The refrigerator and freezer are two common and essential appliances in our house. Moreover, we keep food items in these appliances.
So, keeping these appliances clean always is a must. But sometimes, unwanted dirt, mold, or stain in refrigerator and freezer can make these appliances unhygienic.
So, you might be confused about why there is black mold in your refrigerator and freezer. The reasons might be different according to the situation.
But you must know about the mold-building reasons in your refrigerator and freezer for your health and hygiene. Moreover, learning about mold prevention is also essential.
Reasons of black mold in the refrigerator & freezer:
Mold in the refrigerator and freezer can grow from leftover food, spoiled food, and food particles. Moreover, insufficient air movement and continuous darkness can cause black mold. Besides, water leakage from the refrigerator and freezer can create black mold on their walls.
However, different reasons might be responsible for building black mold in the refrigerator and freezer. Generally, refrigerators and freezers have similar internal environments.
So, the reasons behind black mold in the fridge and freezer are pretty identical. Let’s see different reasons of black mold in the refrigerator and freezer.
Food particle:
You might think that food is the main ingredient we store in the refrigerator. Then how can food particles create black mold in the refrigerator or freezer?
Generally, cooked food is supposed to be in a box tightly closed before storing it in the refrigerator and freezer.
If you keep food in the refrigerator without covering it, black mold will start to build inside the fridge. The mold will be visible over time.
Moldy wall beside the refrigerator:
If the refrigerator and the freezer are placed beside a moldy wall, black mold can grow from the wall. Generally, when you place a fridge or freezer beside a wall, the wall gets food and water residues. With this damp surrounding, the appliances build up mold.
From being beside the moldy wall, the walls of the freezer and refrigerator also grow black mold.
Spoiled food inside:
You might think that foods are safe inside the refrigerator and freezer. But if the foods are there for a long time, the refrigerator or freezer can’t keep the food fresh.
If the food gets spoiled inside the refrigerator and freezer, black mold can develop inside the appliances.
You might be overconfident and don’t check the food inside the refrigerator. But spoiled food can grow mold and even damage your refrigerator.
Unplugged refrigerator and freezer:
If your refrigerator and freezer remain unplugged for a long time, the food inside the appliances will not stay fresh. Eventually, the food inside will be rotten. You might know that rotten food grows black mold.
Moreover, there can be a mechanical issue that can cause the problem in the refrigerator or freezer. If the foods don’t get enough cold, they will get spoiled. So, an unplugged refrigerator and freezer might be the reason.
Dark environment:
You might know that a dark environment is perfect for growing black mold. Generally, refrigerators and freezers have a dark environment inside. Moreover, air movement is minimal. So, the mold will eventually grow inside the refrigerator and freezer.
Moisture on the evaporative coil:
Evaporation occurs in the evaporative coils in the refrigerator. So, the evaporative coils collect air from the surrounding air. After evaporation behind the fridge, the water can fall on the wall of the refrigerator body.
So, continuous wet conditions behind the refrigerator cause black mold on the refrigerator’s body.
Is black mold in the refrigerator dangerous?
Now that you know the reasons of building black mold in the refrigerator, you might want to know the consequences. Black mold can develop in different spaces of the refrigerator. So, let’s see whether these black molds in the refrigerator are dangerous.
Mold in refrigerator water line:
Mold can grow in the refrigerator water line eventually. But this mold is not immediately dangerous. Generally, mold in the water line of the refrigerator can’t get to the food of the refrigerator. So it can’t spoil the food inside the refrigerator.
But this mold can be problematic for the refrigerator. If mold grows too much in the water line of the refrigerator, it can clog the water line.
So, the water will not pass well from the refrigerator to the drainage system. So, you must clean the drainage system of the fridge if it grows mold.
Mold in refrigerator water dispenser:
Mold can also grow in the refrigerator water dispenser. Generally, black mold is built in the water dispenser. But black mold is not dangerous for you until you inhale it. Generally, the water dispenser is the section from where you get drinking water.
So, if the dispenser gets mold, you might be confused about drinking the water. You have to ensure the old is not inside the water.
If the mold is not inside the water, you can drink it. But some people might have an allergic problem. So, cleaning the mold before drinking water will be better.
Mold in refrigerator ice maker:
If you see mold in the refrigerator ice maker, you must be conscious of it. Because we collect ice from the ice maker and use it in beverages and water. If you digest or inhale mold, it can cause digestive problems.
Moreover, some people have an allergic reaction to mold. So, you should not use the ice from the moldy ice maker. It can be dangerous. That’s why you must clean the ice maker to remove mold.
Mold in refrigerator seal:
Mold in a refrigerator seal is not dangerous until you inhale it. Generally, you will see black mold on the refrigerator seal. This mold will be pretty ugly because you can see it when you open the refrigerator.
The food inside the refrigerator is okay to eat. It will not cause any problems. So, if you see mold in the refrigerator seal, you can clean it well. Cleaning the refrigerator regularly will prevent mold build-up in the refrigerator seal.
How to properly clean it?
Now that you know the reasons for mold build-up in the refrigerator and freezer, you might want to know the cleaning process. So, let’s see how you can properly clean the refrigerator mold.
Turn off the connections:
First, you have to turn off all the electrical connections of the refrigerator or freezer. Then you have to keep the refrigerator for rest for an hour. At this time, the mechanical parts of the refrigerator will cool down. Moreover, the ice will be melted within time.
Make a cleaning element:
Then you have to make a cleaning element to clean mold effectively. You can also use detergent to clean the refrigerator. But when the refrigerator has mold, you should make a strong solution.
For this, you can mix baking soda with warm water. You have to make these two ingredients so that they create a paste.
Applying the cleaning element:
Then you have to spray the solution on the spaces where you see molds. You have to spray a sufficient amount of solution so that the molds are dissolved in the solutions.
Then you can wait 10 to 15 minutes so that the solution can become effective. Then you can use a brush to scrub the mold from different refrigerator spaces.
Rinsing:
Finally, you have to rinse the refrigerator with clean water. It will be best if you use lukewarm water to rinse the refrigerator. Dry the refrigerator properly before turning on the electrical connection.
Solutions to black mold in the refrigerator & freezer:
To keep the refrigerator and freezer clean from mold, you must know the solutions. Otherwise, mold can be an issue for your health and hygiene. So, let’s see some solutions to black mold in the refrigerator and freezer.
Don’t keep spoiled food:
You have to check the refrigerator and freezer regularly to see whether there is any spoiled food. If there is any spoiled food, you have to remove the food immediately. Also, ensure you have tightly sealed the cooked food inside the refrigerator and freezer.
Check the wall beside the appliances:
You have to check the wall beside the refrigerator and freezer. If the walls are moldy, you have to clean and re-paint the walls immediately. Otherwise, you can change the location of the fridge or freezer from the moldy walls.
Check the evaporative coils:
You can also check the evaporative coils of the refrigerator. If you see it is giving up constant water from the evaporative coil, you have to fix it with a professional.
Keep the refrigerator clean:
You should keep the refrigerator and freezer clean always. Your refrigerator might look clean for a long time. But you have to clean it regularly. Otherwise, mold can build up.
Solve mechanical problems:
If your refrigerator and freezer have mechanical problems, you must fix them immediately. Otherwise, the refrigerator will not have enough power to run properly. Moreover, disturbance in the function can lead to mold build-up.
Final Thoughts
Black mold is pretty common in the refrigerator and freezer. You might see mold inside or outside of these appliances. The reasons might be spoiled food inside, constant water in the coils, the moldy wall beside the refrigerator, etc. But you can clean the mold easily by following different methods.