How to Clean Refrigerator Coils Quickly and Easily

Whether you’re reaching for a chilled bottle of water or letting the meat for dinner slowly defrost, you depend on your refrigerator to keep things cold. Despite it being an integral part of your kitchen, you may not give much thought to all the parts that keep your fridge humming along. Your refrigerator coils, for instance, have to work pretty hard and frequently end up full of dust and grime.

Once those coils are dirty, your fridge goes into overdrive, and that can eventually lead to this trustworthy appliance breaking down, causing you to need fridge repairs sooner than you’d like. But don’t despair—there’s an easy solution that will take less than an hour of your time. Here’s how to clean your refrigerator coils.

Preparing Your Refrigerator and Surrounding Area

Start by getting all your supplies and tools ready to go. Next, you’ll need to slide the refrigerator out (you may need assistance here). You’ll probably need to be able to access the back of the fridge, so make sure it’s a good distance away from any walls. You can find your condenser coils in a few spots. If you have an old refrigerator (10 years or older), the coils are probably going to be along the back of the fridge. Newer models often have their coils at the bottom of the refrigerator. If you have trouble locating them, check your owner's manual for help.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Clean Fridge Coils

If you don’t have the necessary tools on hand or don’t have the time to tackle this project, consider calling a local house cleaning pro to take care of this and other cleaning tasks. Many house cleaners will offer this service as an add-on, ranging from $50 to $100, depending on where the coils are located and how dirty they are. Not only will this take the task off of your plate, but you’ll be assured the job is done correctly.

Additional Questions

Why should I clean my refrigerator coils?

Dirty coils force your refrigerator to work much harder than it needs to, causing higher energy bills. 

How often should I clean my refrigerator coils?

Taking the time to clean them about every six months helps keep your refrigerator running at optimal capacity, making your fridge more energy efficient and less likely to need repairs.