You're likely familiar with the drip pan located on the lower shelving of your oven—a large, metallic pan used to collect grease and grime and prevent a bigger mess down the line. But its equally handy cousin, often located under your refrigerator, is likely neglected and not cleaned nearly as often as it should be.
Along with the weekly purge of the contents of your refrigerator, your drip pan should get a cleanse, too. This place is responsible for preventing that water from leaking all over your kitchen floor—and it's where defrosted ice or condensation builds up, week after week.
While the exact location may vary by model, drip pans are typically located under your fridge. Why is it important to clean it? Well, standing water can attract germs and mold, allowing them to grow over time and causing a funk to permeate the air.
While you might be good at cleaning the inside shelves or the outer door of your fridge, it's smart to set aside time every three months to give your fridge some TLC and clean out that drip pan. Never done it before? Here's how:
Step 1: Check Your Fridge Manual
The location of your drip pan will vary depending on what type of fridge you have. Some pans might not even be removable. The only way to find out is by checking your appliance's manual. If you're a renter or didn't hold on to the paper copy, you can find a digital version with a quick internet search. Check the interior of your fridge for a manufacturer's sticker and Google the model number. From there, you can find the location of your drip pan and see if you can remove it for cleaning.
Step 2: Remove & Clean Your Drip Pan
If your drip pan is removable, you'll either need to remove the toe kick from the front of the fridge or unscrew the back panel of the appliance. Your trusty manual should offer specific instructions to help you through the process. Once you've exposed the underside of the fridge, you should be able to easily pull out the drip pan—but make sure to do this with care. There will likely be a pool of murky, germy water that can slosh around if you're not gentle enough.
Once you've excavated the drip pan, carefully pour the contents down the drain of your kitchen sink. Give the drip pan a rinse with clean water, then drain it again. Then you can hit it with cleaning products: Using either a disinfecting cleaning solution or distilled white vinegar, wipe every corner of the drip pan until it's squeaky clean. Et voila: your drip pan is clean and ready to return.
For Non-Removable Drip Pans:
If your drip pan isn't designed to come out, you can still achieve a thorough clean—it'll just require some extra work. Once you remove the toe kick or back panel, crouch down and look for the drip pan. Then, using a claw grabber or even a pair of tongs, pick up a paper towel and use the tongs to reach in and sop up excess liquid.
Next, grab a pack of disinfecting wipes and repeat the process, replacing the wipes with fresh ones as needed, until the drip tray is clean.
Step 3: Pat Yourself On The Back
Seriously, that's it. With just a few simple steps, you've given your fridge a much needed refresh that'll last for months. Set a reminder in 90 days to repeat the process. Turns out, it's not too hard after all.
