How to Remove & Clean Fridge Drip Pans

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Refrigerator specialist Aaron Beth shares the simplest way to clean a drip pan

Co-authored by Aaron Beth and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: January 14, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Removable Pans
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• Non-Removable Pan
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• Accessing the Pan
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• How much water should be inside?
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• What causes odors?
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• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Warnings

|Show more |Show less

The drip pan in your refrigerator captures defrosted ice from your freezer so it doesn’t leak in your kitchen. While commonly overlooked, you should clean your drip pan every 3 months to prevent any mold or odors from forming. In this article, we'll explain how to clean both removable and non-removable drip pans, how to access them, how much water should be in them, and more, with insights from refrigerator specialist Aaron Beth and house cleaning professional James Sears.

How do you clean fridge drip pans?

Refrigerator specialist Aaron Beth says to clean your drip pan with dish detergent. If it’s removable, take it out and wash it. If it’s not removable, clean it with dish detergent, then wipe it with a dry cloth.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

Cleaning a Removable Drip Pan

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1. 
   1
   Remove and empty the drip pan. The heat from inside your fridge should cause the water in the drip pan to evaporate, but there may still be standing water inside it. Take the drip pan out of the fridge and pour the water down the sink. After emptying the drip pan, set it in your sink so you can start cleaning.

   • You can also remove standing water by using a wet/dry vacuum.
   • If you’re not sure how to find or remove your drip pan, refer to your owner’s manual or skip to the Accessing the Drip Pan section below.
   • If your drip pan is located at the back of the fridge, remember to first disconnect the water and power supply. Usually, removable drip trays will be located in the front, however.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Aaron Beth is a refrigerator specialist and factory-certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He's also the founder of Aaron’s Refrigeration Company, with over 54 years of experience in servicing and maintaining refrigerators.

   James Sears is a house cleaning professional. He leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in California.
2. 
   2
   Soak the drip pan with a bleach solution for up to 10 minutes. Mix 1 part bleach with 3 parts warm water in a spray bottle, then shake it so it’s thoroughly mixed. Spray the drip tray so that it’s completely wet, and let the bleach solution sit on the surface for up to 10 minutes. Spray extra cleaner on any mold or mildew you see to help loosen it and disinfect the area.

   • Beth recommends using dish detergent for a simple way to clean your drip pan.
   • The bleach may change the color of your drip pan if it’s not originally white.
   • Another option is to combine a mild detergent with water and baking soda to form a paste. Apply the paste to the drip pan using a clean cloth, then scrub the surface.
   • Warning: Do not mix bleach with other chemicals, as doing so could create toxic fumes.

   Tip: If you don’t want to use a harsh cleaner like bleach, you can substitute white vinegar instead.

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3. 
   3
   Scrub the pan with a cleaning rag to remove any buildup or mold. Once the bleach solution has had time to sit, wipe the inside of the drip pan with a cleaning rag to remove the cleaner. Work from one side of the drip pan to the other so you don’t spread any mold or debris around. Apply a firm amount of pressure while you scrub to break apart any built-up residue.

   • You can also use paper towels if you don’t want to get any mold on fabric cleaning rags.
4. 
   4
   Rinse the drip pan under warm water to remove the cleaning solution. Hold the drip pan under your faucet and let warm water run over it. Rinse the entire drip pan so there isn’t any cleaner left on the surface. Use another rag or sponge to wipe it off if there’s still any residue on it.
5. 
   5
   Dry the drip pan before reinstalling it. Use a cleaning towel or paper towels to wipe the pan dry. Make sure there aren’t any water droplets on the pan, or it could develop mold again when you reinstall it. Once the drip pan is dry to the touch, slide it back into your fridge and replace the panels so you can use it again.

   • You can also let the drip pan air-dry for 30 minutes instead.
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Section 2 of 5:

Cleaning a Non-Removable Drip Pan

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1. 
   1
   Wrap a cleaning wet wipe around the end of a flexible claw grabber. Use wet wipes that have multipurpose cleaner or bleach on them to help get rid of any odors or mold. Hold the button on the end of a flexible claw grabber to open it and place a wet wipe inside the claw. Let go of the button so the claw holds tightly onto the cloth.

   • If you don’t have any wet wipes, that’s fine: Beth recommends simply using dish detergent to clean your non-removable drip pan.
   • You can buy a flexible claw grabber from your local hardware store or online.
   • If you don’t have a flexible claw grabber, unbend a wire hanger and wrap the wet wipe around one end of it.
   • If your drip tray is located at the back of your fridge, remember to disconnect the water and power supply before you start working.
   • If you’re not sure how to access your drip tray, refer to your owner’s manual or skip to our Accessing the Drip Pan section below.
2. 
   2
   Push the end of the claw grabber with the wet wipe into the drip pan. Feed the end of the claw grabber into the drip pan while it’s still in your fridge. Carefully move the wet wipe around the edges of the drip pan to scrub it clean and remove any buildup. Work from multiple sides of the drip pan so you can remove as much of the mold or buildup that’s inside as you can.

   • Don’t apply a lot of force to the claw grabber since you could also damage internal components in your fridge.
3. 
   3
   Change the wet wipe when it gets dirty. After 1-2 minutes, pull the end of the claw grabber out from the drip pan and inspect the wet wipe. If it looks dirty or has buildup on it, throw it away and place a new one in the claw. Continue checking the wet wipe every few minutes until it comes out of your drip pan clean.

