Close to 100% of homes, offices and public buildings in Israel contain one or more refrigerators. It is the most common electrical appliance which we have found we can hardly live without. And it is one of the most common items that are placed in a storage facility. But it is usually the biggest and bulkiest piece of equipment in any kitchen. So what do you do when you discover that you find you have to move the refrigerator to another room, or even need to remove it totally from your house or apartment and put it in storage for some time. What are the important aspects you need to take into consideration and what is the order of priority?
We at Ribua Storage move and store refrigerators on a regular basis and so we have compiled for you a checklist of do and don’ts that will help you perform a relatively simple procedure smoothly, as there are so many things that can go wrong. So where do you begin?
CHOOSE THE BEST STORAGE COMPANY
Make sure you select a storage company that has drive-in access. Why is this important? Because a refrigerator can be easily damaged if it is dropped or leant too far to one side, so making sure you have easy access to the storage building is an essential. You don’t want to have any difficult corners to maneuver, and you need to be sure that you can minimize tipping the unit so that your fridge stays upright as much as possible. Most of all, you need to choose a professional storage company that has had many years of experience in doing something so apparently simple like moving and storing a fridge. Our staff at RIBUA STORAGE knows that it is vital that the processes are done properly.
REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE ELECTRICITY THE NIGHT BEFORE
This step is critical. Why? because it is dangerous to try to move your fridge until the temperature has warmed up enough that everything is at room temperature and that most of all the freezer is defrosted. Inside every refrigerator there are liquids and oils inside the mechanism, and if you turn off the fridge the night before you want to move it, you give those things inside the mechanisms a chance to settle, which will make sure that there is no damage when the fridge is moved. Leave the doors open while defrosting so that the moisture can escape and not build up inside the fridge. Put a large towel on the floor to catch any drips as the fridge defrosts.
REMOVE ALL THE FOOD FROM THE REFRIGERATOR.
It may seem obvious, but you need to remove every tiny particle of food. This means that you need to thoroughly clean and disinfect every part of the fridge, every surface, inside and out. Don’t use boiling water as this could crack the cold plastic or glass parts inside the fridge. Start at the top, and carefully work all the way down until every surface is thoroughly cleaned. It is important that you do this immediately. If you wait, having defrosted the fridge, it could start to warm up, and begin to smell unpleasant, because inevitably there could be tiny particles of food left inside. And remember pests, ants and rodents could be attracted to the smallest particles of food that you have left in the fridge, if you don’t clean it thoroughly. The best cleaning agent to use is a mixture of baking soda and water rather than ammonia or an abrasive cleaning solution. This could crack plastic and leave a nasty stain on stainless steel. Don’t forget to gently clean the coils at the back of the fridge with a soft dry cloth.
REMOVE ANY SHELVES, DRAWERS OR MOVEABLE PARTS.
If there are any glass shelves or breakable parts, clean and dry them thoroughly and then wrap them separately so that they do not become damaged in transit. It is worth taking the extra time involved to be sure that when you unwrap your fridge several months, or even years later, everything is working and is in good condition.
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR FRIDGE IS COMPLETELY DRY.
This is another vital step you must be aware of when you want to move a fridge or put it in storage. Even though you may be sure that your fridge is completely clean and disinfected, you may have left a few drops of water or moisture here and there. This can have a serious effect on your refrigerator to the extent that when you come to pick it up after say six months have passed, you could find that the fridge has become filled with mould or mildew. So, after the cleaning process, don’t forget the drying process, just as important as cleaning.
MOVE THE REFRIGERATOR VERY CAREFULLY
One of the most common problems that can occur after moving a fridge, is that the compressor unit doesn’t work anymore. Therefore, you need to take every possible precaution to ensure that the fridge is tipped as little as possible and that it is kept as upright as possible for most if the time. Sometimes you may need to acquire a trolley or hand-truck in order to move it. That is a wise investment. A fridge is an extremely heavy item, so do not expect two fit guys to be able to move it safely. Don’t take the risk!
STORE YOUR REFRIGERATOR IN A PROFESSIONAL STORAGE FACILITY
Although we have given you the top tips for defrosting and cleaning your refrigerator prior to moving it, the place where you store it is obviously of great importance. Ribua Storage is a purpose-built facility with a clean, dry, temperature-controlled environment so that you can be sure that whenever you collect your fridge, a few months or even a few years later, it will be in good condition. It will have been stored and protected from moisture, dust, pests and even fire or theft.
To learn how to store more electric equipment and devices click Here>>>