I'm amazed at how dirty everything gets, honestly. And it's just hubby and I in the house. Thanks for reminding me my fridge needs cleaning. Lol.

Mine gets like that too. So gross. I take it out and pour in some hot water with a squirt of soap and let it soak a bit. Makes cleaning easier.

I remember reading a thread on GW about just this question. Lots of people pull out the produce drawer, only to find gunk that looks like honey or some other ooze underneath. Nobody could explain it, it wasn't something leaking, it wasn't anywhere else in the fridge. The number of people who chimed in with the same problem was surprising.

I clean every square inch of the fridge once a week. It is a big chore taking out drawers and inspecting all the contents. But I have to keep on top of it. It is the food supply after all.

It is the food supply after all.

I guess that's why robins built new nests every year so they don't get a buildup of worm gunk.

Ewww Lucille I will think of that every time I open the frig for awhile. Lol

My old fridge had dark tinted produce drawers and you didn't see the dirt so it got really gunky under there a few times. The newer one has clear bins so you can see it before it gets bad. Much easier to keep up. I'm not a fan of things that hide dirt. Much easier to deal with dirt early on when you first see it.

Hey, I pulled out my fridge and stove not too lang ago and cleaned under and behind! Hadn't been done in 2 years, something I normally do each spring.

Now that I'm thinking of it just when did I clean under the 2 bottom drawers inside the fridge?

Just peeked, will have to wipe them out, but no big mess!

It was one of the biggest jobs while cleaning out my Mom's house after she passed. She kept a clean house, but heavy bottom freezer drawer of the fridge was hard for her to manage at 87. I think I only helped her once with it and only because she asked. :( If she would have known how dirty it was after she left, she'd be mortified.

Things like this stick in my mind now, so I try to remember what it might be like for those cleaning up after ME. But seriously, again, where does it all come from??? esp. on the shelving. I don't notice any spillage when taking things out and putting things back in.

Must remember to leave note for cleaning lady, clean inside fridge

Much of the unexplained moisture under produce drawers is the result of condensation. Many stores have a love affair with those stupid produce misters, so soggy produce exasperates the problem. (I generally purchase where those don't exist, but in a pinch, I dry the produce prior to storing it in the fridge.) I line my produce drawers with a double row of paper towels, and replace them as needed. They are much easier to keep clean, since it soaks up enough moisture those tiny bits of lettuce and herbs aren't making soup.

I think it partially comes from decanting food and not wiping the container of drips and drabs before returning it to the fridge. There does seem to be a fridge ooze from the fridge itself at least in older fridges though.

I clean the fridge about once every three weeks. I use Kleen Glow on my fridge bottom and lots of cloths. It doesn't seem to take as long as with regular cleaners. It has a bit of grit in it and seems to get smudges better than the other stuff. I rub it in, let it sit, scrub, then rinse it with wet cloths with plain water. Then dry, and it's good to go.

I think it's your fridge fan! I bet, it blows stuff till it all goes in to hiding down there . ;)

Moni

With two young boys in the house I clean the frig out weekly and wipe off condiments. I'm always finding something a smudge of ketchup or jelly. I also keep paper towels in veggie drawers, change them when needed it helps a lot. Someone awhile back was talking about using plastic type baskets in frig, (think it was at the KT) I tried this thinking cleaner frig, might have worked but took up too much space and hubs hated it.

I never thought about a drawer liner of some kind. Thanks.

I do have small plastic baskets on the shelves to hold certain items, so far it's working for me and there is less clutter, but I'm the only one here in the house.