July 12, 2024

How to Store a Fridge: Essential Tips for Long-Term Storage

When it comes to storing a fridge, as with anything, it is crucial that you store it properly. Proper storage will maintain the fridges efficiency and give it a longer lifespan. It will be a safe way to store it which will prevent any small children from messing with it, preventing a possibly fatal accident. How to store a fridge is simple and proper storage can prove to be a great help during kitchen renovations or a house move.

Within this article, we are going to talk you through how to store a fridge so it is safe and is ready for when you need it again.

Preparing Your Fridge for Storage

To begin, you need to give yourself ample amounts of time to prepare the fridge before you place it into storage. You need to empty it, unplug it and allow it to defrost. You need to give yourself at least a week for it to defrost before it has to go into storage.

For the defrosting process, you can just leave it and place a towel along the door to catch any water that may spill out. If it has a freezer compartment you may want to take on a more hands-on approach, using a plastic scraper to knock off larger pieces of ice into a container as they defrost. This could speed up the process.

You can also place a bowl of hot water into the fridge. This will also speed up the process but it is still a good idea to leave yourself plenty of time to defrost.

Cleaning the Fridge

Next, you will want to clean the inside and outside of the fridge. Once it has defrosted, you will want to wipe away all the water and, if there are any stuck on bits of food, wipe these away with a cloth and some cleaning solution.

For the outside, you will want to wipe it down but you will also want to hoover the condenser coils at the back to remove any dust and cobwebs.

Securing and Packing Your Fridge for Storage

Once the fridge is clean, you will want to remove all the shelves and drawer compartments. You will want to do this before you move the fridge into storage. Store the shelves and drawers in a box and not within the fridge.

When moving your fridge, you must keep it upright. If the fridge is moved on its side, the condenser coils could become damaged. Once it is the storage unit, it needs to stay upright.

You may also want to take off the door to stop moisture from building up and creating mould. Keeping the door ajar will have the same effect and you could use a door stop to help you with this. Make sure to pick one made from soft material so as not to damage your fridge or the door seal.

Choosing the Right Storage Location

Now that your fridge is ready for storage, you need to choose the right storage location. You will want somewhere that is clean and dry so a storage unit is the perfect solution. We have storage units that come in a variety of sizes so you will be able to find one that suits your needs.

You may also want to be on the lookout for ground level storage as it will make moving it easier.

Monitoring Your Stored Fridge

Once your fridge is in storage, you will want to make regular checks to it, to make sure that it looks okay and there are no issues, such as pests getting into your storage unit. Regular checks will allow you to fix any issues earlier before they damage your fridge.

Reactivating Your Stored Fridge

When you are ready to remove your fridge from storage, you will need to get it ready for being used again. You will want to check your fridge, inside and out, to make sure that there are no issues.

Once you have moved it back to your home, you may want to leave it a few hours before you plug it in. This will allow the oil in the compressor to settle properly.