What To Do If You Find Mold In Your Fridge?
It's bad enough to find mold in your bathroom, bedroom, or closet. However, nobody wants to find it in their fridge, as that somehow feels like a bigger violation than finding it anywhere else. You’re not alone if you’re at a loss for what to do when you find mold in your fridge.
Unplug your refrigerator, inspect the food, and discard any tainted or porous items when you find mold. Remove the shelves and drawers, spray and scrub them with distilled white vinegar to kill the mold. Repeat that process inside your fridge and air it out for 10-20 minutes or longer as needed.
Going forward, you should be careful not to overstuff your fridge, as that will limit the airflow and contribute to the growth of mold. Follow along as we explore what to do if you find mold in your fridge.
How To Clean A Moldy Fridge
Cleaning a moldy fridge is all about timing, as mold can spread faster than many people realize. The trick is to contain and address it as soon as possible before it spreads. Before you get started, unplug the fridge to conserve energy. It’s also a good idea to put on a face mask or respirator to ensure you don’t inhale mold spores. If you have asthma and serious allergies, you may want to hire a professional. Otherwise, you can remove mold from your fridge following a few easy steps, such as:
1. Take Food Out
When you unpack your fridge, put the food in a cooler or a cool location. Anything moldy or suspicious must go, so throw them away. If something looks fine but seems porous, such as bread, you should throw it away. That may seem wasteful, but mold can linger beneath the surface, especially in porous foods. Throw out packaged deli meats and other animal products, especially if they aren’t well wrapped. You don’t want to risk eating contaminated food. It’s ultimately up to you what you discard, but this is one situation where wasting food is okay.
2. Empty Fridge
Mold often lingers in spots that look clean because it hasn’t yet grown to its fullest potential. That means you must remove the drawers and shelves in the fridge so you can clean every surface. Set some towels on the kitchen counter and place the shelves and drawers on them so you can easily spray these parts later without making a huge mess. Once the fridge is completely empty, you can inspect it for mold.
3. Clean Shelves And Drawers
While the shelves and drawers are on the counter, thoroughly spray them with distilled white vinegar. Some people mix it with water, but undiluted distilled white vinegar is more effective. Once sprayed, let them sit on the counter. You can now either focus on the inside of the fridge or continue cleaning the shelves and drawers. If you fall into the latter category, you can scrub the shelves and drawers with a microfiber cloth. Next, rinse them thoroughly, dry them, and then spray them with bleach. Let the bleach sit for a few minutes, then scrub, rinse, and dry them before moving on to the interior.
4. Scrub The Interior Of The Fridge
Without shelves, you can easily reach every nook and cranny in the fridge. Spray the surfaces in the fridge with distilled white vinegar, and then scrub them with a microfiber cloth. The CDC recommends using dish detergent, vinegar, or bleach to clean mold. We recommend white vinegar because it’s easy to clean up and doesn’t interact with most other substances in the way that bleach does. Scrub the fridge’s interior, including the rubber door seals. Leave the open for 10 to 20 minutes to let it dry, and manually dry it with a fresh rag if it takes too long. Throw your used rags away to ensure you don’t unknowingly spread mold to other parts of the house.
Why Is There Mold In My Fridge
Mold typically grows in fridges due to a lot of moisture, poor airflow, and expired food. Mold thrives on stagnant air and organic material. That’s why you typically find mold in fridges with blocked vents and spoiled food. A damaged door seal can also explain why there’s mold, because the lack of a seal can let warm, humid air into your fridge. This will create condensation that contributes to mold.
Unfortunately, some people unknowingly bring mold home from the store without realizing it. That’s why it’s so important to inspect your food before checking out at the grocery store. Otherwise, mold will quickly spread throughout your fridge, and you must discard everything just to be safe.
How To Protect Your Fridge From Mold
Watch Expiration Dates
It’s easy to get distracted and lose track of expiration dates on food. However, you will likely find mold in your fridge if you don’t remove expired food as soon as possible. Mold loves darkness, organic materials, and moisture, all of which are present in refrigerators. Once food expires, it can quickly create those conditions. Ideally, treat your fridge like it’s a shelf at a grocery store and keep older food near the front so you eat it first.
Keep Hot Food Out Of Your Fridge
Most people don't think twice about putting leftovers in the refrigerators. However, it's not a good idea to put hot food in the fridge right away. For example, never put chili in your fridge while it’s still hot. The heat will spoil nearby food and milk, and will also create lots of condensation. This moisture will stay unless you wipe it up and that can contribute to mold. Wait until food cools down before putting it in the fridge. Even then, it’s a good idea to place the food on a paper towel to absorb moisture.
Improve Airflow
Poor airflow is one of the top causes of mold, whether it’s in a bathroom, bedroom, or fridge. The worst thing you can do is overstuff the fridge. You should always leave at least 2” between your food and the walls on the sides and back. Never put items all the way to the back, or else it can block airflow. This will cause ice to build up, which will eventually melt and contribute to mold. It can also strain the compressor, which can overheat and break. Try not to store too much food on the top shelves, as that can trap heat. Improving airflow can ultimately extend the fridge’s lifespan, because you won’t strain the compressor and other parts.
Clean Your Fridge Twice Yearly
A refrigerator typically requires less cleaning and maintenance than other appliances. However, you must clean it at least twice a year. That applies to deep cleanings, but you can spot clean your fridge any time you want. All it takes is some vinegar and water, but make sure to wipe up any remaining moisture. You can clean your fridge once during spring and once during the fall or winter or split it up however you want as long as it's done every 6 months or sooner.
Summing It Up
Immediately unplug your refrigerator, empty its contents, and remove the shelves and drawers when you discover mold. Next, thoroughly spray every surface with distilled white vinegar, then scrub it. Leave the doors open to remove moisture from your fridge, and don’t refill it until everything is dry, or else more mold will grow.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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