Is It Okay If I Never Deep Clean My Fridge?

Life is short, but the weekends are shorter. You'll feel this way especially if you cram various tasks, like cleaning your home, doing your laundry, and restocking your grocery all in the span of two measly days. As such, you might not be able to give your appliances more than a quick wipe down. However, that can be problematic for certain devices, such as your refrigerator. It's because if you never deep clean it, you'll be actively inviting bacteria to stay in your home with this cleaning mistake. Moreover, sticky spills (like from meat juice) and ignored food crumbs will build up over time, further worsening matters.

And if you don't regularly check the food items in your cooling box and trash the expired condiments or moldy produce, the chances of the rapidly multiplying bacteria hopping onto last night's leftovers and fresh grocery items will go up dramatically. And before you know it, your fridge will look eerily similar to the grossest things professional house cleaners have encountered in homes. Since this can be a health risk if ignored, it's best to give your refrigerator a deep clean every quarter. But this will only work if you stay on top of messes, wipe the shelves and drawers every so often, don't overstuff your refrigerator's interiors, and regularly bin items past their safe-to-consume life. In case you forget about cleaning this home appliance or have a large family, you'll have to schedule a deep clean every month or so. This frequency also applies if you experience warm or humid climates for the better part of a year. It's because such conditions can cause moisture to pool around your shelves and seals, attracting bacteria and mold spores.

Besides turning into a camping ground for bacteria and fungi, your fridge will start smelling foul. The primary cause for this will be the spill you forget to clean up, or one that managed to leak into the shelf below. Spoiled food products will also make their contribution. Throw into the mix items that have a naturally strong odor (looking at you fish curry), and you'll dread even opening the doors of the appliance. Your freshly prepped salads and dressings won't be safe, either, as they'll begin to imbue the same smell as the rest of your fridge. This may even alter their taste.

Worse, an unclean fridge will become less energy-efficient. This is because dusty coils, sticky shelves, and clogged vents will force the compressor to consume more power to maintain the temperature you set. Mineral deposits around the water filter and dispenser as well as blocked drip pans can also cause water damage. A clogged drainage hole (you'll find it at the back of your appliance) will also compromise your fridge's ability to prevent moisture from building up. Eventually, it'll turn into a breeding ground for mold and may lead to water leakage, which can spell trouble for your hardwood floors. Together, all of this will make it that much harder for your refrigerator to cool all the shelves and bins evenly. And over time, it'll wear out the parts faster, shortening the expected lifespan of your expensive appliance. To prevent this smorgasbord of bad news, don't skip out on deep cleaning your fridge.