Why You Should Dust Your Fridge To Save Energy

Did you know that you should regularly dust your fridge? Doing so could help save you money and energy. Here’s the full details.

As far as kitchen appliances go, the fridge is probably the most laidback. Sure you’ve got to clean it out every once in a while to stop it from kicking out a pong every time you open the door. But apart from that, it just hums along keeping your food cool, right?

I’m afraid it’s not that simple. You see, your fridge may not be performing as efficiently as it could.

Why You Should Dust Your Fridge

Why? The answer is simple – dust.

Over time, the condenser coils and vents on the back or underneath your fridge can accumulate layers of dust, debris, and grime. Because it’s difficult to get to the coils without pulling the fridge out from the wall most people don’t bother dusting there.

Yet, when the dust is allowed to gather on the condenser coils and vents, these layers of dust and dirt act like a blanket. The dust traps heat in the coils, causing the compressor inside your fridge to work a lot harder to maintain cool temperatures.

A harder-working fridge means more energy is being consumed by it to do its job. This, in turn, results in bigger electricity bills for you.

Plus, if your fridge is constantly working harder than it should, it can shorten the life of your fridge. This means you may have to fork out for a new fridge much earlier than if you’d been a bit more vigilant with the feather duster.

How Often Should You Dust?

The good news is you don’t have to dust your fridge every day, let alone every week. A good dusting of your fridge once every three months will suffice. If you’ve got pets, particularly hairy ones like dogs or cats, then you might want to up the frequency and dust it once a month.

You are most likely to find the coils at the back of your fridge. To get started, pull out your fridge from the wall. Switch the fridge off, and give it a good once over with a soft bristle brush. Don’t use any water or chemicals, such as furniture polish – good old-fashioned elbow grease will suffice.

Alternatively, you can use your hoover attachment to clean it while hoovering your kitchen. It’s easiest if you use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to dislodge any dust and debris. Just be gentle to avoid damaging the coils.

While you’re there, don’t forget to clean the vents. Dust can accumulate here, hindering airflow and making the fridge work harder.

And remember to switch your fridge back on once you’re done removing the dust (a mistake you only make once!).

If you’ve got an older fridge, and the coils are underneath the fridge, then I’m afraid this doesn’t make you exempt. Dust still gathers there. and it needs dusting just the same.

To access the coils on older models first switch off your fridge, and then you’ll need to remove the grill located at the bottom of the front of your fridge to get your duster in there. You may also find a small clean paintbrush useful to get a bit further into dust.

How Much Can I Save?

According to Friends of the Earth, apparently keeping your fridge’s coils clean and free of dust can improve the efficiency of your fridge by up to a whopping 30%. This is a lot of energy and a lot of money in your pocket for a little dusting here and there, and hugely beneficial to the environment too.

Now, let’s get dusting!

And after you’ve dusted, you can check out the rest of my easy energy-saving tips in my archives. From using a lid when you’re cooking, to setting your boiler at the right temperature, I’ve got tons of tips to help save you money.