-out with a dirty fridge is one of the most common reasons a landlord files a cleaning claim or a buyer sends a cleaning bill after the walkthrough. The standard is simple: empty, no smell, no residue on the shelves or the seal, and the freezer defrosted. If you’re leaving a fridge behind on July 1st and don’t have time, inside the fridge is a $40 add-on on our move-in/out cleaning, and it’s on our move-out checklist.
FAQ
Can I use vinegar in the fridge?
Yes, half water half vinegar works on the interior and the seals. Rinse afterward so the food doesn’t pick up the smell.
How do I get rid of a smell that won’t go away?
Check the drip tray under the fridge (at the back, behind the kick plate) and the drain hole inside. Both hold stagnant water. Then leave a bowl of baking soda or fresh coffee grounds inside overnight.
Should I defrost the freezer at the same time?
If there’s more than half a centimetre of frost, yes. Unplug, towels on the floor, door open, and let it melt. Never chip ice with a knife.
Is inside the fridge included in a deep clean?
Not by default. It’s a $40 add-on per empty fridge on a deep clean or a move-in/out clean, so we can budget the time for it.