Can You Clean a Fridge with Bleach?

There are two sides to every coin. The topic of bleach is no exception to that rule. There will be many people who like and do use bleach to clean their fridges. But there will be just as many who do not and think no one should use it.

What this debate means is that you get to choose which cleansers you want to use to clean the inside of your fridge. That kind of freedom makes it easier for you to clean and protect your food.

To learn the answer to this question, just continue to read our article. It may surprise you.

What is Bleach?

Some people say this is a catch-all term that includes all those products used to sterilize, disinfect, and clean. But that would not be close to the truth as there are cleansers that do the same job and are not related to bleach at all.

Chlorine bleach, the most powerful version, is often found included in laundry soaps and other cleansers you can find on your supermarket’s shelves. There are lesser forms of bleach and those options do not include chlorine in their ingredients, but they are still bleach.

To define bleach, one would say it is a very thorough and powerful cleanser that comes with the right ingredients to keep your fridge free from germs, bacteria, and mold. It also cleans up foul odors as well.

Yes, You Can Use Bleach to Clean Your Fridge

The arguments for using this chemical to sterilize and clean your fridge can be quite convincing.

• First, bleach is a strong cleanser that gets all the germs and bacteria it comes in contact with.
• Second, it is the most effective mold killer you can probably use outside of commercial and industrial products. Mold infestations are a serious problem and threaten your health as well as the health of your food. Bleach is very good at getting rid of mold as it can kill just about anything it touches. The other mold-killing products have just about the same risks to them.
• Third, you do not need a lot of bleach to clean your fridge.

Mix 1 tablespoon per gallon of water and the mixture should be strong enough to kill all the germs as well as clean the fridge interior. After you wipe the interior of your fridge down and get rid of mold, germs, and bacteria, you can use a good soap and warm water to wash or rinse the bleach out. It does not need to remain to do its job.

No, You Shouldn’t Use Bleach

There are some nice reasons supporting this side of the coin.

• First, bleach is harmful if you, your family, or pets swallow some. It can burn your throat, stomach, and other areas of your body if you do not rinse it all away.
• Second, it can transfer its odor to your food and change the way it smells and tastes. Unless actual bleach gets on your food, it should still be safe to eat.
• Third, some construction materials inside your fridge can be damaged by the bleach and cost you some extra repair bills.

If you are not careful and do not rinse your fridge completely out and remove all the bleach, these scenarios are a possibility. How great a risk depends on how careless you are when you clean your fridge’s interior.

There is Another Option

The choice to use bleach or not is really up to you. If you do not like the smell of bleach, then there is a third option you can use to clean your fridge. It is a natural method that does not come with the risks that accompany bleach.

Use 1 part vinegar and combine it with 1 part water and mix well. Then take a clean cloth and wipe your fridge until it is clean. Vinegar will kill a lot of germs and bacteria, plus, there is no danger if the water or vinegar drops get on your food.

Then, if you do not like the smell of vinegar, add 3 parts of baking soda to remove all smells. Just do not mix vinegar and bleach as the two ingredients are not compatible and can create a poisonous gas.