How do you keep your refrigerator fresh

[scottz]

When the refrigerator is off, how do you keep it fresh and keep it from mildewing? On our last trailer, we could prop the doors open. On this one, we cannot do that with the slides in. I know some keep the refer on all the time; I prefer not to do that. Someone suggested a small pan of charcoal briquettes in the refer and freezer. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[phillyg]

I'm hopeful someone has a good idea because we also have to keep the doors closed.

[rohrmann]

Maybe when the rig is not being used, you can just extend the one slide a few inches so the fridge door can be opened a bit. Also, they make baking soda in packages to be used in a fridge to absorb odors.

[rmthelen]

I don't believe it is a good idea to leave a slide partially open as the seal would not make contact and leave a potential opening for insects, etc. to gain entry. Damp rid, baking soda, charcoal, etc. are a reasonable solution to your problem.

[WaltBennett]

Just another example of people designing things when they've not a clue how they have to work in the real world . . .

[Irlpguy]

When you purchase a new unit it may have sat on the lot for upwards of a year, you never find mold or mildew in those units and why is that. It is because they have started out completely dry inside and have remained that way prior to being sold and used. My unit is 5 years old now and often sits for months on end without being used and without the doors being open and I have "never" had any problems. I attribute that to how I clean and thoroughly dry the interior of the fridge before closing it up. This includes all the cooling fins and everywhere. I have used a small heater for an hour or so to ensure everything is good and dry. When I open the fridge to prepare for our next outing it smells like new inside with absolutely no signs of mold or odor.
Clean it well, dry it well and close the doors has been my success.

[Rondo]

When we get done with the Monte and put it to rest for any amount of time we clean the refrig out well, dry it out as much as possible and then get some of the old newspapers that would be going into recycle and crumble them up and stuff them into both the refrigerator space and the freezer. We close the doors and when we come back to the unit we remove the newspaper, turn the frig on and put about three or four bottles of water in both the refrigerator part and the freezer. This lets the frig cool down and have something to cool also. For some reason if you don't put something into the unit to cool, it seems to take longer for the unit to cool down before putting the supplies in it. We also cool as many items as possible before putting them into the frig/freezer to lessen the cooling/working time of the frig. We also put a container of baking soda in the frig to absorb any possible food odors. All this works for us and have never had a problem with mold or mildew.

[dieselguy]

X2 on the news papers. We wad a half dozen pages up in balls and place them in the fridge and freezer compartment when in storage. The ink absorbs the odors and the paper seems to absorb some of the moisture.

[kdeiss]

X3 On Newspapers make sure the interior is dry!!

[Former StClairSailor]

You didn't mention what kind of refrigerator you have. Ours is an RV 12 cu ft fridge in a 2015 Mountaineer. It came with a plastic device in the fridge which can be placed in between the doors to hold them open just a bit, even with the slides in.

[dfb]

Baking soda ,,, leave it open when not used..

[scottz]

We will take the advice and leave some newspaper and baking soda in it. The best we will be able to do is crack it open with a towel in place. This might allow about 1/2" for air circulation.

[mjammersc]

Scott - we do just like you show and also have the baking soda box in both sections. No issue after 1.5 years like this.

[mlh]

I make SURE mine is clean and DRY and close the door. If it's dry mold has nothing to grow on.
Lynwood