How To Clean Refrigerator Coils in 15 Minutes

Refrigerator coils, also known as condenser coils, are the metal tubes that run along the back or bottom of your fridge. They are responsible for cooling the refrigerant that circulates through the fridge and keeping your food cold and fresh. However, over time, dust, dirt, hair, and other debris can accumulate on the coils, reducing their efficiency and making your fridge work harder to maintain the temperature. This can lead to higher energy bills, poor performance, and shorter lifespan of your appliance.

That’s why it’s important to clean your refrigerator coils regularly, at least once or twice a year, depending on how dusty your environment is. Cleaning your refrigerator coils is a simple and inexpensive task that you can do yourself in less than 15 minutes. All you need are a few tools and some basic steps to follow.

How to clean refrigerator coils? The answer is you need to unplug the fridge, remove the grill or back panel, and use a vacuum and a brush to remove the dust and dirt from the coils.

How to clean refrigerator coils: step by step guide

Here are the detailed steps on how to clean refrigerator coils:

• Unplug the fridge from the wall outlet. This is the first and most important step for any appliance maintenance or repair job. It will protect you from electric shock and prevent any damage to the fridge.
• Locate the refrigerator coils. Depending on the model and age of your fridge, the coils may be located behind a grill or panel on the bottom front of the fridge, or on the back of the fridge. If they are on the bottom front, you may need to snap off or unscrew the grill or panel to access them. If they are on the back, you may need to pull the fridge away from the wall to access them.
• Vacuum the dust and dirt from the coils. Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove any loose dust and dirt from the coils. Start from the top and work your way down, using gentle strokes. Be careful not to bend or damage the coils.
• Brush away any stubborn dirt from the coils. Use a long-handled coil condenser brush (like this one from Amazon) to scrape and brush away any stubborn dirt or stuck-on particles from the coils. The brush has short bristles on one end that can reach between the spaces in the coil grid and dislodge any debris. You can also use a duster, a multi-purpose stiff brush, or an old toothbrush for this purpose.
• Vacuum again to remove any remaining dirt from the coils. After brushing away any stubborn dirt from the coils, use your vacuum cleaner again to remove any remaining dust and dirt from the coils and the surrounding area. You can also wipe down the coils with a damp cloth if they are very dirty.
• Replace the grill or back panel and plug in the fridge. Once you have cleaned your refrigerator coils thoroughly, replace the grill or back panel that covers them and secure it with snaps or screws. Then plug in your fridge back into the wall outlet and enjoy its improved performance and efficiency.

How often should you clean refrigerator coils?

The frequency of cleaning your refrigerator coils depends on several factors, such as:

• The location of your fridge: If your fridge is located in a dusty or humid area, such as near a window, a door, or a stove, you may need to clean your coils more often than if it is in a clean and dry area.
• The type of your fridge: If your fridge has exposed coils on the back, you may need to clean them more often than if they are covered by a grill or panel on the bottom front.
• The presence of pets: If you have pets that shed hair or dander, you may need to clean your coils more often than if you don’t have pets.
• The usage of your fridge: If you use your fridge frequently or store a lot of food in it, you may need to clean your coils more often than if you use it sparingly or store less food in it.

As a general rule of thumb, you should clean your refrigerator coils at least once or twice a year for optimal performance and efficiency. However, you can check your user manual or installation guide for specific recommendations from your manufacturer.

What are the benefits of cleaning refrigerator coils?

Cleaning your refrigerator coils regularly has several benefits for you and your appliance, such as:

• It improves the cooling efficiency of your fridge by allowing better heat transfer between the refrigerant and the air.
• It lowers your energy bills by reducing the amount of electricity that your fridge consumes to maintain its temperature.
• It extends the lifespan of your fridge by preventing overheating and wear and tear of its components.
• It prevents food spoilage by keeping your food at a safe temperature.
• It reduces noise levels by minimizing vibrations and friction of your fridge.

Final thoughts

Refrigerator coils are the metal tubes that cool the refrigerant that circulates through your fridge and keep your food cold and fresh. However, they can get dirty and clogged with dust, dirt, hair, and other debris over time, reducing their efficiency and making your fridge work harder to maintain the temperature. This can lead to higher energy bills, poor performance, and shorter lifespan of your appliance.

That’s why it’s important to clean your refrigerator coils regularly, at least once or twice a year, depending on how dusty your environment is. Cleaning your refrigerator coils is a simple and inexpensive task that you can do yourself in less than 15 minutes. All you need are a few tools and some basic steps to follow.

By cleaning your refrigerator coils, you can improve the cooling efficiency of your fridge, lower your energy bills, extend the lifespan of your fridge, prevent food spoilage, and reduce noise levels.

We hope this blog post has helped you understand how to clean refrigerator coils and why you need to do it today.