The coils in your refrigerator can cause it to work less efficiently, which means that the food inside of the fridge is not being cooled properly. This article will show you how to clean refrigerator coils so that your fridge can run more smoothly and keep food fresh for longer periods of time.
If refrigerator coils get dirty
Keeping your refrigerator coils clean is a key component to preventing mold and mildew buildup. Dirty refrigerator coils can cause your fridge to run less efficiently, which will lead to the food inside of the fridge not being cooled properly. This could eventually lead to food spoiling faster than usual. In addition, dirty coils may also lead to mold and mildew buildup. It is therefore important to clean your refrigerator coils on a regular basis in order to prevent these problems.
DIY refrigerator coils maintenance
We recommend washing off the coils every six months. Here are instructions on how to do just that:
1) Turn off power to refrigeration system
2) Remove back panel (usually held in place by screws)
3) Remove insulation around the coils (it’s usually tucked up against the coils and held in place with staples or wire).
Once the insulation is removed, you should be able to see the coils. Now it’s time to clean them!
4) Use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner hose to clean the refrigerator coils. The crevice tool may be useful as well — there are even specific vacuum attachments for cleaning refrigerator coils, so you might want to explore it further.
Caution: Be careful to remove dirt from the fridge coils without damaging them!
5)Use a paint brush to take away any dirt, dust, pet hair, etc., from the coils.
6) Once the coils are clean, replace insulation and back panel.
7) Turn power on to refrigeration system.
What can you use instead of vacuum cleaner?
- brush
If the dirt is not so bad, you can use a regular soft paint brush, always a new one, and clean the refrigerator coils with a dry brush by hand.
- mild dishwashing detergent and white vinegar
And vice versa, sometimes brush vacuuming isn’t enough. If you have years of caked-on grime, you’ll need the help of a coil cleaner. Fortunately, all you need is some mild dishwashing detergent, white vinegar, plenty of warm distilled water, and a couple of spray bottles, as well as a soft bristle brush. Add a few drops of dishwashing detergent to a spray bottle filled with distilled water and spray the solution onto the evaporator coil. Let the solution sit for a few minutes, then use a soft bristle brush to scrub away any remaining dirt or grime. Rinse the coil with warm distilled water and allow it to air dry.
Now repeat the process using white vinegar in place of dishwashing detergent. Vinegar is a natural cleaner that will help remove any built-up residue or calcium deposits on the coils. Rinse the coil with warm distilled water and allow it to air dry.
- commercial cleaner
If you have a lot of dirt and grime built up on your coils, we recommend using commercial cleaners like Coil Cleaner (you can by it on Amazon.com). Just fill your garden sprayer with Coil cleaner, then spray the coils, let them soak and rinse slightly.
This willove all of the build-up and leave your coils clean.
Final remarks
Now that you understand how to clean refrigerator coils, it is time for you to get started. If this article has left any questions unanswered or if there are other areas of your fridge that need attention, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact our team of experts. We want all of our clients’ refrigerators running at optimal levels!