Refrigerator Maintenance Tips

To get rid of smells and dried-up spills inside your refrigerator, remove the contents, then sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge and scrub the sides, shelves, compartments and then rinse inside the fridge with a clean, wet sponge. To help prevent further fridge odors remember to place a fresh box of baking soda inside when you’re done.

A lint filled condenser coil can cause a refrigerator to work harder; this can cause an increase in energy bills and can shorten the life expectancy of your refrigerator. Periodic maintenance by vacuuming and brushing the coils at least twice a year is recommended. Condenser coils on refrigerators are located outside the unit and are easily accessed. You may have to pull the unit from the wall and remove a cover. This cover is important for proper airflow, so be sure to reinstall the cover, when you have completed the cleaning.

Keep your door gaskets clean! If you experience excessive rime ice on your refrigerator walls or food, you could have a bad seal allowing warmer air to enter the refrigerator. Regularly clean the gasket with hot soapy water and wipe it dry. Periodically, check the gasket to see if there are any areas that are cracked or otherwise damaged.

Now this can be tricky on some models to locate, but if you can, insure that the defrost drain is clear. Periodically, a defrost cycle will be initiated and the water will be drained to a pan usually located a the bottom of the fridge. If this drain is clogged you could experience water dripping on the floor or excessive ice buildup.

Water filters need to be replaced on an annual basis. Some manufacturers suggest every 6 months. This information is usually located in your owner’s manual.

Some refrigerators will have a reminder light that illuminates when it is time to change the filter. Each manufacturer has different procedures to reset this light. Refer to your user manual for instruction.