How to Keep Mold Out of an RV Refrigerator?

Something is exciting about planning your next family vacation and getting everything ready and packed. However, this excitement can turn into complete horror when you open the refrigerator of your RV only to find it has become a black and green molding mess. 

To keep mold out of your RV refrigerator, you need to clean it out completely when done with vacation and wipe it down with disinfectant. Keeping the refrigerator open when there is no power running to it and wiping it down every few months with cleaning alcohol will prevent further growth.

It is important to understand why the mold is growing in your RVs refrigerator and how to both stop it from growing and how to clean the refrigerator. We have seen many people that assume the refrigerator will work perfectly fine as long as it is kept clean, forgetting about the effects of moisture. 

What Chemicals Are Safe To Use To Prevent Mold In An RV Fridge?

If there is no mold growing in the refrigerator, you can use regular disinfectant or cleaning alcohol to prevent mold from growing in the refrigerator. Usually, the mold starts growing because the refrigerator has become humid and moist, the perfect place for mold to grow. 

When cleaning mold from a refrigerator, we recommend using either a bleaching chemical or something strong. Once the mold has been cleaned out properly, and the refrigerator has been dried out, clean the entire fridge again with cleaning alcohol or disinfectant. We also want to stress that the same should also be done to the freezer in the recreational vehicle. This is the cleaning agent that we highly recommend for killing the mold in your fridge, if you are unsure, just check out the reviews, this product sells itself!

Once mold has started growing, it can be extremely difficult to get back under control, which is why we always recommend that you wipe away any chemicals that you have used. Most food-safe chemicals are not strong enough to properly clean out a full mold infestation. 

How To Prevent Mold From Growing In The Refrigerator?

To prevent mold from growing in the refrigerator, you need to ensure a constant flow of fresh air as well as no moisture in the system. This will ensure that the conditions for growing mold are not present and that any mold spores die out before they can grow. 

Keeping the refrigerator closed is the worst possible thing you can do to try and control the mold inside a refrigerator that is turned off and empty. Many times, the moldiest of refrigerators are the ones that are kept closed at all times with no chance given for the system to breathe and dry out.

Another great tool to use along with keeping the fridge clean, and open, is to place baking soda on the shelf of the fridge. Baking soda will help neutralize orders as well as prevent mold from growing. Try the cheap method of simply placing baking soda in a sock and placing it on the shelf. Using baking soda is a great addition to keeping mold at bay in the fridge.

Mold loves damp, humid, and dark places, which is why your RV refrigerator is usually the first place that it will start growing. However, if you create a dry and hot environment, the mold will not only be unable to grow, your refrigerator will stay ready and clean for when you do eventually need it. 

How Do You Get Rid Of Mold In An RV Refrigerator?

You cannot scrub the inside of a refrigerator; the plastic is too soft and will become damaged by even the softest brushing pads that you can use. To clean mold out of a refrigerator, it is recommended to use bleach, or other strong chemicals that instantly kills the mold. We also recommend wearing a mask and rubber gloves to keep yourself protected from mold, as well as the harsh chemicals. 

Once the mold has been killed, you must dry out the refrigerator with a cloth and then allow it to stand open for at least 12 hours to air out properly. Once the refrigerator is completely dried out, clean the inside again using softer chemicals to clean out the harsher chemical residue.

A completely cleaned refrigerator may still have some smell of mold or musty orders in it that will only go away once the machine has been running for some time. The best way to prevent mold from actually growing in a refrigerator is never to turn it off, as the cold climate inside kills anything that could grow, which for most may be pretty unrealistic.

How Do You Keep Mold Out Of An Unused Refrigerator?

To keep the mold out of your unused RV refrigerator, we recommend unpacking it as soon as the RV has been parked at your home. Once it is unpacked, clean out all the ice and wipe off the moisture in the refrigerator that will condense for the following few hours. 

Once the inside of the refrigerator has reached the full temperature of the outside and condensation no longer appears in any part of the system, apply a shim on the door. We highly recommend these door prop clips to ensure the fridge/freezer is receiving proper airflow. Double-check that all the doors inside the refrigerator are open by at least one inch to promote airflow.

The refrigerator will get dust on the inside, but there will be no mold growth in it as long as there is air to suck away all the moisture. We recommend putting a strap or something else on the door to ensure that nothing can close the door, as the door may not stay open on its own. 

Is It Safe To Use A Fridge After It Has Mold?

If the fridge has been properly cleaned, dried out, and cleaned again, it is perfectly safe to use it as you normally would. The mold can only release spores that are dangerous to be eaten if it is still present, which is why it’s important to clean it out. 

We recommend wearing a mask and gloves when cleaning mold from the refrigerator to ensure that you are not breathing in or touching any of the spores, or the harsh chemicals. We have seen several people underestimate the dangers of mold and end up in the hospital because of severe infections. Mold is not something to overlook and must be taken seriously because of the potential health risk.

If the fridge has been completely covered by mold, it may be cheaper and easier to replace the entire fridge. While it is important not to create more e-waste when the whites inside the fridge have all turned black and green, we recommend that you save time and throw it away. 

A fridge that is covered head to toe in mold may be extremely challenging and hazardous to clean, and ensuring that all the mold is completely removed may prove to be very difficult. Here is a fridge that we recommend if you feel it’s best to purchase a new one. 

Why Is There Mold In The RV Refrigerator?

The refrigerator inside an RV usually experiences a lot of work for a few weeks every year, cooling down your food, drinks, and sweets while you travel in often the hottest time of the year. This means that it has a lot of ice and water built up in it, with some food and drinks possibly being spilled.

When the RV is turned off and everything is taken out of it, the entire unit becomes the perfect place for mold to grow. Not only is it humid, but the RV also protects everything inside from the sun, stopping the UV rays from killing things they would normally kill. 

Your closed refrigerator is not only perfectly humid at all times, but it also has the perfect temperature and no sunlight at all shining in it. Creating a closed environment where nothing that would normally harm or kill mold is present which is why the refrigerator is usually the first and worst place hit by mold.

Conclusion

To prevent mold from growing in your RVs refrigerator after a vacation, you need to clean and dry the inside of the refrigerator. Once it is clean, leave it open to ensure that the humidity in the refrigerator cannot increase, preventing mold from growing in it. 

The best thing you can do to an RV fridge is to leave it open; mold is always worse than a bit of dust! Happy camping!