How to Clean a Kenmore Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator
French door and bottom-freezer refrigerators from Kenmore keep groceries fresh and beverages chilled with spacious shelves and versatile storage bins. Knowing how to clean a Kenmore bottom-freezer refrigerator every three months eliminates stubborn spills, prevents odor transfer and ensures door gaskets maintain an airtight seal for maximum cooling efficiency.
A thorough seasonal deep clean involves clearing food inventory, washing removable drawers, sanitizing interior walls and polishing the stainless steel exterior. Follow the step-by-step cleaning procedure below to keep your Kenmore appliance pristine and fresh.
Supplies
- Multipurpose cleaner or distilled white vinegar
- Mild dish soap
- Clean, non-abrasive cleaning sponges and microfiber cloths
- Warm water
- Baking soda, activated charcoal or coffee grounds
Step-by-Step Cleaning Procedure
You should do a deep cleaning on your French door refrigerator every three months.
- Step 1. Empty refrigerator and freezer - Remove all food items, condiment jars and beverages from the fresh food and freezer compartments.
- Note: Move perishable items into a cooler or another fridge.
- Step 2. Remove interior components - Carefully lift and remove shelves, crisper drawers and the ice storage bin from the interior.
- Note: Let them reach room temperature before cleaning.
- Step 3. Clean interior walls - Scrub all interior surfaces using a soft sponge and multipurpose cleaner or a solution of equal parts warm water and white vinegar.
- Step 4. Rinse and dry interior - Wipe down the interior liner with a clean damp cloth to remove soap residue, then dry thoroughly with a clean towel.
- Step 5. Clean door gaskets - Wipe down the flexible rubber door gaskets and drawer seals with a cloth and mild cleaner to remove trapped crumbs and sticky residue.
- Step 6. Wash shelves and bins - At the sink, wash the removed shelves and storage drawers using warm water, a soft sponge and mild dish soap.
- Step 7. Reinstall interior components - Slide the clean, dry shelves, crisper bins and ice container back into their respective slots.
- Step 8. Restock food and drinks - Place all refrigerated and frozen food containers back into the unit, wiping down the bottoms of sticky bottles first.
- Step 9. Add odor absorber - Place an open container of baking soda, fresh coffee grounds or activated charcoal on an upper shelf to neutralize odors.
- Tip: If odors remain for more than 24 hours, remove items from the fridge, unplug the unit and leave the door open overnight.
- Step 10. Clean stainless steel exterior - Wipe down the exterior doors and handles with a soft cloth dampened with mild dish soap and warm water.
- Step 11. Clean ice and water dispenser - Wipe down the exterior water and ice dispensing cradle, lever and drip tray with a damp soapy cloth.
- Step 12. Dry and polish exterior - Buff the stainless steel exterior completely dry using a clean microfiber cloth.
- Note: Follow the polish lines on the exterior to avoid streaking.
For more maintenance guides, user instructions, and replacement parts listings, view our library of Kenmore manuals and diagrams.