   • If you’re using dish detergent, wipe the drip pan out with a dry cloth when you’re finished cleaning, suggests Beth.
4. 
   4
   Pour a bleach and water solution into the drip pan to prevent buildup. Once you’ve scrubbed the drip pan as best as you can, mix 1 part bleach with 1 part warm water and slowly pour it into the pan. The bleach solution will help prevent more mold from growing inside the drip pan so it doesn’t develop any odors. When you’re finished, reattach any panels you needed to remove to access the pan.

   • Use white vinegar if you want to use a natural cleaner. Vinegar is also a great way to clean the rest of your fridge!

   Tip: Try mixing in a few drops of scented essential oil into the solution to make your kitchen smell better.
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Section 3 of 5:

Accessing the Drip Pan

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1. 
   1
   Check the refrigerator’s manual to find where the drip pan is located. Drip pans are usually located in the front or rear of your fridge, but it may vary depending on the model you have. Look at the diagrams for your fridge inside the manual to find the drip pan. The manual may also list if you can remove the drip pan or if you need to clean it while it’s still in your fridge.

   • If you can’t find the owner’s manual for your fridge at home, look online since the manufacturer may have it available to download from their website.
2. 
   2
   Disconnect the water and power supply if you need to access the back panel. If your fridge’s drip pan is in the rear, then pull your fridge out from the wall so you can access it. Find the water supply control if your fridge has one and turn it to the off position so it doesn’t leak. Then unplug your fridge so you don’t accidentally shock yourself while working on the interior components.

   • The food in your fridge will stay cold for a short time if you’re only cleaning the drip pan. If you’re deep-cleaning your fridge, then move your food into an insulated storage container or another refrigerator.
   • Sears says, “You can pull out your fridge by grabbing each side and wiggling one side at a time towards you.”
   EXPERT TIP

   

   James Sears

   House Cleaning Professional

   James Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James and the team have nine years of experience and offer green cleaning, interior and exterior window washing, and general apartment cleaning services. He provides transformative cleaning experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California.

   

   James Sears
   House Cleaning Professional

   While your fridge is away from the wall, clean the floor underneath. Once you have pulled the fridge away from the wall to reach the drip pan, you can vacuum and Swiffer the floor underneath. Make sure the floor is completely dry before placing the fridge back.
3. 
   3
   Unscrew the back panel if the drip pan is in the rear. Locate the screws or hex bolts that hold the back panel on the bottom of your fridge in place. Use a screwdriver or a hex wrench to rotate the screws counterclockwise to loosen them. Once you remove all of the screws, carefully pull the back panel off the fridge and set it aside.

   • Keep the screws in a small bowl or container so you don’t lose them.
   • Many drip pans located in the rear of the fridge cannot be removed easily, so you may need to clean it without taking it out.
4. 
   4
   Pop off the kick panel at the bottom of the fridge if the drip pan is in the front. Open the doors on your fridge so you can access the top of the kick panel, which is the slotted grate on the bottom of the fridge. Slide a putty knife between your fridge and the kick panel to pop it off. Once you pop one side of the kick panel out, pull it completely off the fridge and set it aside.

   • You do not need to remove the water filter on the bottom of your fridge if it has one.
5. 
   5
   Pull on the drip panel to see if it comes out of the fridge. Look inside the back panel or kick panel to find the drip pan, which should look like a small rectangular tray. Grab the drip pan with both hands and try pulling it out without tipping it over. If your drip pan can be removed, then it will come out of the fridge easily. Otherwise, it cannot be removed.

   • Wear cleaning gloves if you want to, but it’s not required.

   Tip: If your drip pan has heating coils on top of it, then it is non-removable and you must clean it while it’s still inside your fridge.
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Section 4 of 5:

How much water should be in a refrigerator drip pan?

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1. 
   It’s normal for drip pans to have a small amount of standing water. In most cases, drip pans will be dry because the water evaporates at the same rate it’s produced from the defrost drain. However, there may be a small amount of standing water from time to time. This is usually no cause for concern.

   • That being said, if you constantly need to empty your drip pan or it overflows, it could be a sign that something is wrong with your fridge. Call an appliance repair service to figure out what the problem is.

Section 5 of 5:

Why does my drip pan smell bad?

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1. 
   Drip pans may smell if there’s a buildup of bacteria or mold. Because drip pans are moist environments, they’re a good breeding ground for mold and germs. If you notice an odor, scrub away all signs of mold and debris, then pour a small amount of equal parts of water and vinegar or bleach into the pan. Leave it inside to kill germs.
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• Question

  What causes a refrigerator drip pan to overflow?

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor
  Staff Answer

  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  It’s possible that there’s a frozen or clogged drain line in your freezer or fridge, or that the condenser fan has burned out. If there’s a crack in your drip pan, water can flow out onto the floor.

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• Question

  Why do I have water in the bottom of my fridge?

  

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  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  There are a few possible causes for this. One is a clogged or frozen drainpipe. This can also happen if there’s a leak in the water tank assembly, water inlet valve, or water filter assembly.

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• Question

  How much water should be in a refrigerator drip pan?

  

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  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  It depends on the design of the drip pan and drain, how humid the conditions are, and a variety of other factors. If everything is functioning properly, there should never be enough water in the drip pan to leak out or overflow.

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Tips

• If you still have a smell coming from your fridge and you have trouble cleaning it yourself, call an appliance repair service to come help take it apart professionally and clean it for you.
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• In general, plan to clean your drip pan every 3 months to prevent mold and bacteria.
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Warnings

• If your drip pan is leaking, then you need to replace it completely.
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