We’ve all had to dispose of moldy food before, but mold in your fridge is not as common. Mold infesting the walls or shelves of a refrigerator is never a pleasant experience, and removing it requires a different approach than simply tossing out bad food. Fortunately, cleaning mold in your fridge is fairly straightforward – provided you follow the necessary steps.

Don’t let your Dallas/Ft. Worth home be a victim to fridge mold. From the experts at RestoPros, here’s how clean mold in your fridge!

Create a Natural Mold Cleaner

To clean mold thoroughly, you’ll want to use two major components: white vinegar and baking soda. White distilled vinegar is a prominent mold killer, while baking soda is a natural deodorizer. Be careful not combine these two together however, as they are an acid and base. Doing so will cause a combustive chemical reaction and you’ll be spending extra time cleaning vinegar and baking soda off the floor.

Fill one spray bottle with undiluted vinegar. Vinegar will be used as the initial spray when cleaning mold. Fill a second spray bottle with baking soda and water. This solution will be used for scrubbing. Use about 1/4th tablespoon of baking soda for the entire bottle.

Remove All Items from the Fridge

Since you’re going to be cleaning with vinegar, you’ll want to avoid spraying any of your food. Also, you’re going to be cleaning enclosed spots and corners. Clear out the entirety of your fridge. Go ahead and throw out any moldy or old food you see. Food that is stained with mold or contaminated liquids should be discarded as well. Try organizing your food so that items close to expiring will be the last ones to put back in your fridge.

According to Foodsafety.gov, your fridge’s contents should stay fine for about 2 hours. However, if you’re worried about items such as fresh meat going bad, fill an ice cooler to hold them until you’re done.

Remove all Detachable Shelves and Drawers

Take out any removable shelves, drawers, and bins from your fridge. Vegetable and meat drawers will usually slide right out, while shelves may require a little positioning to release. Not all parts of a fridge are removable, so check their hinging to determine.

Clean Detachable Parts

Wash all your detached parts in the sink. Be sure to wear gloves before cleaning so you don’t get any mold on your hands! First spray the parts with vinegar and scrub with both soapy water and the baking soda solution. Rinse off and throw away any food residue or mold.

Mold can be persistent and could require more intensive scrubbing. Wipe thoroughly but carefully to avoid damaging glass. If mold has not been removed after the initial cleaning, spray the area with vinegar and let it sit for about 5 minutes. After, scrub it again with soap and baking soda.

Clean Fridge

Using the vinegar spray, cover your fridge’s interior. Be sure you get the walls, shelves, underside, and ceiling. Make sure vinegar is also sprayed along the gasket, or outer ring of the fridge. Let the vinegar sit for about 5 minutes.

Once the vinegar has had a few minutes to soak, scrub the interior using the baking soda solution and a washcloth. Give any mold spots an intensive scrub but be careful not to scratch the material. The baking soda solution will complement the vinegar’s cleaning properties while also neutralizing the smell of both the vinegar and mold.

Dry and Return All Parts and Food

Wipe your fridge with a dry cloth to dry it thoroughly. Mold thrives in moist environments, so you wouldn’t want to give it another home. Once your fridge is completely dried and has no more odor, you can return your items.

Completely dry detached parts before returning them to the fridge. After reattaching them, go ahead and refill your fridge with its original contents. As we described, organize your food placement to have items close to expiring at the front.

Place an Open Box of Baking Soda

After your fridge has been completely cleaned, you’ll want to place an open box of baking soda inside. As previously stated, baking soda is a natural deodorizer, and helps to eliminate any foul odors present in your fridge!

Bring your fridge back to freshness using our mold-cleaning guide. While it is important to know how to clean and combat mold in your fridge, Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners should also know when to contact a mold professional. Mold infestations in homes can be destructive and sometimes require the help of experts such as RestoPros to fully clean and restore. If mold is in your home, call us at 855-587-3786 for our mold remediation services!