To clean a mini fridge, unplug it, empty out all contents and throw away anything expired, then wipe down the interior and exterior with a diluted bleach solution or a natural vinegar and water mix, scrubbing off any stuck-on residue with a scourer, drying thoroughly, and wiping down jars and containers before putting them back. Done properly, the whole process takes about 20-30 minutes and should be repeated every one to three months to stop odours and grime building up.
If your mini fridge has started smelling off, or there’s caked-on residue from last month’s snacks, this guide walks through exactly what you need and how to do it properly, whatever type of mini fridge you own.
What You’ll Need to Clean a Mini Fridge
Before you start, gather everything so you’re not hunting for supplies halfway through with the door open and the fridge warming up.
- Plastic or latex gloves.
- Paper towels (or old newspaper/a towel as a substitute).
- A bin bag for anything expired.
- Bleach, or white vinegar as a more natural alternative.
- A bucket.
- A sponge with a scratch pad.
- Clean towels or cloths for drying.
Bleach is the most effective option for actually killing bacteria and mould, while a vinegar and water solution (mixed roughly one part vinegar to one part water) is a gentler, more natural alternative if you’d rather avoid harsh chemicals in a small, enclosed space you’re storing food in.
How to Clean a Mini Fridge: Step by Step
Step 1: Put on gloves
Protect your skin from any bacteria, mould, or the cleaning solution itself, especially if you’re using bleach rather than vinegar.
Step 2: Protect the floor
Lay a few sheets of paper towel down in front of the fridge door in case anything drips or spills during the clean. Old newspaper or a spare towel works just as well if you’re out of paper towels.
Step 3: Empty the fridge completely
Take everything out, and be honest about what’s actually still good. Toss expired food, anything unidentifiable at the back, and nearly empty jars or tubs that aren’t worth keeping. This is also the point to check for any leaking packaging that’s been the source of a smell.
Step 4: Mix your cleaning solution
Mix bleach and warm water in a bucket according to the instructions on the bleach bottle, this combination is genuinely effective at killing bacteria and sanitising surfaces inside a fridge. If you’d prefer a more natural clean, mix equal parts white vinegar and water instead.
Step 5: Wipe down the interior and exterior
Using a sponge or cloth dipped in your solution, wipe down every surface inside the fridge, shelves, door seals, the walls, and the base, as well as the outside of the unit.
For anywhere food has dried on and won’t shift with a normal wipe, use the scratch pad side of the sponge to work it loose without scratching plastic fridge liners.
Step 6: Dry thoroughly
Wipe both the inside and outside dry with a clean cloth. Leaving moisture behind, particularly inside the door seal, is one of the most common causes of mould returning within days of a clean.
Step 7: Clean everything before it goes back in
Wipe the sides and bottoms of jars, bottles, and containers with your damp cloth or sponge before returning them to the fridge. It’s easy to clean the inside of the fridge thoroughly and then reintroduce the exact grime you just removed on the outside of a sticky sauce bottle.
How Do You Clean the Rubber Door Seal on a Mini Fridge?
The door seal is where mould and grime build up fastest, since it traps moisture every time the door closes, and it’s the part most people skip during a normal wipe-down. Pull the rubber gasket gently away from the fridge body and clean inside the folds with a cotton bud or an old toothbrush dipped in your bleach or vinegar solution, then dry it fully before letting it sit back against the fridge frame.
A neglected seal is also one of the most common reasons a mini fridge starts smelling again within a week of being cleaned.
How Do You Get Rid of Bad Smells in a Mini Fridge?
If the smell persists after a full clean, the usual culprit is something that leaked or spilled into a corner, crevice, or the drip tray at the back that a standard wipe-down misses. Check underneath the shelves and in the door compartments specifically, since spills here often go unnoticed until they start to smell.
For ongoing odour control between full cleans, an open box of bicarbonate of soda left inside the fridge absorbs smells effectively, and should be replaced roughly every one to two months. A bowl of coffee grounds or a few slices of lemon works as a natural alternative if you don’t have bicarbonate of soda to hand.
Does Cleaning a Skincare Fridge Work the Same Way?
Not quite, and it’s worth knowing the difference if you own one. Compact skincare fridges, which use thermoelectric cooling rather than a compressor, have a smaller, more delicate interior and shouldn’t be cleaned with bleach or anything harsh, since the internal components sit much closer to the surfaces you’re wiping.
A damp cloth with a small amount of mild soap, followed by a thorough dry, is usually enough for a skincare fridge, and it’s worth doing this roughly once a month given how frequently these are opened and how often they sit somewhere warm like a bedroom or bathroom.
How Often Should You Deep Clean a Mini Fridge?
A full clean along the lines above is worth doing every one to three months for a standard mini fridge, more often if it’s used heavily or if you’ve had a spill you didn’t catch immediately. Beyond the full clean, a quick weekly wipe of the shelves and door compartments keeps things from building up to the point where you need the full bleach-and-scrub routine every time.
Quick Checklist Before You Start
✅Gloves on before touching anything inside a fridge that has food spoil in it.
✅Floor protected with paper towel, newspaper, or an old towel.
✅Everything removed and expired items binned.
✅Bleach or vinegar solution mixed according to instructions.
✅Interior, exterior, shelves, and door seal all wiped down.
✅Stuck-on residue lifted with the scratch pad, not scraped with anything sharp.
✅Everything dried fully before switching the fridge back on.
✅Jars, bottles, and containers wiped before going back inside.
Shop Mini Fridges at Aosom
Whether you’re maintaining the one you’ve got or it’s finally time to replace it, Aosom’s mini fridge range covers compact table-top models through to larger under-counter units with a freezer compartment.
Looking for something more specific? The Wine Racks & Cabinets range covers dedicated wine coolers if you’re storing bottles rather than everyday food and drink, and the wider Small Kitchen Appliances category covers everything else from air fryers to mini ovens.
FAQs
1. Can I use bleach to clean the inside of a mini fridge?
Yes, diluted bleach mixed with warm water is one of the most effective ways to kill bacteria and sanitise the interior of a mini fridge, provided you rinse and dry the surfaces thoroughly afterwards so no residue or fumes remain before food goes back in.
2. How do I stop my mini fridge from smelling again after cleaning it?
Leave an open box of bicarbonate of soda inside the fridge and replace it every one to two months, and check the door seal and any hidden corners regularly for spills that a normal wipe-down might miss, since these are the most common causes of a smell returning.
3. Can I clean a mini fridge without unplugging it?
No, It’s best to unplug it first. Cleaning around a running compressor risks getting liquid near electrical components, and it also stops the compressor cycling on and off unnecessarily while the door is open for an extended period during cleaning.