How To Move Your Refrigerator And Properly Clean Behind It
By Kerley P.
When our team says “We Never Miss A Spot,” they mean it, and they include the spots of your house that you may have long forgotten. One of these spots is behind the refrigerator, and this area is understandable: these appliances can weigh close to 400 pounds!
How can you move the fridge to clean behind it? Here are some hints from the pros, and take it from us: it’s not nearly as difficult as it sounds!
What's The Easiest Way To Move The Fridge?
The best way to move your fridge away from the wall – and the safest way – is to grasp it on both sides of the door and gently scoot it forward, rocking it slightly from side to side and going slowly, step by step. Most people intimidated by the size of their fridge will find this works very well! However, it does help to have a wider arm span to get better leverage to move it.
Always pull it straight out; sliding it sideways may damage the floor covering or the refrigerator. When pushing the fridge back in, make sure you don’t put it on the cord or the supply line for the ice maker (if your model has one). Once you have access to the outlet, you can unplug the fridge; as cleaning behind the refrigerator doesn’t take very long, your food and drinks will be okay!
For those finding it hard to scoot their fridge, who don’t have the room on either side to rock it, or are concerned about their floor, furniture sliders are a great tool. Start by gently tipping the front part of the refrigerator off the floor with your hands or a pry bar (only do this with a partner close by!). Once the fridge is up, you should have room to apply the sliders to the front feet; let it down and slide it forward. You can find furniture sliders at any moving supply store, but if you don’t feel like investing in some equipment, a large piece of cardboard should do the trick!
Some models have wheels, which would make our advice moot; if your fridge does, raise the levelling legs in your guide as directed in your manual.
Properly Cleaning Behind Your Refrigerator
Once you have moved the refrigerator, it’s time to clean. Cleaning this section of your kitchen is no different from other parts, with the exception that it’s probably much messier! There can be years of dirt, debris, and food particles beneath and behind it. Sweep or vacuum up any loose debris, then clean the surfaces with warm, soapy water or a 1:1 ratio of water and vinegar. If you notice mold growth, use bleach, always wearing gloves to handle this chemical. Make sure to dry off the area before you put the fridge back in its place.
One important part you should not miss is the refrigerator’s condenser coils. Go over it with a refrigerator coil brush, then use your vacuum’s brush attachment to remove the loosened dust. To keep the appliance working its best, clean coils every six months to a year, more often if you have shedding pets.
The spot under and behind the refrigerator should not be ignored. It can be a magnet for dust, pet hair, crumbs, mold, and pests. When you make cleaning it a regular priority, you can eliminate many problems that worsen allergies, create bad odors, and threaten the health of you and your family!
Most people intimidated by the size of their fridge will find this works very well! However, it does help to have a wider arm span to get better leverage to move it.