Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask does anyone else to do this?

38 replies

Statsquestion2 · 06/02/2026 19:28

When unpacking the shopping I clean out the fridge and wipe it all down too. I’ve never actually cleaned my fridge outside of this scenario but then as I do a full shop weekly there’s no need i suppose. Anyone else do this or do you just wait to notice it needs a clean?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Vodka1 · 08/02/2026 23:20

I clean mine about 2/3 times a year, if something spills

Once a week I suppose a quick wipe down is a nice easy way to keep on top of it, but I don't really find it gets dirty tbh

BertieBotts · 07/02/2026 11:31

Yes I do! But DH doesn't and when he does the shopping for a while the fridge gets a bit manky.

BauhausOfEliott · 07/02/2026 11:30

Cheeseisneeded · 07/02/2026 07:29

Same here
I clean out fruit and veg drawers, wash them, then once the are dry line with kitchen roll, wipe down shelves, then the little shelves in thd door I take off and wash, line with fresh kitchen roll

I cant imagine what some of these fridges are like

Show quote history

You can’t imagine what my fridge is like.

I can’t imagine how I’d manage to enjoy my life if I spent that much of my valuable time on non-essential housework.

Original poster
Statsquestion2 · 07/02/2026 08:54

lots of replies! Yeah I just assumed that most people would do it this way as it makes sense to give a wipe through whilst it’s half empty! I never really have major spills or anything. The veg drawer might have little loose bits of onion etc or whatever. But as I do my shopping weekly I never have much that is gone off to throw out as such. I just wipe it all through with a damp cloth and it’s good as new.

OP posts:
IAmKerplunk · 07/02/2026 07:58

Yes I do - plus put all drawers/shelves in dishwasher. Likewise the bins/bin lids all get washed on bin day. And the washing machine and dishwasher get thoroughly cleaned every month. I am slovenly in general though so no idea why these are the habits that have stuck 🤣 Ask me the last time I polished or cleaned my windows though 🙈

Cheeseisneeded · 07/02/2026 07:29

DustyMaiden · 06/02/2026 23:47

Clean fridge then write shopping list, weekly.

Same here
I clean out fruit and veg drawers, wash them, then once the are dry line with kitchen roll, wipe down shelves, then the little shelves in thd door I take off and wash, line with fresh kitchen roll

I cant imagine what some of these fridges are like

plumpunnet · 06/02/2026 23:58

I clear it out and clean it most weeks a day or so before bin day on a Tuesday , some weeks I’m too short of time but I like to go through and declutter and clean if I can , I then plan what’s needed in the next shop
to be fair I have most of the jars /bottles in a container , ditto dairy , ditto salad /veg so really it is only a few minutes job

Redcloaktraitor · 06/02/2026 23:48

I don’t think I’ve ever cleaned my fridge.
There’s no out of date food in it, I get rid of that as required.
No spills have ever occurred in there.
What am I meant to be cleaning?

DustyMaiden · 06/02/2026 23:47

Clean fridge then write shopping list, weekly.

PGmicstand · 06/02/2026 23:44

No, I don't do this.
I spot clean where I notice any spills or dirt. Chuck out any out of date food that needs to be removed.
That's about it.

scrivette · 06/02/2026 23:20

About twice a year, I wipe up spills and pick up bits that have dropped, but that’s it really.

longtompot · 06/02/2026 23:11

Usually it gets a full on, pull out the shelves and drawers clean when I notice something has spilled, otherwise it's a cursory wipe as and when. I wish I could give it a clean before the shopping arrives, but I have so many jars and bottles in there it's just such a big job

Firefly1987 · 06/02/2026 23:10

No I just wait until I clean the car and change all the shopping bags to do it. Then everything gets cleaned. I wash my hands after touching stuff from the fridge anyway (OCD) so I don't mind it being "dirty" the rest of the time.

TheChosenTwo · 06/02/2026 23:08

Someone does ours once a fortnight, the night before the food shop comes. Either dh or I - wipe shelves, empty and clean out veg drawers, make sure food that has gone out of date is evicted and anything on the turn gets made into soup!
We get a food shop weekly but it doesn’t really need cleaning more than fortnightly.

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 06/02/2026 23:06

Maybe a couple of times a year, hadn’t occurred to me to clean it more often than that

90sTrifle · 06/02/2026 23:04

Statsquestion2 · 06/02/2026 19:28

When unpacking the shopping I clean out the fridge and wipe it all down too. I’ve never actually cleaned my fridge outside of this scenario but then as I do a full shop weekly there’s no need i suppose. Anyone else do this or do you just wait to notice it needs a clean?

I give the fridge a clear-out (rotten veg, fruit binned etc) - every week before my DH comes home with the weekly shop. It then gets a full clean every month or sooner if it needs it.

OriginalUsername2 · 06/02/2026 22:59

I’ve thought about doing it that way but I don’t. If I notice it’s getting gross I wait until the day before the next big shop and put all the bits in the dishwasher.

Morepositivemum · 06/02/2026 22:56

I used to do this in my younger days and before child number three. Full wash out before every shop. Now it’s a wipe if there’s a spill and wash once a month begrudgingly!!!!

Barney16 · 06/02/2026 22:55

Yep, I always clean it before the shopping comes. I like a tidy fridge 🙂

DreamingOfGeneHunt · 06/02/2026 22:55

I clean mine when it absolutely can't go any further without it.

ChangeAgainAgainAgain · 06/02/2026 22:52

Yes, I organise and clean my fridge before unpacking my shop. It's more about making sure I've thrown out anything past it's date, that there's nothing going off in the vege drawer and that stuff gets used in the right order than specifically the cleaning, but cleaning is part of it.

Luxlumos · 06/02/2026 22:29

It’s more often a quick wipe down than a clean. But when I’m going shopping is the natural time for it.

SabbatWheel · 06/02/2026 22:25

Gosh! My fridge gets cleaned on an ad hoc basis about twice a year. It’s rarely ever dirty, just needs the odd wipe, especially the door shelves.

Luckyingame · 06/02/2026 21:29

Yes, I do that prior to a big shop.

BringBackCatsEyes · 06/02/2026 21:21

I imagine I did this for a few weeks when it was new about 20 years ago. Now it’s on an as need basis, or when I get the urge. It’s more likely to get a good wipe before a big shop when it’s less full.