Clean Your Fridge Regularly to Avoid a Health Hazard!

Grime can build up quickly on refrigerator shelves. Here’s how often to wipe them down so they stay pristine.

• A weekly wipe-down of fridge shelves with an antibacterial wipe works well for most homes.
• The best time to wipe the shelves is right before buying new groceries.
• Add a deep clean every one to three months to provide a hygienic environment for your food.

Your refrigerator shelves regularly come into contact with items that carry bacteria. From accidental spills to germs on packaging containers, a lot of unwanted food particles linger on fridge shelves. Fridge shelves need a periodic deep cleaning and regular wipe-downs, but the frequency of cleaning can vary by household.

How often you clean the shelves in your fridge depends on your cleaning routine. In general, you should give refrigerator shelves a weekly wipe-down with an antibacterial solution or wipe. However, you may also need to pull out the drawers periodically and sanitize them to remove the remnants of spills or splashes.

The best time to wipe down the shelves is right before getting new groceries, when the fridge is relatively empty. Remove all the items from the refrigerator and wash them with a mild soap to eliminate bacteria. If you see stuck-on grime or an oil spill, take the time to degrease using vinegar or a commercial product.

In addition, plan to deep clean every one to three months. A deep clean entails not only removing the shelves for a thorough scour but also using soap and water (or an alternative cleaning agent) to wipe inside the shelf tracks and the base under removable drawers. Using a microfiber cloth to deep clean the fridge shelves every few months can prolong the refrigerator’s life span by keeping food debris away from any fans or components. A hygienic environment for storing food supports your overall health.

How Often Should You Clean Your Fridge? 

A few factors can influence how frequently you should clean the shelves in your fridge. If you see food out of a container, it’s time to clean. It’s best to tackle spills as soon as you notice them to prevent mold growth and potential contamination of other areas in the fridge, which could damage other food items. Worse still, gunk and staining on shelves can be off-putting. If left unattended for a while, foul odors may attract pests and bugs that you definitely want to stay far away from anything destined for your mouth.

Family size also affects how often you should clean the fridge shelves. A large family means more food in the fridge and more hands pulling things on and off fridge shelves. So, for large families, expect more frequent cleaning intervals. With more people on hand, expect more accidents. Remember to check the nooks and crannies for long-forgotten condiments and sauces that linger after their expiration dates.

How you store food and prep meals may affect how often you need to clean the refrigerator shelves. If raw meat and fresh garden produce regularly pack the shelves, there’s a risk that fungus and bacteria can transfer. As an alternative, use plastic bags or containers to pack and prep, creating a protective barrier for the shelves.

Tips: 

• Avoid harsh chemical cleansers because you’re cleaning an area close to food. Use a mild or natural cleaning solution for the fridge shelves, such as soap and water, baking soda, or white vinegar.
• Thoroughly rinse the shelves before putting them back in the fridge or after using a cleaning agent.
• Dry the fridge shelves completely with a microfiber cloth before putting food items back on the shelves. Avoid leftover moisture that can breed germs or mildew.
• Store food carefully and in tightly sealed containers to minimize accidents or spills on fridge shelves.
• Use mats, covers, or shelf liners to protect fridge shelves. The liners can be removed, cleaned in the sink, and reused to make cleaning easier and faster.

Article by Aida Makhmudova/Getty, Better Homes & Gardens, Published Sept. 5, 2026