Don’t Leave for Your Vacation Without Properly Preparing Your Refrigerator

Coming home from your summer vacation to find your refrigerator is filled with moldy food and smelling less than pleasant is never an ideal ending to your break. You can avoid such an unpleasant mishap by properly preparing your fridge for your time away. Whether you’re gone for a week or a month, the steps provided below will keep the inside of your refrigerator fresh until you return.

 Short Vacations (1 to 4 weeks)

 1. First and foremost, you should empty your fridge of any perishable foods, especially if you’ll be gone for more than a week. Be sure to double check the drawers and shelves for hidden items.

2. You don’t want your refrigerator to remain too empty; otherwise maintaining a steady temperature becomes more difficult for the appliance. To eliminate this problem, simply fill empty jugs with water and store them in your fridge while you’re gone. Keeping your refrigerator at least half full is best.

3. Turn off your freezer’s ice maker before leaving for your vacation. Unfortunately, if you leave it running, it can cause the part to malfunction, which may require a call to your local refrigerator appliance repair company.

4. If your freezer is on the empty side, grab a few bags of ice from your local grocery store and load them into your appliance. This will help your freezer maintain a steady temperature while you’re gone.

5. For shorter vacations, it’s best to leave the temperature controls at their normal settings, unless you plan on removing all items from your appliance. Fortunately, that’s unnecessary for shorter vacations.

Vacations Longer Than a Month

1. Before leaving, empty your refrigerator and freezer completely. After you have removed everything, wipe down the interior with a damp rag and your choice of cleaning solution. Allow the inside to dry and then switch off the temperature controls and unplug the appliance.

2. Once again, if your appliance has an ice maker be sure to turn it off, and get rid of all ice cubes located in the dispenser’s ice tray.

3. Next, you’ll want to empty your refrigerator’s reservoir. If you’re unsure of where it’s located, consult your owner’s manual. After that’s finished, turn off the water supply valve.

4. For the final step, simply open a box of baking soda and place it in your refrigerator to battle any leftover odors. While you’re away, leave the freezer door and the refrigerator door ajar to stop mildew from growing inside your appliance.

If you’re concerned with your refrigerator’s performance, please contact us today and we’ll be happy to diagnose and fix your appliance.