Refrigerator Cleaning

Throwing out the moldy leftovers is not the only cleaning your refrigerator needs.

Because it's the biggest user of electricity in your home, you want it to work as efficiently as
possible.

It can't be efficient with dirty coils.

Clean your refrigerator coils Twice a year.

Coils on the back or bottom of your refrigerator give off heat. Dust or debris can reduce air
movement across the coils. That makes your refrigerator work harder.

Determine whether the coils are behind or underneath your fridge. This may mean pulling the
fridge out, or removing the kickplate to allow for a peek underneath.

If the coils are on the back, there probably won't be too much dust. If the coils are underneath, chances are there will be significantly more.

Unplug the fridge, and with a vacuum remove big dustballs, pet hair or anything else that inhibits air movement.

Don't sweat the small stuff -- recent studies suggest that normal dust is not enough to affect the efficiency or electrical consumption of your refrigerator.


TIPS
If your refrigerator is more than 20 years old, it is probably an energy pig, and there is a
strong economic argument to replace it even if it is working perfectly.

In fact, new units often consume less than half the energy of comparable old units.

Most new units will use less than 1,000 kWh per year compared to the 1,500-2,500 kWh per year for an older fridge.

Depending on electricity rates, the savings may pay for a new fridge.

Don't store things on top of your refrigerator.

They restrict air flow to your refrigerator coils, especially if they fall down the back. Plastic bags are the worst.