Removing Mold from Your Fridge
We don’t like to think about it but refrigerators are great breeding grounds for mold because of the dark and damp conditions they provide. It is not uncommon to accidentally food and liquids on the shelves of our fridges and these spillages, when undetected, become great places for mold to grow. Other popular places in the fridge for mold to grow include the drawer pulls and the door seal. This can be a headache as mold spreads very fast. Fortunately, removing mold from your fridge can be easily done. All you need to do is follow the steps below.
Find all the Mold
To make your fridge completely mold-free, you first must locate all the mold that is growing on it. To conduct a thorough examination of your fridge, remove everything in your fridge including the shelves and drawers. You will likely find moldy spills or stains behind the drawers or on the back walls of your fridge.
Wash the Shelves and Drawers
Give the shelves and drawers of your fridge a good clean by washing them with dish soap to remove bacteria and any oily or sticky residue. To ensure that your fridge does not get moldy again anytime soon, make a spray with one part household bleach and one part water. Spray this mixture onto your clean shelves and leave it there for 15 minutes before rinsing and drying your shelves. The bleach will kill any remaining mold spores.
Wipe Down the inside of your Fridge
Spray the bleach solution that you made onto the inner walls of your fridge. It is best to start from the back of the fridge and work your way to the front to ensure that you don’t miss any spots. Just like with the shelves and drawers, let the solution sit for 15 minutes before cleaning it away. You can use cotton swabs to do this as they are good for removing mold. Don’t forget to clean your drawer basin as well!
Wash the Drawer Guides and Rails
The guide tracks of your fridge drawer are especially prone to mold growth so don’t forget to spray them with the bleach solution as well. After 15 minutes, wipe them the solution away with cotton swabs. Let the guide tracks dry thoroughly before putting them back in your fridge as mold loves moisture.
Clean the Door Seal
Don’t spray the bleach solution you made onto the rubber door seal of your fridge as bleach will damage them. Make a vinegar solution instead with one part vinegar and one part water. Spray the vinegar solution on the door seal and let it sit for five minutes before wiping it with cotton swabs. For hard to reach places, soak cotton swabs in the vinegar solution and run them along the folds of the door seal to thoroughly clean it. You can also scrub at it with a toothbrush to ensure that all grime is removed. Afterwards, rinse off your door seal with cold water and let it dry completely.
If you followed all these steps, you can rest assured that your fridge is mold-free. Enjoy!
