A Complete Guide to Getting Your
Fridge Storage Ready

The process of storing your fridge actually starts with knowing how to choose the right storage space for your appliance.

There are the obvious considerations, such as the square footage you’ll need for everything you want to store. You can then consider popular long-term storage vendors, like Spacer. With 10,000+ locations across the country, you can get a storage space close to your new or renovated home, which makes it easy to transport everything once you’re done building or renovating.

Picking a storage unit should also include looking at the finer details of the space:

• You need a covered space rather than just an open storage area, so don’t simply place your fridge next to the house while you’re renovating.
• Moisture seeping into a fridge can cause problems and you also don’t want extreme temperatures or temperature fluctuations damaging your appliances. So, ask the storage owner if it’s sealed and insulated for added protection.
• A temperature controlled area is ideal and of course, ask whether proper pest control maintenance is in place.

Now, how do you make sure your fridge will be in the same condition before AND after storage?

You can’t simply jump into this task without some planning.

Firstly, consider where you’ll keep your frozen and cold items while your fridge is out of use. Do you have a friendly neighbour who has space in their fridge for your food items? Or, will you use a small bar fridge while you don’t have space for your standard fridge?

If you don’t have a clear plan in place, you risk letting the food spoil that you’ll take out of the fridge.

You also need the right cleaning products. Once you start cleaning you may notice mould or other build-up you didn’t see during a general kitchen clean. So, the cleaning agents you use should be strong enough to disinfect and remove stains. But, do NOT use substances that contain ammonia or bleach because it can harm or discolour steel and plastic.

Also buy a box of baking soda, because it’s one of the best ways to remove odours. And no, leaving lemons in the fridge won’t work!

Now you’re ready to start taking out the food and other items.

If you’re lucky enough to have another fridge to put it in, do this at least 48 hours before movers come to get the fridge or before you move it yourself. You need time for the fridge to properly dry out, so don’t empty it just before the moving van arrives!

Other solutions are:

• If you’re only putting the fridge in storage for a few days, relocate items that won’t spoil quickly—like eggs or fruit—to somewhere else in the house. Or pack it away for transportation.
• For items that must be kept cool, an Esky cooler may be sufficient for a short period of time.
• Plan ahead and start using the frozen items like meat in the days leading up to emptying the fridge; and don’t buy anything that will need to be kept frozen.
• Defrost some frozen items and also place it in the Esky or rather donate it if you know you won’t be able to keep it fresh for long enough.

No, you can’t give the fridge a quick wipe down and place it in storage. That’s the quickest way to ruin your appliance thanks to problems like mould.

Firstly, switch off your fridge and let it defrost well ahead of time. Even modern fridges may have some ice build-up, and you need all that cleared away to properly clean. For older units that have a lot of ice, break off chunks of it and place steaming hot water inside. Also remove the ice cube trays from the freezer compartments.

Next, do a thorough clean:

• Remove all loose components such as shelves. These also require a good clean.
• For components like coils at the back, give it a good dust or use your vacuum cleaner and its brush attachment. If it’s very dirty, wipe over it with a dry cloth.
• Take, soapy warm water and wash the interior spaces you can reach. Use a brush to get at the hard to reach places. Add baking soda to the mix as an effective odour remover.
• Rinse all surfaces so there's no soapy residue.

Important tip: after switching off the fridge, don’t wait too long before cleaning it. Odours can quickly set in and it may be difficult to remove that completely.

Ensure it's Dry

As any professional mover would tell you, this is one of the most important steps. Nathan confirmed that this one one of the most important parts of the move:

“One thing that's really important particularly with larger fridges where there are more shelves and sections is to ensure there is no moisture as this can turn into mould when in storage. But both sizes of fridges require turning off well before the moving date."

This is why it's important to wash your fridge thoroughly a day or two in advance. You can wipe it dry but also let it air dry properly before it's moved. Placing a completely dry fridge in storage means you can have peace of mind you won't return to a smelly, mouldy appliance when you come back to pick it up.

Now your fridge is ready to move. We asked Nathan the safest way to move a fridge:

"The fridge doesn't need to remain upright - it'll be incredibly difficult to move if you attempt this, just of course make sure it's never on its back. Rule 1 is to be mindful of the face of the fridge as the most important elements are on the front and they are incredibly easy to mark and scratch if handled improperly. Using protective blankets over the front is a great way to avoid this. That said, we always add extra protection to the front of the fridge ourselves, any experienced removals firm will.”

Once the vehicle starts moving, the items on or inside are bound to bump into each other, no matter how well you packed and secured them. By properly covering the fridge and other items you’re transporting, you prevent exterior damage like dents and scrapes. To keep them in place, moving ties and webbing are handy resources to invest in.

During transport you can keep the fridge doors sealed to prevent movement but be careful about what you use. Many types of sticky tape tend to leave a residue which is difficult to remove and can ruin the fridge’s look.

Arriving at the place of storage, use a dolly or ropes to move it into place.

While your fridge is in storage, most experts advise you to keep the door at least slightly ajar. This allows airflow, which will limit the growth of mould and prevent bad smells. You don’t want to be forced to discard the fridge because it became unusable during the time of storage!

"There are two essential tips for long-term fridge storage: water and cleanliness. Ensuring its completely water-free is even more important if storing for long-periods of time. The second essential tip is giving the ridge a proper clean beforehand, ensuring you're cleaning every inch of the inside before storing.

Nathan also explained - don’t listen to DIY myths such as leaving lemons inside the fridge during storage.

“"It's happened many times now, when a fridge is stagnant it can cause a smell. Now, someone has clearly found a method of avoiding the smell which they think has worked, and the rumor has unfortunately spread: lemons. They cut the lemon in half and leave it in the empty fridge and it has caught on. It doesn't keep the fridge clean or smelling nice, it does nothing. The only way to have a nice smelling fridge is by cleaning it.”

So, you’re ready to resume using your fridge again! Now, just don’t be too hasty.

Firstly, after taking it from storage, put it in its spot but wait two days before switching it on. This is a precautionary tip, so you don’t damage its compressor.

It’s best to give your fridge another proper clean, because even in the best of storage units you never know which critters may have found their way inside.

Now, why not take this opportunity to rethink the organisation of your fridge. This not only helps you keep order on your home but smart fridge storage guidelines can actually help food last longer. For example:

• Use door storage wisely: Only place items in the door if you know regular temperature fluctuations won’t cause them to spoil.
• Allocate shelves: Use each shelf for specific groups of items. This can prevent one food item affecting another. For example, onions shouldn’t be close to potatoes, because they lead to the potatoes sprouting earlier. Also, the temperature is different on each shelf, with the coldest ones being at the bottom. So, place food items there that’s most likely to spoil quickly, for example fish.
• Use smart storage resources: Use an airtight container for each food type, so odours don’t affect each other. You an also label each container and add an expiration date to help you plan meals effectively. This will limit how much food you end up throwing away each week.

To finish off, we asked Nathan from Falconer removals and storage what, if anything, clients could do to make your life easier during the removal process. After all - happy move equals a faster and safer move for your furniture.

"Other than the tips mentioned before, its all about contents. We love turning up to a fridge removal when there is nothing but shelves left in the fridge and freezer. Take all the freezer goods out and put them in ice-bags and take anything breakable out of the fridge as well."

Now, with your well-organised fridge in place, schedule a fridge audit on a weekly basis, so it stays this way. Chances are you’ll enjoy your kitchen much more when it’s orderly!

Have questions about the right way to store any other items? Let us know and we’ll give you the lowdown.