Mildew and mold love moisture; that’s why you must look through how to remove mildew fridge drip tray, especially how it’s done properly. After all, your fridge presents one of the most survivable places for them to multiply.
It’s no secret that fungi produce mildew, which counts as living organisms that live, breathe, and, of course, reproduce. For such beings to live, certain standards must be met consistently, one of which is the presence of excess moisture.
As your fridge does its job with water and ice as a consequence, dark and hidden corners are attractive to annoying organisms. Mildew is present almost all the time on the container where those characteristics collect.
You will not find mildew submerged in water, though, but the surface just above that should be crawling with fungi if left untouched for long.
Steps To Safely Remove Mildew From Fridge Drip Tray
Say that you got a new fridge to which you’re unfamiliar with the compartments other than those that present themselves as soon as you open the door. You probably haven’t figured out where the drip pan is, or you’ve forgotten to empty it in a while.
Chances are your kitchen, or whichever room you have the fridge on, is already stinking. Another thing that is too unfortunate to happen is a stream of water flowing from underneath the refrigerator.
Here’s how you can remove and kill the mildew.
Step #1. Turn off and unplug the unit
Refrigerators are regarded as big-spenders in terms of electricity usage, and it is lethal to get that current into something conductive like water and into you. So before you get thrilled and unpack the hidden mess, safety first.
Most fridges let you get the power off by turning its knob (the one that controls the temperature) into zero. Do that first before you pull the wire from the socket.
It would be best to equip yourself with well-fitted gloves and a mask for personal safety.
Step #2. Take out the drip tray
Assuming you now have an idea where the drip pan of your fridge is located, you can now take it out for cleaning. If not, we’ll discuss how you can identify it in the next section.
You should consider placing a temporary replacement on the drip tray’s spot since your fridge is defrosting and the water might come down, spreading mess on your floor. If you’re wondering what causes a fridge to leak water, check this article to find out.
Drip pans are commonly equipped with a joint-like indentation that locks them in place. You might find it a bit hard to pull out but make sure you control your strength, so the water doesn’t spill out of the container.
Empty the water contents, recommendable outside your house, to lessen the musty smell.
Step #3. Kill and wash away the mildew
After emptying the pan, you can first rinse it with a hose outside to thin out the mildew colonies. Once the tray is empty, you can now apply a solution to clean and disinfect it.
Mix a 20% solution of bleach with water and saturate all the surfaces of the tray with it. You can also use white vinegar or a commercial anti-mildew solution.
Check this article and learn how to make mold and mildew remover at home.
The tray doesn’t usually share the same space with the food and beverage contents of the refrigerator, so it’s okay to use products as long as you rinse them well. Let the tray soak in your chosen solution for about 10-15 minutes to purge all the fungi.
After which, scrub through the surfaces and rinse the solution away.
Step #4. Thoroughly scrub with soap and water, rinse and dry
After the mildew-killing solution, you now need to scrub and clean the tray with dishwashing soap. This will ensure that all the dirt and organisms are removed and the bleach solution.
Rinse the tray with clean running water and let it completely dry. To hasten the process, you can wipe it until dry with a clean cloth.
Meanwhile, you can grab a duster and clean the area where the drip tray needs to return to after it’s completely dry. Remove any dust, web, and possible mildew that has spread on the spot and dry it well.
After which, you can then return the drip tray and plug the fridge again.
How to find the fridge drip pan
Drip pans collect the excess water from the freezing and cooling process that operates in your fridge. Manufacturers usually take advantage of how the freezer and fridge stack high and place the drip pans at the bottom so the gravity can do the work of transporting.
If you don’t know where the drip pan of your fridge is located, the first section you should check is the bottom. It could then be opened from the front or the back.
Front openings are usually more accessible since they are typically drawer type, so there should be a handle. However, the back section usually requires unscrewing an enclosure, which we wouldn’t recommend you do if you can’t put it back again.
If it’s not those two, then you can either check the fridge’s manual or reach out to your store.
Conclusion
We’ve now seen how to remove mildew fridge drip tray and locate it. It should be an easy-to-follow task, doable in a few minutes.
Just make sure you check and clean your tray regularly to avoid mildew recurrence.