Refrigerator/freezer drying during storage

[Jimmary22]

Looking for some suggestion to keep my refrigerator/ freezer free from mold during storage. Just purchased a new fifth wheel and love it. We are not yet able to go full time so it is stored for some periods of time. The refrigerator is a residential design with the freezer on the bottom. With the kitchen slide out closed up the freezer door and left side refrigerator door cannot be opened. I am looking for options so as not to have a mold issue.

[Gearitis]

You know those little white Silica Gel packets that you find in some shrink wrapped goods or other containers. Collect those in a closed container, and when you store your rig, just put the container full of those packets with the lid off in the fridge or freezer and it will absorb the moisture. We started doing it 15 years ago and it works every time.

[rhagfo]

filrupmark wrote:
Our refrigerator doors have to remain closed during storage due to the island. We wad up newspaper and put inside the fridge and freezer. Always smells nice and fresh when we pickup our trailer from storage. Before putting the paper in make sure the inside of the fridge is room temperature and completely dry.

Your saying there is less than about 3/4" between the fridge and the island? The doors don't need to be wide open, just opened enough to allow air circulation. As stated before only needs the space of a folded towel to allow air circulation.

[kep5niner]

Similar to some of the suggestions above, but easier: just make sure it is DRY before you leave it for any extended period of time. I have done that for years in both my TTs, FWs and boats. Never a problem.

On a side note, the condition of the refrigerator can be a good indicator of the shape the rest of the rig is in, indicative of what level of care and attention to detail was taken. For instance, if I were looking at a used boat, TT, FW, etc., if the fridge was a mold/mildew mess, it would raise concerns for other aspects of the rig as well.

[filrupmark]

Our refrigerator doors have to remain closed during storage due to the island. We wad up newspaper and put inside the fridge and freezer. Always smells nice and fresh when we pickup our trailer from storage. Before putting the paper in make sure the inside of the fridge is room temperature and completely dry.

[Jimmary22]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Can't wait until we can full time and don't have to worry
about it. Thanks again.

[Sam_Spade]

Jimmary22 wrote:
The freezer is where the issue is. I don't think there is enough room to even leave it cracked.

1) Make sure it is DRY.

2) Vent if possible.

If not possible, the get a small tub of chemical dehumidifier and make SURE the door remails closed.

[Toolguy5]

Lwiddis wrote:
For your situation determine if you can easily pop the freezer door off during storage.

There should only be one or two screws on each side of freezer door. Or the handle comes off real easy. There is a set screw on each side of the handle. If you remove that maybe you can open door a little.

[Me_Again]

I have read about putting news paper in a closed refer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwNFK1idrPE

or watch this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8AZezIoes0

[Halmfamily]

Try Damp Rid available at most big box stores.

[azjeffh]

rhagfo wrote:

I can't believe that there isn't 3/4" of clearance to drop a towel in to the doors. I would believe that you could have something hitting the refer while traveling down the road.

Didn't say there wasn't clearance, just offered a suggestion in case there isn't. :R

[Learjet]

rhagfo wrote:


I can't believe that there isn't 3/4" of clearance to drop a towel in to the doors. I would believe that you could have something hitting the refer while traveling down the road.

^^^^ yes, this has to be true ^^^^ 🙂

[rhagfo]

azjeffh wrote:
I have a residential refrigerator and there is no way I could easily take the door off the freezer (located on the bottom).

If you're space limited, can't you just move your slide out an inch or two while being stored until it dries out then retract the slide?

I can't believe that there isn't 3/4" of clearance to drop a towel in to the doors. I would believe that you could have something hitting the refer while traveling down the road.

[azjeffh]

I have a residential refrigerator and there is no way I could easily take the door off the freezer (located on the bottom).

If you're space limited, can't you just move your slide out an inch or two while being stored until it dries out then retract the slide?

[dewey02]

If you can't open the freezer door even a crack, then why not remove the door completely while in storage?