Black Mold in Refrigerator

You may not think to be on the lookout for black mold in your refrigerator, but the steady moisture, loosely sealed leftovers, minimal air movement, and persistent darkness can make the inside of your fridge the perfect breeding ground for black mold. If you find black mold, or any mold in your refrigerator, you must figure out the cause, get rid of the mold, and take steps to prevent the mold from coming back. This article will help you with each of these steps.

What is Black Mold?

Mold can grow anywhere, indoors or outside, and is present everywhere. No doubt, there is mold already present in your house. Any type of mold in your refrigerator is a problem. It’s not usually necessary to precisely identify what kind of mold it is – if you see mold, you need to get rid of it. But when you think about “black mold” you often mean the mold whose scientific name is stachybotrys chartarum. This mold produces mycotoxins, or toxic compounds, that can cause serious health issues if you come into contact with them by either touching or inhaling them.

Regardless of whether the mold in your refrigerator is stachybotrys chartarum or another kind of mold, it can cause health problems for you and your family members. Many kinds of mold have allergenic properties, meaning they can cause sinus congestion, coughing, asthma symptoms, irritated eyes, rashes and more. These problems can become severe and even deadly for people with compromised immune systems, the elderly, pregnant women, and very young children. All mold types, especially black mold, are a possible danger to your health and should be removed as soon as possible.

Why is There Black Mold in the Refrigerator?

Mold spreads through the air and through surface contact. The number one source of refrigerator mold is mold on food. Some types of food, such as cheese and hard salami, produce mold naturally and can still be eaten once the mold is cut away. These kinds of molds are less likely to spread to other foods and surfaces.

Rotting foods, including most produce, grains and nuts, will develop mold growth that not only destroys the food, but also is dangerous to consume. These molds may spread to the refrigerator through the air circulation, and by sitting in a drawer or on a shelf long enough for the spores to transfer to the plastic or metal surface. The refrigerator is dark much of the day, which allows mold to grow quickly, but you may not see it until it has become a larger issue.

If the mold is being caused by something other than food rot, or returns even after you have cleaned the fridge thoroughly, you may have a mechanical problem with your refrigerator. Perhaps the humidity level is too high, or a leak in the water line that may encourage the growth of mold. An appliance repairman can examine your refrigerator to make sure it is working properly, and perform any necessary fixes.

Refrigerator with black mold

Black Mold

How to Clean Black Mold in the Refrigerator

The first thing to do if you discover mold in your refrigerator is to remove any obviously rotting foods and uncovered foods and leftovers that could be harboring mold spores. Throw this food away and remove it from your house.

Now, remove the remaining food, beverages and condiments from your fridge and put them in a cooler while you clean. Remove the shelves and drawers, if possible, to have better access to clean the inside walls of the refridgerator.

To properly kill the mold, you need a cleaning solution that disinfects and has the ability to kill mold. An excellent all around mold killer and disinfectant is RMR-141. Baking soda or vinegar with warm water also works well. Not all cleaning products will. Since you are cleaning non-porous surfaces, you can also try a diluted bleach solution (one cup of bleach added to one gallon of water). Spray your cleaning solution on the refrigerator surfaces and allow it to sit for a minute or two. Scrub it with a rag, and then wipe again with a clean damp cloth. Finally, dry the surface with a clean dry cloth or paper towel. Repeat if needed. Be sure to carefully dispose of any paper towels you use and launder any cloths that come into contact with mold in hot water and detergent.

Repeat this process to clean the drawers and shelves, then you can return them to the refrigerator. If there is mold on the rubber seal of the door, you can try cleaning it the same way, but the mold will grow back if it has penetrated the surface and grown into the rubber. If that happens you will need to replace the rubber.

Whenever you’re cleaning with strong chemicals or bleach, wear gloves to protect your skin. If you are sensitive to mold or have allergies or asthma, you may want to wear a mask as well.

If you suspect mold is growing in any part of your refrigerator that you can’t access, such as inside the door panels, in the motor, or within the water dispenser, you won’t be able to get rid of the mold by cleaning. You will need to replace your refrigerator. Make sure you know why the mold developed in the first place so that it doesn’t start growing in your new appliance as well.

Preventing Mold Growth

The most effective way to deal with black mold in the refrigerator is to prevent it in the first place. Keep an eye on mold-prone foods like fruits and vegetables, and discard food that has started to rot immediately. Always cover foods in the refrigerator with plastic wrap, foil, or other food-safe containers. This will prevent mold spores that begin to grow on your food from becoming airborne and settling elsewhere in the fridge.

Make it a regular practice to clean your refrigerator thoroughly, at least once a month. Remove all foods and wipe down surfaces with RMR-141, or another cleaning solution that disinfects, as discussed earlier. Check jarred and bottled foods for signs of mold and get rid of items that are no longer fresh or edible.

Get Professional Help

Mold should always be removed immediately to prevent further contamination to your home. If you think you may have mold growth in areas of your home beyond the refrigerator, you can contact a mold remediation professional in your area for assistance. They will come to your home and give you a free inspection and estimate for removal, if mold is found.

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