These fridge cleaners and expert tips will help clean, sanitize, and polish the interior and exterior of your refrigerator.
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5 Best Fridge Cleaner Products
Updated on Aug. 30, 2024
Cleaning your refrigerator might not be fun, but regular fridge cleanings using a good fridge cleaner are crucial for a variety of reasons. “Overall, regularly cleaning your refrigerator is essential for maintaining a healthy and organized kitchen, preventing food waste and reducing energy bills,” says Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean.
In terms of food safety, “A clean refrigerator helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria (like salmonella, E. coli and listeria and other germs) and reduces the risk of foodborne illness,” she says. “Bacteria can grow on food spills, spoiled food and other debris in your refrigerator, so it’s important to keep it clean.” There may even be items you should toss right now from your refrigerator.
Also, a clean refrigerator helps keep your food fresh for longer. “When spills and debris are left to accumulate, they can cause odors that can transfer to other food items in your fridge, affecting their quality and taste,” she says.
It can also help you save energy as a clean refrigerator runs more efficiently, reducing energy bills. “When the coils and vents of your refrigerator are clogged with dirt and debris, it has to work harder to maintain the safest temperature, using more energy in the process,” says Sokolowski. Not cleaning the internal mechanics can also shorten the lifespan of even the best refrigerator.
While you can clean your fridge naturally using warm water, white vinegar, lemon or natural dish soap, there are also other fridge cleaners that can help get the job done efficiently. Here are five of the best fridge cleaners that’ll have your fridge looking practically brand new.
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Best overall fridge cleaner
AspenClean All-Purpose Cleaner
Sokolowski only recommends using a natural, all-purpose cleaner for the inside of the fridge due to the fact that you are cleaning surfaces that touch food. It is no surprise she recommends AspenClean All-Purpose Cleaner, one of the most natural products on the market.
Like other AspenClean products, this effective cleaner has an A rating by the EWG and is one of a few all-purpose cleaners to earn their “verified” badges. “The typical commercial (fridge) cleaners are full of nasty and toxic chemicals that are very bad for your health,” she explains. Not only is it great as a fridge cleaner for wiping down the inside of your appliance, but you can use it as an eco-friendly cleaning product everywhere else in the home, even on surfaces touched by pets and babies.
Pros:
- One of the most natural, all-purpose cleaners on the market, verified by EWG
- Users love the subtle but fresh smell
Cons:
- Only available on the AspenClean website
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Best budget fridge cleaner
Grove All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate
This all-natural Grove Co. cleaner concentrate is safe to use all over your home, including the inside and outside of your fridge. These tiny bottles of concentrate mix easily with water in a glass spray bottle, eliminating plastic bottle waste. All orders are sent in recycled packaging, making it a great eco-friendly option. “It does a great job without chemical smells! I love that it doesn’t need rinsing and there is no sticky residue. It cleans very well,” writes one reviewer.
Choose from multiple scents, including a citrus-rosemary, lavender, lemon and eucalyptus and an unscented version as well. Each bottle of solution will cost just $4 after you make the initial investment of a glass bottle.
Pros:
- Only $4 a bottle
- Safe to use on the interior and exterior of the fridge
- Great scents
Cons:
- Requires a glass spray bottle
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Best cleaner for stainless steel fridges
Therapy Clean Stainless Steel Cleaner
This multitasking stainless steel cleaner from Therapy Clean is wildly popular on Amazon with over 17,000 reviews and a 4.6-star average rating. The all-natural, plant-based cleaner has coconut oil as one of its main ingredients and smells amazing with a subtle hint of lavender. It’s safe to use on all traditional and black stainless steel including appliances, grills, sinks, refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, range hoods and trash cans.
While it isn’t cheap, reviewers maintain the value is impressive. “It cleans surfaces and removes fingerprints, water stains and overall gunk. Then, it buffs whatever the surface to a sparkling shine that remains several days after treatment,” writes Jason P., one of the many 5-star reviewers.
Expert tip: You can really clean your stainless steel fridge well by applying the product with a microfiber cleaning cloth, as the one included.
Pros:
- All-natural
- Cleans and polishes stainless steel surfaces
- Smells great
- Comes with a microfiber cleaning cloth
- 17,000 Amazon ratings and a 4.6-star average
Cons:
- Higher price point
- Only cleans the exterior of the fridge
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Best fridge cleaner on Amazon
Aunt Fannie’s All-Purpose Cleaning Vinegar
As Sokolowski mentions, you can use vinegar and soap to clean your refrigerator. Aunt Fannie’s scented cleaning vinegar enhanced with essential oils is one of the best cleaning supplies on Amazon if you don’t love the smell of traditional vinegar. The all-natural solution, available in eucalyptus, lemon and lavender scents, has been endorsed by the Environmental Working Group and is incredibly safe even for food surfaces.
“This cleaner is the best I’ve found if you want to use non-toxic cleaners. Smells great, works great, I love it,” writes verified purchaser Michaela Hughes. Finding inexpensive cleaning products that work like magic can be difficult, but Aunt Fannie’s proves to be a great choice for cleaning your fridge.
Pros:
- All-natural, non-toxic, and endorsed by EPA
- Refillable
- Available in a variety of scents
- 3,000 Amazon ratings and a 4.5-star average
Cons:
- Some reviewers find the price a tad high
On Sale
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Best fridge deodorizer
Arm & Hammer Fridge Fresh Air Filters
Now that you have cleaned your refrigerator, keep it smelling fresh with these clever fridge filters, which “work better than the baking soda in a box,” reviewer Debby claims.
Equipped with suction cups, stick them anywhere in the fridge to keep your fridge smelling great and food tasting fresh. After 30 days, the replacement indicator will inform you when it needs to be replaced. “It took a couple of days, but it totally absorbed the awful smell my mini fridge had after I defrosted and forgot to remove the meat from the freezer section,” writes Katy F., another one of the many five-star reviewers on Amazon.
Pros:
- Helps keep your fridge smelling fresh and food tasting fresh for longer
- Won’t spill like a box of baking soda
- Indicator signals when it is time to replace
- 2,700 Amazon ratings and a 4.6-star average
Cons:
- Need to be replaced every 30 days
- Pricier than a box of baking soda
The second is efficiency. “When the fridge is turned off, the cooling elements aren’t working, making cleaning easier. The absence of cooling also allows any condensation or moisture to dry completely before you return food to the fridge,” she adds. Also, turning off the fridge makes it easier to thoroughly clean every part of the fridge, “including hard-to-reach areas that may be blocked when the fridge is full and turned on,” she says.
Finally, it can also save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. “Unplugging your fridge while you clean it ensures you’re not wasting energy on a fridge that doesn’t need to be on,” she notes.
How often should a fridge be cleaned?
According to Sokolowski, you should plan on deep cleaning your fridge every three to four months. “The single most important appliance in your home, your fridge, deserves respect and consistent upkeep.” However, you may want to clean it more often if you notice spills or stains or if strong odors are coming from your refrigerator.
Also, keep in mind that the frequency of cleaning your fridge may vary based on individual usage and habits. “For example, if you store a lot of fresh produce or meat, you may need to clean your fridge more frequently to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria,” she concludes.
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- Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean.
