Maintaining and cleaning your cooling & freezing appliances is easier than most people think, and it pays off straight away: a clean fridge or freezer uses less electricity, lasts longer and keeps food safer. The rule of thumb is simple, clean the inside every month, defrost the freezer as soon as there is more than 5 mm of ice and check the door seals every two weeks. In this guide you will find everything you need to look after your appliance yourself, without an engineer.
Why regular maintenance pays off
A neglected fridge or freezer costs you more than you think, not only in repair bills, but simply on the monthly energy bill.
- Lower electricity consumption: Dirt and ice build-up force the compressor to work harder. A freezer with a 5 mm layer of ice already uses up to 30% more electricity. Defrosting and cleaning regularly saves money straight away.
- Food safety: Bacteria grow faster in a dirty fridge and unpleasant smells develop. Cleaning it every month keeps your fridge fresh and hygienic.
- Longer service life: Appliances that are well maintained last two to three years longer on average. That way you get the most out of your investment and make full use of the warranty period.
- Heinner appliances and home maintenance: Heinner fridges and freezers are designed with simplicity in mind. Removable drawers, accessible condenser coils and straightforward seals put home maintenance within everyone's reach.
How often should you clean your fridge and freezer?
A fixed maintenance routine stops small problems from becoming big ones. Use the schedule below as a practical framework:
- Every two weeks: Check and wipe down the door seals.
- Every month: Clean the inside of the fridge thoroughly; check the drain hole of the condensation tray.
- Twice a year: Clear the dust from the condenser coils at the back or underneath.
- Depending on ice build-up: Defrost the freezer as soon as the layer of ice is thicker than 5 mm, or at least twice a year, even if the ice looks thin.
This sounds like a lot, but most of these jobs take five minutes at most. The monthly deep clean is the investment of time that pays back the most.
Step by step: cleaning the fridge
For a thorough and safe clean, follow these steps. Cleaning the fridge takes about 45 minutes including drying time.
- Step 1, Preparation: Pull the plug out of the socket and move the contents into a cool bag or cool box. That keeps your food cold while you work at your own pace.
- Step 2, Shelves and drawers: Take out all the parts and wash them separately in lukewarm water with a splash of washing-up liquid. Let them come fully up to room temperature before you wash them, otherwise you risk cracks from thermal shock.
- Step 3, Interior walls: Clean the walls with a solution of water and a splash of white vinegar or bicarbonate of soda. Avoid harsh cleaning products, they attack the surface and leave chemical smells behind that can taint your food.
- Step 4, Door seals: Clean the door seals thoroughly (see the separate section below) and check that they still close completely.
- Step 5, Outside: Wipe the outside down with a damp cloth. Vacuum or brush the dust off the ventilation grille at the bottom or at the back of the appliance.
- Step 6, Drying: Dry all the parts and the interior walls well before you plug the appliance back in. Damp inside a fridge encourages mould to grow.
Keeping the fridge dry and free of smells
Even after a clean, smells can come back if you take no further measures. A few simple habits help:
- Put a small pot of bicarbonate of soda or activated charcoal at the back of the fridge. It absorbs smells effectively and is completely safe next to food. Replace the pot every one to two months.
- Always store food covered, in containers with lids or in food-safe wrap. This prevents both cross-contamination and the spread of strong smells.
- Check the drain hole of the condensation tray every month; it is usually behind a small panel at the bottom of the fridge. A blocked drain hole makes water collect and leak onto the kitchen floor. Clean it with a cotton bud or a small brush.
Step by step: defrosting and cleaning the freezer
The smartest time to defrost and clean the freezer is when it is nearly empty. Plan the defrosting for a day when you have little frozen food left anyway.
- Step 1, Pick your moment: Wait until the freezer is nearly empty. Put whatever is still in there into a cool box with ice packs.
- Step 2, Unplug it, door open: Lay towels or set trays around the freezer to catch the meltwater. Leave the door open so the ice can thaw on its own.
- Step 3, Removing the ice: Never use a knife, a screwdriver or any other sharp object. It damages the walls and can puncture the cooling pipes. Use a plastic scraper or simply wait until the ice melts. You can speed the process up by putting a bowl of hot water in the freezer.
- Step 4, Cleaning the inside: Wipe the inside down with lukewarm water and a mild cleaner or a vinegar solution. Rub every corner and seam properly clean.
- Step 5, Drying and cooling back down: Dry the inside completely, plug the appliance in and let the freezer cool back down to at least -18 °C before you put food back in. This usually takes one to two hours.
Tip: chest freezers with a handy drain hole at the bottom make this process a good deal easier, you do not have to mop the meltwater up, you simply let it run away.
No Frost freezers: do they need maintenance too?
No Frost freezers defrost themselves automatically, so thick layers of ice no longer form. That is a big practical advantage, but it does not mean maintenance is unnecessary.
- Clean the inside thoroughly at least once a year, even if everything looks perfectly tidy.
- Vacuum the condenser coils twice a year. On No Frost models the fan works extra hard, so dust builds up faster.
- Check that the air vents inside are not blocked by ice or by packed food. Blocked vents reduce the effectiveness of the No Frost system.
