Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day - We’re all set to deal with all the mysteries lurking in our fridge!

Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day 2024 – November 15, 2024

Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day is celebrated on November 15 every year. It’s set up right in time to make sure you’ve got space in your fridge for the holidays. It’s also a great day to check over your fridge and make sure everything is still ticking along!

History of Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

There’s no clear information about how the Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day came about. The general consensus is that this day was started by the Whirlpool Corporation, and later became popular throughout the country.It is believed that the company intended for the day to be celebrated on the third Wednesday of every month, but the day took a life of its own. Later Whirlpool celebrated a Clean Out Your Refrigerator Week, but the date had gotten stuck.Cleaning out the refrigerator is a big task, and it’s only natural that people would push the chore aside. Having one day to do a big clean of the refrigerator is useful because it makes everyday cleaning easier.Refrigerators are essential in the modern American household but are frequently ignored. They store all our food, and that’s why it is essential that they are cleaned regularly. If food is left to go bad in a refrigerator, the germs can spread and affect all the food stored in them.A refrigerator that is too full also won’t work as efficiently and will use more electricity. Regularly throwing out food that has started to go bad or you’re not planning to eat goes a long way. Spills need to be cleaned up as they happen, and it’s a great time to check what you’ve stored away in the freezer section.A cleaning session is a great opportunity to check how well your refrigerator is functioning and if it needs any servicing. With Clean Your Refrigerator Day right before the holidays, it’s the perfect opportunity to make sure that everything is ready before Thanksgiving!

Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day timeline

1995
The Idea is Born

The idea begins, possibly originating from the Whirlpool Corporation.

2000
The Day Starts to Appear Online

November 15 is to be labeled as Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, on e-cards and blogs.

2004
Whirlpool Partners with Glad Products

This union is to set up 4 to 10 April as Clean Your Refrigerator Week, but it doesn’t catch on.

2005
Chef Emeril Writes About the Day

This is the first time that Clean Your Refrigerator Day is acknowledged by the food industry.

Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day FAQs

How often should you clean your refrigerator out?

A refrigerator needs a deep clean every three to four months. But if you can’t you should definitely try to clean it out once a year on Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. 

Should I turn off the refrigerator when cleaning?

You should definitely unplug your refrigerator before cleaning it out for your own safety. 

What’s the best way to clean out your refrigerator?

Clear out everything in your fridge, and wipe down everything, including the doors and drawers with hot soapy water. 

How To Celebrate Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day?

  1. Clean your refrigerator

    Stick with the intent of the holiday and get to work on all the stuff in your fridge!

  2. Help a friend or family member

    Cleaning out a refrigerator can be hard work, so go on and lend a helping hand.

  3. Donate your extra food

    This is a great opportunity to reach out to people in your community who might need a little extra support, and you won’t end up wasting any food.

5 Cool Facts About Refrigerators That You Probably Didn’t Know

  1. Refrigerators use less energy when they’re used

    It is believed that not filling and overfilling refrigerators make them use up more electricity.

  2. The U.S. uses a lot of refrigerators

    Over 8 million refrigerators are sold in the country every year.

  3. Colorful refrigerators are fairly new

    Until the 1950s, the majority of refrigerators were white.

  4. They took a while to become popular

    Only 8% of households had refrigerators in the 1930s when they were first introduced.

  5. It’s a major power sucker

    About 10% of the total power usage in a household is because of the refrigerator.

Why We Celebrate Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

  1. We need a reason to clean

    Having a dedicated day to clean our refrigerators is great for making sure we do a big clean at least once a year!

  2. Food safety is important

    A clean refrigerator is the best way to make sure no food ends up contaminated by the other.

  3. The holidays are around the corner

    Cleaning out your fridge is essential to make sure you have enough room for all that holiday cooking!

Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day dates

Year Date Day
2022 November 15 Tuesday
2023 November 15 Wednesday
2024 November 15 Friday
2025 November 15 Saturday
2026 November 15 Sunday