Last week we cleaned out our pantry! I always feel so much better once I have the dry goods organized and a list of what I need to purchase in the next few weeks. And today I want to talk about the refrigerator and freezer. If you did this last week, awesome! But depending on the size of your kitchen, you may have only worked on the pantry.

While this is NOT a housekeeping blog, developing a Prep & Plan mindset is based on the idea that we know what we need, make a plan to buy/acquire what we need, and then know how to properly store what we need.
Since food is one of the most important things to plan for in all kinds of emergencies, and it’s the key to keeping us all healthy, keeping a clean kitchen and using all of our space efficiently is so important. Not only are we cleaning the kitchen, and those spaces where we store our food, we are sorting through what we have, tossing what we don’t need, and making room for those things we intend to purchase or acquire. Having a clean fridge and freezer, due to their smaller space, is even more important. I would argue that having a clean kitchen is more important (for both prepping and for hygiene/health reasons) than dusting the family room or picking up toys.
Let’s get started! And If there is mold in the refrigerator, scroll down for extra directions.

Cleaning the Refrigerator
- Take the Legal Pad 2 that you began during week 2. Review the meals/ingredients that you listed as your family’s favorites and cross off anything you no longer prefer to cook. And, while you’re cleaning the fridge and freezer, write down any new meals you’re adding to the meal rotation.
- If you started a shopping list last week, continue using that one. Or you can tear out a page to use as new a shopping list. As you go through the fridge and freezer and throw things out, write down anything you need to replace. Review the meals you prefer to cook and add any ingredients you may need to stock up for those meals.
- The rules for cleaning the fridge and freezer are the same as for the pantry. Due to limited space, I usually work on the refrigator first, then the freezer. First, take out all of the food from the refrigerator and place it on a counter, kitchen table, or set up a folding table specifically for this project. If your refrigerator is very dirty, you may want to store the food you’re keeping in a cooler or, if it’s winter and freezing outside, you can box up the food and move it outside or into the garage temporarily.
- Once the food is out, it’s time to clean the inside of the refrigerator. If the shelves come out, take them out and place them on a counter to warm up. While the shelves are made of tempered glass, they can still break if they’re cold and you wash them in hot water (I know this for a fact as it’s happened to me. Twice!)
- With the food out, and the shelves warming up, it’s time to wipe out the inside with warm water. I fill a bucket with warm (not hot!) water and add my favorite non-rinse cleanser (recipe here) or a dash of mild dish soap like original Dawn dishwashing liquid. Don’t add too much because then you’ll need to rinse out the soap. Wipe down the walls and any fixed shelves. If you need to, use a toothbrush to get into any crevices to clean out all the grime. Then check the rubber gaskets around the door. These tend get grimy without us noticing them. When the inside is as clean as you can get it, dry it quickly with a clean microfiber dish towel (microfiber towels are great at getting rid of fingerprints) and then close the doors so it can reset the temperature.
- When the fridge is done and the temperature is resetting. it’s time to tackle the shelves. Fill the sink halfway with warm water and a dash of mild dishwashing detergent. Soak and scrub the shelves until they are clean and set on a towel on the counter to dry. once they are dry, put the shelves and bins back into the fridge.
A NOTE ABOUT MOLD
If you have mold in the refrigerator, you’ll need to get rid of it before washing the inside.
- Add white vinegar to a spray bottle and spray the walls and rubber gaskets along the doors. Let the vinegar sit for 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, make a paste of out baking soda and warm water (the amount depends on how much mold you are trying to get off).
- With a soft, non-scratch sponge, scrub the baking soda solution over the mold that has been sprayed with vinegar. Baking soda will neutrazlie the smells of vinegar and mold.
- Fill another spray bottle with warm water (you can add fresh lemon sliced to the water bottle for a fresh scent) and spray the refrigerator again. Wipe down the inside with a paper towel or microfiber towel and spray with lemon water for a second time. Dry the inside again. If there is still some mold, repeat this process until the fridge is clean.

Refilling the Refrigerator
- Grab a large garbage bag (or 2!) and set it aside.
- Sort through the fresh (or not so fresh!) produce and toss what is old/rotten. When you’ve completed the fresh produce, put it away in the newly-cleaned produce bins.
- Check all the dairy and meat products. Toss what is old/expired/moldy/ etc. After double checking the expiration dates, wipe down any dirty or sticky container and put them back into the fridge.
- Sort through all of the food in containers, either your own or commercial. Check for age/expiration dates/mold/etc. Toss what you’re not keeping. Then, if necessary, wipe down what you are keeping and put into the fridge.
- If there’s anything left, check it for age/expiration date/mold/etc. and toss what you’re not keeping. Wipe down what you’re keeping and replace it in the fridge.
- Enjoy your clean fridge!! Grab a drink, maybe a snack, and let’s work on the freezer.

Cleaning the Freezer
- To clean the freezer, use the exact same steps as above. If you have to defrost it, see notes below.
- Once it’s clean, sort through the food and decide what to keep. If you have no idea what a piece of food is, or if it’s freezer burned ore really old, toss it.
- The poor quality of old, freezer burned food isn’t worth taking up valuable freezer space. Throw it out and rebuild your food store with things you love and is properly prepped for freezer storage.
- Once you’re done, treat yourself to a nice dinner or your favorite beverage. You deserve it!
DEFROSTING THE FREEZER
While most freezers today are frost free, if you have an older freezer that has a build-up of frost, here are three options.
- OPTION ONE: The best option is also the hardest. Take everything out of the freezer (and the fridge if it’s attached), unplug the appliance, and let it defrost naturally. Wipe up the excess water as it melts. When it’s free from frost, wipe the inside down with a gentle cleanser and a dry towel. Plug it back in and bring the unit back to temperature. Then put the food away.
- OPTION TWO: Remove all the food and use a plastic spatula to GENTLY scrape off the frost. (This is NOT recommended for freezers hooked up to a gas line). You’ll need a bucket to collect the ice scrapings. Then wash the freezer and put the food you’re keeping back inside. You can use this method with the unplugging method (mentioned above) which lessens the time the freezer is unplugged.
- OPTION THREE: This method uses 70% isopopyl rubbing alcohol and a hot cloth. Bring a saucepan half-full of water to a boil. Using tongs, dip a clean rag into the boiling water. Then, hold the towel with the tongs over the sink and pour alcohol onto the wet cloth (you will want to wear gloves for this). Using the tongs, place the wet/alcohol-soaked rag on top of the frost in the freezer. As the ice melts, use dry cloths to soak up the melting water. Repeat until all the frost is gone. Then gently clean the freezer with a non-rinse cleanser and wipe down with dry towels again. Once you are done, refill the freezer with the food you’re keeping. (This method works great for thin layers of ice. It takes more work to use on the larger chunks and you may need to use a plastic spatula to scrape it all off as it melts.)
So, now we’re done with all the food in the house! We’ve cleaned and reorganized the pantry and washed out the refrigerator and freezer. I know it’s a lot of work, but this really should be done four times a year. I usually do it at the change of each season. And I promise, the more you do it the easier it gets each time. Like with many things, the first time is always the hardest. Good luck and I’ll see you next week!
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