Maintaining the door seals and the condenser
Two parts are often forgotten, yet they have a big influence on electricity consumption: the door seals and the condenser coils.
Door seals (door gaskets)
Dirty or damaged door seals let cold air escape. The compressor has to make up for that constantly, which pushes electricity consumption up sharply. Test the seals by trapping a sheet of paper between the seal and the door and closing the door, if you can pull the paper out easily, the door no longer closes properly.
- Clean the seals with warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid. Use a toothbrush to get into the grooves.
- Rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly into seals that are wearing or stiff. This keeps them supple and extends their life considerably.
- Do you see cracks or places where the seal is coming away? Then it needs replacing, a broken door seal cannot be fixed by cleaning it.
Condenser coils
The condenser coils sit at the back or underneath your appliance and give off heat to the surrounding air. If dust blocks them, the heat cannot escape and the compressor has to work harder, a higher electricity bill guaranteed.
- Pull the plug out before you start.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment or a long bottle brush to remove the dust.
- Do this twice a year, or more often if you have pets, pet hair clogs condenser coils extremely quickly.
Saving energy through good maintenance
Cooling & freezing appliances are the only large appliances in the house that run continuously, day and night, all year round. Small adjustments therefore deliver a lasting saving.
- Ice build-up costs electricity: Five millimetres of ice already leads to 30% higher energy consumption. Defrosting regularly is the cheapest energy-saving measure there is.
- The right temperature setting: Fridge at 4 °C, freezer at -18 °C. Every degree colder than necessary costs extra electricity with no extra benefit.
- Ventilation around the appliance: Keep at least 5 cm of space clear on all sides. An appliance squeezed into a tight gap cannot give off its heat properly.
- Hot food: Always let hot food cool to room temperature before you put it in the fridge. Hot food raises the internal temperature and forces the compressor to correct it.
- Energy rating: The Heinner fridge freezers carry an energy rating of D or E, which makes a considerable difference in daily use compared with older appliances rated F or lower. If an old appliance structurally uses too much, replacing it can work out cheaper than carrying on paying the higher energy bill.
When is repairing no longer worth it? Tips on replacement
Not every problem justifies a repair. A widely used rule of thumb: if the repair costs come to more than 50% of the price of a comparable new appliance, replacing it is the smarter choice.
- Age: Is your appliance more than 10 years old and have you already had several faults? Then the chance of another fault is high and buying new pays off.
- Energy rating: An old appliance with an energy rating of F or lower uses noticeably more electricity over a year than a new model. The extra outlay pays for itself.
- Warranty: A new Heinner model comes with a full 5 year warranty and free delivery, whereas a repair to an old appliance offers no warranty on the same parts or on any others.
Take a look at the full cooling & freezing range from Pro Witgoed for an up-to-date overview of affordable models. Are you looking specifically for a standalone appliance? Then also have a look at the freestanding freezers or the larder fridges.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I clean the inside of my fridge?
Clean the inside of your fridge thoroughly at least once a month. Wipe up spilled liquids or bits of food straight away, waiting makes the cleaning harder and increases the risk of bacterial growth.
How do I remove ice build-up from my freezer without damaging it?
Use a plastic scraper or let the ice melt at room temperature with the door open. You can speed the process up with a bowl of hot water in the freezer. Never use sharp metal objects, they damage the walls and can puncture the cooling pipe.
My fridge smells, what can I do?
First clean the fridge thoroughly with a solution of water and bicarbonate of soda. Then look for the cause: food that has gone off, uncovered items or a blocked drain hole. After that, put a pot of activated charcoal or bicarbonate of soda in the fridge as a permanent odour absorber.
Do I have to defrost a No Frost freezer as well?
No, a No Frost freezer defrosts itself automatically and does not form a thick layer of ice. Even so, a thorough clean of the inside is needed once a year, and the condenser coils have to be vacuumed twice a year.
What is the ideal temperature for my fridge and freezer?
The fridge should be set to 4 °C. The freezer works best at -18 °C. Colder settings increase electricity consumption without keeping food any longer.
How do I clean the door seals on my fridge?
Wipe the door seals with warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid. Use a toothbrush for the grooves. Then rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly into the seals to keep them supple and prevent cracking.
How do I know whether my fridge is due for replacement?
Are the repair costs higher than half the purchase price of a comparable new appliance, or is the appliance more than 10 years old with repeated faults? Then replacing it is the better value. A new model with a better energy rating also saves you money on the energy bill for good.
Why is water leaking from my fridge?
Water leaks are almost always caused by a blocked drain hole of the condensation tray. This hole is usually behind a small panel at the bottom of the fridge. Clean it with a cotton bud or small brush. If the drain hole is clear and the leak continues, check that the fridge is standing level.
Conclusion
Looking after your fridge and freezer properly takes little time but delivers a lot: lower electricity consumption, less chance of breakdowns and a longer service life. You can do most of the jobs yourself with a cloth, a toothbrush and a bottle of vinegar. If your appliance is due for replacement all the same, take a look at our current white goods offers for an affordable alternative with a 5 year warranty and free delivery.
