Let’s face it: In the summertime, your refrigerator is your best friend.
There’s nothing like the first sip of a cold beverage to cool you off when temperatures are sweltering, and you don’t even want to think about where you’d be without the freezer. A summer without ice is not a summer you’ll enjoy.
Since so much is riding on it, this month’s green tip focuses on keeping your favorite appliance running smoothly. Regular refrigerator maintenance involves vacuuming the condenser coils on the back or the bottom to clear out the dust and gunk about twice a year.
These coils are critical to pushing heat out, so removing the dust and dirt will allow them to more efficiently keep the inside of the refrigerator cold. Not only will this effectively keep things cold, but you’ll be using less electricity which saves you money and helps the environment. Now that’s cool.
So want to know how to clean refrigerator coils? We’ve got the process of vacuuming these coils laid out for you, step by step.
What you’ll need:
- Refrigerator (duh)
- Vacuum cleaner with brush and crevice attachments
- Paintbrush or other small brush
- Rag
How to clean refrigerator coils: A step-by-step guide
Now that you have your tools, you can get started cleaning. Simply follow these eight steps and refer to the photos for clarity.
Step 1: Gently pull the refrigerator away from the wall
Your refrigerator probably has wheels on the bottom, so you should be able to do this with relative ease. Just be sure to go slowly so you don’t damage your kitchen floor. (Note: You don’t need to do this if your coils are on the bottom of the fridge.)
Step 2: Unplug the refrigerator
Yes, you have to. Always disconnect the power source before performing any maintenance on any appliance. It’s unlikely that anything will go wrong, but when the downside is electrocution, you don’t want to take the risk.
Step 3: Locate the coils
The coils should be located in one of two places:
- On the back: They should be easy to locate. Look for a metal grid attached to the back of the appliance.
- On the bottom: This is where it gets tricky. You don’t want to upend your fridge, so coils on the bottom usually have a grate in front that you can remove and then stick the vacuum cleaner attachment in there for cleaning. Look under the door for the grate and gently remove it. If you have trouble, consult your owner’s manual for more specific instructions.
As you can see, the refrigerator coils here are on the bottom.
Try not to scream in horror when you see how much gunk and grime has collected there. If you don’t clean it often, it’s going to be a mess.
Gross.
Step 4: Start vacuuming
Use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner hose. The crevice tool might come in handy as well — there are even some vacuum attachments made specifically for refrigerator coils, so you may want to look into that. Be firm but cautious — you want to get as much grime off the coils as possible without damaging them, so take your time and don’t force it.
While you’re at it, you might as well clean the normally inaccessible areas around the fridge. Vacuum the floor underneath where the fridge usually sits, and wipe down the sides/back of the fridge itself. You’re already moving it out of the way, so you may as well take advantage of the situation.
Step 5: Use the paintbrush to remove any stubborn bits of dirt
It doesn’t have to be pristine but poke around all the nooks and crannies to get it as clean as you can.
Step 6: Vacuum up all the dirt you knocked loose onto the floor
The floor is probably a bit of a mess thanks to the brush, so you can clean that up now.
Step 7: If your coils came off the bottom, replace the front plate
If your coils were on the back, plug the refrigerator back in and push it back into its home.
Step 8: Reward yourself with a cold beverage
You’ve earned it.
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Source: apartmentguide.com