How to Clean Your Refrigerator Coils for Better Efficiency

If you didn’t know that your refrigerator has coils that need regular cleaning, you're not alone. Fridge coils are the mystery behind the miracle of refrigeration—without them, your lettuce would be wilting in the vegetable drawer. It just happens that these coils are well-hidden in your refrigerator, so the only time you might have cause to see them is during installation when you’re moving, or when there’s a problem and you have to call a specialist. 

Luckily, that call can be avoided by learning how to properly clean your refrigerator coils. “Not only is it quick and easy, but it can actually extend the life of your fridge,” assures Ryan Knoll, owner at Tidy Casa, a home cleaning and maid service. Read on to learn expert methods for cleaning your refrigerator coils in order to keep the electric bill down and the engine humming.

Materials Needed

When it comes to how to clean your refrigerator's coils, the first thing you need to know is what materials are necessary for the job.

• Vacuum with hose/brush attachment
• Broom and dustpan
• Coil cleaning brush or flexible brush
• Microfiber cloth or damp rag
• Mild dish soap and warm water (for stubborn grime)
• Optional: WD-40

How Often to Clean Your Refrigerator's Coils

“Cleaning refrigerator coils is essential for keeping your appliance working properly,” says Michael Bogoyavienskiy, CEO at Cleaning Express. “The coils are what let out heat to keep the refrigerant—and by extension, your food—cool,” he explains.

To keep your refrigerator running smoothly and efficiently, the coils should be cleaned regularly. Cleaning expert Chris Willatt, owner of Alpine Maids, recommends cleaning them every 6 months or every 3-4 months if you have a pet. “If your refrigerator is having trouble cooling, check the coils and clean them first,” Willatt advises. If the coils are dirty, a new purchase of a major kitchen appliance can be avoided by a cleaning.

How to Clean Refrigerator Coils

If you still have your appliance's manual, it's a good idea to consult it before beginning so that you know what you’re working with. Some refrigerators have self-cleaning coils or special instructions.

“A clean fridge equals better efficiency, a lower power bill, and fewer breakdowns,” says Knoll, who recommends the following steps for cleaning your refrigerator coils:

1. First, unplug the fridge and pull it away from the wall so that you have full and safe access to the back of your refrigerator if needed.
2. Locate the coils, which could be behind a kickplate on the front, on the backside, or underneath your refrigerator.
3. Use your vacuum cleaner's extension pieces (such as a crevice tool) to remove any dust and debris from the surface of the coils.
4. Continue brushing off any remaining dust with a coil cleaning brush or a flexible brush.
5. Sweep or vacuum the surrounding floor area.
6. Wipe down the coils, as needed, with a damp cloth and mild dish soap.
7. Let it air dry before reassembling and plugging your refrigerator back into the wall.
8. For an excess of caked-on dust, consider spraying the coils with WD-40 before wiping them off with a cloth. The solvent component will loosen the dust so that it can be removed more easily.

Tips for Keeping Your Fridge's Coils Clean

Now that you know about your refrigerator coils, you will want to add them to your regular cleaning rotation in order to avoid any future problems. Following these practical tips will preserve the longevity of your coils and of the appliance itself:

• Always use caution when cleaning your coils. They are an essential part of the system for your refrigerator, cautions Willatt. Scrubbing hard could create more problems, so treat your coils gently.
• Add furniture sliders to your fridge to make moving it for cleaning a breeze. This will also help protect your floors.
• Placing a towel or plastic tarp down before cleaning will help to collect dust and lessen clean-up. 
• Vacuuming regularly around the fridge will cut down on dust buildup, says Knoll.
• Use a coil brush for quick touch-ups between deep cleans. If you don’t have a refrigerator coil brush, you can make your own with household materials. According to Bogoyavlenskiy, pipe cleaners are perfect, but even a toothbrush head on a bit of wire will work.