Moldy Refridgerator

[vthoms]

Last year we had planned a trip a weekend apart so I had left some food items in the fridge. There ended up being a thunderstorm which shut off the power to the fridge while it was in my driveway and it all spoiled. I cleaned it and it was mold free for the rest of the summer.

When I opened it this spring, the fridge was absolutely gross. It had lots of mold and mostly in the same places from last summer (the lower shelf in the door and the freezer). It had spread a bit more though.

I have cleaned it again and have the doors propped open to keep the air flowing. But the rubber seal around the freezer is stained and no matter how I scrub it didn't come clean.

I'm using a thyme oil cleaner which is a natural mildew killer.

Why I'm posting is two reasons:

#1. Any suggestions on what type of cleaner I should use to remove the stains in the rubber seal.

#2. What could I keep in the fridge and freezer to keep it from molding up again other than keeping the doors open. Would baking soda work? That's more about smell I thought? A cup of salt?

Thank you

[vthoms]

I used a cleanser with bleach and it got all but one of the marks off. And I grabbed a piece of Wood that we normally use to block the wheels and it's fairly large and heavy and the freezer can't squeeze it in to shut the door. It's tried because the wood is all the way inside now but the freezer door still stays open a few inches. And I opened a lawn chair to sit while I was scrubbing it and left the chair there and it's kept the main door from closing too. So no mold! Thank you!

[frankwp]

Just want to add that mold will not grow without food. If the interior of the fridge is absolutely clean there will be no mold even if it's left closed.

[Genius24]

Will mold grow in a fridge if it has only moisture in it with the doors closed and no food? 

[StirCrazy]

a new topic will be better, but your answer is yes.  all you need is moisture and a lack of air flow to start it going.  that is why we shut off our fridges and prop the doors open during the storage season

[way2roll]

You are responding to a topic that's 11 years old. You might get more answers to your question if you posted a new topic. 

[vthoms]

Thank you for all the great responses!

[Gene_Ginny]

westend wrote:
... Switch to Listerine mouthwash or Lysol cleaner (original formula). Both contain Phenol, a good mildewcide...

Thanks, I just learned a new trick.

[SteveB]

Cleaning solutions have been discussed. Check the refer door latches for a little tab that will keep the door slightly open. There is also a device from Camping World that is supposed to do the same thing though I do not have one. Air circulation is the only way to prevent mold. Been there, done that and have at least 3 T-shirts...

[westend]

Gene&Ginny wrote:
In addition to all the good advice above, look at the door seals. I was always a fanatic about keeping the fridge and seals clean with a Clorox whipedown and one day looked UP at the underside of the door seal. YUK!!! I thought I was keeping it clean but that little groove on the underside was black. Now I make sure I look at the underside and particularly that groove that gets exposed when you pull on the door seal a little.

I use the Clorox Kitchen Cleanup with bleach and my wife hates the smell and doesn't want me to use it. I told her she doesn't have a choice and the smell does go away in a few hours so just stay out of the trailer when I clean.

Switch to Listerine mouthwash or Lysol cleaner (original formula). Both contain Phenol, a good mildewcide.

I don't get too bent out of shape over molds and mildew, rather not have them and don't want my fridge black. I do some mold abatement in my work so kind of know what's innocuous and what's harmful. I talk to a few folks that think all of it is deadly, really not so. Heck, I even eat some exotic cheeses that are covered with the stuff. I also like me some fungus on my steak!

[Gene_Ginny]

In addition to all the good advice above, look at the door seals. I was always a fanatic about keeping the fridge and seals clean with a Clorox whipedown and one day looked UP at the underside of the door seal. YUK!!! I thought I was keeping it clean but that little groove on the underside was black. Now I make sure I look at the underside and particularly that groove that gets exposed when you pull on the door seal a little.

I use the Clorox Kitchen Cleanup with bleach and my wife hates the smell and doesn't want me to use it. I told her she doesn't have a choice and the smell does go away in a few hours so just stay out of the trailer when I clean.

[eabc5454]

We also use natural cleaners in the house. We have eight parrots, and we have to be very careful about what we use in the house, as many cleaners, bleach included, can kill them.

However, the birds don't go camping with us! We use bleach disinfectant wipes to wipe out the refrigerator after each trip, and then prop the door open.

BTW, we also use the bleach wipes on the hose bib for the fresh water connection, saturating the bib and letting it air dry. You never know what happened on that bib before you got there!

Happy camping,
Elizabeth

[2012Coleman]

If you had the fridge controls set on AUTO, then it should have switched to lp gas when the power went out. You did have it on AUTO mode right?

Good point...

You would also have had to have the valve open on the propane tank...

Same thing happened to me while staging for a trip, but I was prepared for it.

Use Clorox cleanup in a spray bottle and leave the doors open. Most now have a storage position lock - little grey tab on each door that you push out that keeps the door cracked open, but still secured. Me? - I just leave them open while stored.

[JC2]

vthoms wrote:
Last year we had planned a trip a weekend apart so I had left some food items in the fridge. There ended up being a thunderstorm which shut off the power to the fridge while it was in my driveway and it all spoiled. I cleaned it and it was mold free for the rest of the summer.

When I opened it this spring, the fridge was absolutely gross. It had lots of mold and mostly in the same places from last summer (the lower shelf in the door and the freezer). It had spread a bit more though.

I have cleaned it again and have the doors propped open to keep the air flowing. But the rubber seal around the freezer is stained and no matter how I scrub it didn't come clean.

I'm using a thyme oil cleaner which is a natural mildew killer.

Why I'm posting is two reasons:

#1. Any suggestions on what type of cleaner I should use to remove the stains in the rubber seal.

#2. What could I keep in the fridge and freezer to keep it from molding up again other than keeping the doors open. Would baking soda work? That's more about smell I thought? A cup of salt?

Thank you

If you had the fridge controls set on AUTO, then it should have switched to lp gas when the power went out. You did have it on AUTO mode right? Wiping the inside of a fridge clean then using clorox wipes will usually take care of any mold problems. Each door should also be cracked open to allow air circulation.

[fla-gypsy]

Oaklevel wrote:

robsouth wrote:
Use bleach. When the fridge is not on, the doors must be left open a little. It is as simple as that.

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