# Cleaning the Fridge with Household Cleaners **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 20, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-the-fridge-with-household-cleaners/220175 "2003-12-20T15:34:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-the-fridge-with-household-cleaners/220175/1 "2003-12-20T15:34:14Z")
My girlfriend and I had a fight about cleaning the refrigerator with common household cleaners. I said that she shouldn’t do this because the various fumes will be lingering in the fridge (she didn’t actually unplug the thing and let it air out when done) and eventually infltrate into the foods. I would assume that this is the case as there is no ventilation (as far as I can tell) into or out of the fridge, excepting, of course, opening and closing the door. Now, I realize that most people probably clean the fridge this way, but are my hippy medical sources telling me this is bad wrong on this matter? Should we assume that our food, which is properly wrapped up is safe from anything that might be lurking in there? Do we have more to fear from the cheese spread that’s been sitting in there for months? For the record, I typically clean with just water and it seems to work fine by me, if slower and more labor-intensive. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-the-fridge-with-household-cleaners/220175/2 "2003-12-20T17:01:53Z")
If my husband ever cleaned the fridge (which would never happen), I would not gripe about how he did it, but rather be glad I didn’t have to do it. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-the-fridge-with-household-cleaners/220175/3 "2003-12-20T18:16:22Z")
Clean it with a solution of water and bicarbonate of soda. Makes it smell good too. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-the-fridge-with-household-cleaners/220175/4 "2003-12-20T18:48:23Z")
Ah, humble baking soda. Never would have thought of it, but it makes sense. Thanks, I’ll try it. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-the-fridge-with-household-cleaners/220175/5 "2003-12-20T19:28:30Z")
If crustaceans have begun to grow, I take a kitchen rag with the above water/baking soda mix and allow time for soakage du crud to transpire. ---
**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-the-fridge-with-household-cleaners/220175/6 "2003-12-22T01:32:57Z")
I use dishwater if it’s still clean. Yes, the more chemicals you use the worse the potential for toxic interaction. You only need water (universal solvent) and elbow grease (irresistible force) to clean up most organics. PS You’re probably getting as many fumes from the containers of your food as from the air. Plastic, metal… I would guess that pottery is ok, and glass. Or you could just eat everything as soon as you but it. Mmmm… gluttony…