Storing a Refrigerator

Whether you’re buying a new refrigerator and want to hold onto the old one, or are moving and need to store your current refrigerator temporarily, it is important to store it correctly. Not taking the proper steps before storage can cause issues down the road when you want to use your refrigerator again. These five steps will ensure that whether it be two months or two years from now, your refrigerator can be taken out of storage and will be ready to go.

1. Clean thoroughly: The last thing you want is for uninvited guests to make a home in your refrigerator while it’s in storage. Rodents or insects can be attracted to the smallest amount of food, and can cause damage to your appliance. Use warm, mild soapy water to clean the outside of your refrigerator, and plain warm water or a gentle non-toxic soap to clean the inside.
2. Keep the appliance upright: Turning a fridge on its side can prove to be detrimental to the appliance. Storing or moving a refrigerator on its side can displace the oils and gases that make the machine run, rendering it useless. Keeping the fridge upright during all phases of moving and storage is important for maintaining its working condition.
3. Keep it dry: If any moisture creeps into your fridge during the moving process, you’ll have mold and mildew to clean when you want to use it again. This can in part be prevented by fully drying the inside, and then removing the doors on the fridge and freezer compartments, following the instructions in the user manual. The hardware can then be stored in the refrigerator in plastic bags.
4. Prop the doors open before storage: If removing the doors is out of the question, propping the doors open before storage will allow moisture to escape, also preventing against mildew. An object can be wedged between the door and the compartment frame, such as a ball of tape or a small wooden board.
5. Store indoors to prevent weathering: Heat from the sun can cause severe damage to your refrigerator’s handles and seals, as well as the plastic on the inside. Additionally, moisture from any rain or snow can cause parts of the fridge to rot. Storing it indoors is your safest bet, and a great place to do that is in a rental storage unit.