Steps to Defrosting A Mini Fridge – Our Guide
Mini refrigerators—or mini-fridge—are smaller versions of a refrigerator usually found in college dorms, apartments, offices, and hotel rooms. They are an energy-saving appliance typically used to keep small amounts of food and beverages cold in small spaces. People usually store things like snacks, beer, wine, drinking water, and ice cubes inside.
While a mini-fridge is usually low maintenance, you would still need to clean and defrost it from time to time, usually when you’re going to be away from an extended period of time, or when there is excessive buildup on the walls of the ice compartment. Doing so is part of proper maintenance, and helps avoid bacterial growth and unpleasant odors. Plus, it also helps the mini-fridge get a regular cycle, making it more efficient.
Most mini-fridges can be defrosted with just a push of a button, but some require manual defrosting. Fortunately, due to its compact size, cleaning it would be a breeze.
Items needed to defrost a mini-fridge
- Towels
- Nonabrasive Cleaning Supplies
- Rags
Steps to defrosting a mini-fridge
- Remove all items inside the mini-fridge, along with the contents of the freezer compartment. Discard any expired or foul-smelling products, and place non-expired goods in a different refrigerator or freezer while you clean the mini-fridge.
- Unplug the mini-fridge. Place a thick towel in the interior bottom and make sure that it extends across the front exterior to effectively catch dripping water. Move the mini-fridge to an area where the floors won’t be damaged by any dripping water.
- Keep the doors open and allow the mini-fridge to defrost overnight.
- The following morning, wipe the moisture off all surfaces of the mini-fridge. Remove any stains and odors inside using warm, soapy water. Make sure to clean the shelves, trays, and racks as well. After scrubbing everything clean, rinse the mini-fridge of any cleaning agent using a damp rag. Wait a bit for it to dry completely.
- Plug the mini-fridge back in and return all the drinks and snacks inside once the temperature has cooled. Adjust the temperature setting on the mini-fridge to your desired level.
Other mini-fridge care tips
- Dust can easily accumulate inside, so ensure that the mini-fridge remains dust-free to keep it in perfect working condition.
- Leave space on all slides of the mini-fridge to painlessly slide it in and our during cleaning.
- Make it a point to defrost you mini-fridge every three months and at least 24 hours before leaving for a trip lasting a week in length or longer.
- Keep an open box of baking soda inside to absorb odors.
- If your mini fridge has a built-in automatic defrost setting, there is no need to unplug the appliance. Refer to the user manual for details on how to do it properly.
- If you’re planning on long-term storage of your mini-fridge after defrosting, make sure that the interior is arid to prevent mold growth, and the compressor isn’t exposed to dust buildup.
- Keep the mini-fridge upright at all times.
For more tips on how to care for your refrigerator or mini-fridge, check out our website today!