Refrigerator Care

Refrigerator checklist

From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

• Appliance thermometer inside the refrigerator
• Refrigerator at 40°F or below, freezer at 0°F
• Door closes firmly and the gasket passes the dollar bill test
• Gasket wiped with warm, soapy water
• Vents inside left clear, nothing packed too tight
• Milk and eggs on inside shelves
• Leftovers dated and cleared out regularly
• Baking soda on a back shelf for odors
• Doors kept shut during a power outage
• No pulling out or unplugging without asking
• Puddles, frost buildup, odd noises or warm spots shared in writing

All done. I hope your food stays fresh and your kitchen stays easy.

For owners: before move in

From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

• Cleaned the refrigerator inside and out, including the drawers and the door gasket
• Vacuumed the coils, and left space behind and around the unit for airflow
• Checked the water line and valve for leaks, and replaced the water filter if there is one
• Confirmed the refrigerator holds 40°F or below and the freezer holds 0°F
• Noted its condition, with photos, on the move in report, and left the manual or a link to it

All done. About ten minutes at each turnover helps the refrigerator run cooler, quieter and longer.

If it stops cooling or leaks

1. Take a breath. Keep the doors closed to hold the cold in.
2. Check that it is plugged in, the breaker hasn’t tripped, and the temperature dial wasn’t bumped.
3. If water is leaking, soak it up, and turn off the water supply valve to the ice maker if you can reach it safely.
4. If the refrigerator stays warm for more than a few hours, move food to a cooler with ice.
5. Take photos of the thermometer, any leak and the food affected.
6. Share it in writing right away so it can be looked at quickly. You did exactly the right thing.

An open box of baking soda on a back shelf, replaced every few months, quietly soaks up odors.

When the power goes out

• Keep the doors shut as much as you can. FoodSafety.gov says a closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about four hours, a full freezer for about 48 hours, and a half full freezer for about 24 hours.
• After about four hours without power, many refrigerated foods, like meat, dairy and leftovers, should be thrown out. A thermometer helps you decide.
• If an outage is expected, a cooler and a few bags of ice on hand can save a lot of groceries.

When in doubt, throw it out.

For owners: when a refrigerator problem is shared

1. Thank the resident, and treat a refrigerator that stops cooling as urgent.
2. Send a qualified appliance technician, and replace the unit if a repair isn’t practical.
3. Check the floor under and around the refrigerator after any leak.
4. Talk with the resident kindly about spoiled food, following the lease and local rules.
5. Write down what was reported, what was done and when, and follow up to make sure all is well.

Guides that go well with this one

• Kitchen Fire Safety
• Oven and Stove Care
• Storms and Power Outages
• Water Shutoffs and Leak Detection
• Move-In and Move-Out Inspections

Helpful resources

The guide points to these for details. Rules differ from place to place, so the official pages where your home is are the best guide.

• FoodSafety.gov: Cold Food Storage Chart
• FoodSafety.gov: Food Safety During Power Outages