Is the Fridge Included in End of Tenancy Cleaning? What a Fridge and Freezer Clean Covers

Whether the fridge is included in an end of tenancy clean depends on the company and the property size: some include it as standard, many (including us) list it as an add-on for larger homes. A thorough fridge and freezer cleaning service should cover every shelf and drawer removed and washed, the whole interior, door seals, the drain hole, the defrosted freezer and the outside. With us, all appliances are covered in the studio flat price, and for other properties a fridge freezer clean is £40. Whoever does it, a fridge left with food, spills or ice at check-out is one of the easiest ways to lose part of your deposit.

Is the fridge included in end of tenancy cleaning?

There’s no industry-wide rule. Cleaning companies package appliances differently:

• Included as standard: some companies include the fridge in every clean and price it into the base cost.
• Included for small properties: our studio price (£135) includes all appliances, fridge and oven included.
• Add-on: for one-bedroom homes and larger, we price the fridge freezer separately at £40, so you only pay for it if the property has one and it needs doing.

In practice, only about 1 in 20 of our end of tenancy cleans (5% of 9,145 jobs with line items between March 2023 and September 2026) had a fridge clean added, compared with about 1 in 5 for ovens and half for carpets. Many tenants clean the fridge themselves, because it’s one of the more manageable jobs. That’s fine, as long as it’s done properly.

What is included in a thorough fridge and freezer cleaning service?

In the UK, a professional fridge and freezer clean should bring the appliance back to the standard an inventory clerk expects at check-out. The table shows the difference between a quick wipe and a proper end of tenancy clean.

Area	Quick wipe	End of tenancy standard
Shelves and drawers	Wiped in place	Removed, washed, dried and refitted
Interior walls and ceiling	Visible spills wiped	Whole interior cleaned, including corners and the back wall
Door seals	Often missed	Folds cleaned of crumbs, residue and mould spots
Drain hole and channel	Not checked	Cleared so water doesn’t pool
Freezer	Not cleaned if iced up	Cleaned once fully defrosted
Freezer drawers and baskets	Left in place	Removed, washed and dried
Exterior	Front wiped	Door, handles, top and accessible sides cleaned
Floor around it	Not cleaned	Floor in front cleaned; behind a freestanding unit where it can be moved safely

What a fridge clean doesn’t usually include

• Defrosting a frozen-up freezer. Melting thick ice takes hours, so you’ll be asked to switch the freezer off beforehand (see below).
• Removing food. Clear everything out before the team arrives.
• Repairs or parts. Cracked shelves, broken seals and faulty thermostats need the landlord or a repairer.
• Pulling out integrated units. Built-in fridges are cleaned inside and on the door only.

Our full end of tenancy cleaning checklist shows how the fridge fits into the kitchen clean.

Do you need to defrost the freezer before the clean?

Yes. A freezer covered in ice can’t be cleaned properly, and chipping ice off with a knife or scraper risks puncturing the lining or cooling pipes. Before your clean:

1. Use up or remove all food, including condiments and ice trays.
2. Switch the fridge freezer off at the wall the evening before, or at least several hours before the team arrives, and prop the doors open.
3. Lay towels on the floor and put a tray at the bottom to catch water.
4. Empty the water as the ice melts.

Check your landlord’s preference for the end of the tenancy. Some inventory clerks expect the fridge left switched off with the doors ajar, so it doesn’t develop mould; others want it switched back on. If in doubt, ask the agent.

How do you clean a fridge yourself for check-out?

1. Empty and defrost as above.
2. Remove shelves and drawers. Let glass shelves reach room temperature before washing, as hot water on cold glass can crack it.
3. Wash removable parts in warm soapy water, rinse and dry fully.
4. Clean the interior with warm water and a little washing-up liquid, or a solution of bicarbonate of soda, working from the top down. Avoid bleach and abrasive cleaners on plastic linings.
5. Clean the door seals with a soft cloth or old toothbrush, getting into the folds.
6. Clear the drain hole at the back with a cotton bud or the tool supplied with the fridge.
7. Dry everything before refitting, to avoid a musty smell.
8. Clean the outside, including handles, top and door edges.

For more on ovens, dishwashers and washing machines, see our appliance cleaning checklist.

What do landlords and inventory clerks look for?

The check-in inventory is the benchmark. At check-out, the clerk will compare the fridge against what was recorded at the start. The usual problems are:

• Food, jars or condiments left behind.
• Sticky spills under the salad drawer and on the bottom shelf.
• Black spots of mould in the door seal.
• Ice left in the freezer, or water pooled in the bottom.
• Smells from a fridge left switched off with the door closed.

Can a landlord insist you pay for professional fridge cleaning?

In England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 means a landlord or agent can’t require you to pay for a professional clean as a condition of your tenancy. Wales has an equivalent ban on most tenant fees. In Scotland, charging tenants fees or premiums beyond rent and a refundable deposit is also unlawful. In each case, though, the landlord can still deduct the reasonable cost of cleaning from your deposit if the property, fridge included, isn’t returned in the condition recorded at check-in, allowing for fair wear and tear.

Deposits are protected in every UK nation, and you can challenge a deduction you think is unfair through the scheme’s free dispute service. Our guide to getting your full deposit back explains how.

How do you get rid of fridge smells?

Smells usually come from spills that have soaked under drawers, a blocked drain hole, or a fridge left switched off with the door shut. Once the fridge is cleaned and dried:

• Check the drain hole and the drip tray (on many freestanding models it sits at the back, near the compressor) and clean both.
• Wipe the interior with a solution of bicarbonate of soda and warm water, then dry it fully.
• Leave an open pot of bicarbonate of soda inside for a day or two to absorb any remaining odour.
• If you’re leaving the fridge switched off, prop the doors open so air can circulate.

If a smell persists after cleaning, it may be coming from a fault or from insulation that has absorbed a spill. Report it to the landlord rather than covering it with air freshener.

Who is responsible if the fridge is broken?

If the fridge was supplied by the landlord and stops working through age or normal use, the repair or replacement is usually their responsibility. If it’s damaged through misuse, for example a cracked shelf or a lining punctured while defrosting, you may be charged. Report faults promptly and in writing.

Frequently asked questions

Want the kitchen handled in one go? Add the fridge freezer and oven when you book our end of tenancy cleaning, or see all appliance options on the oven and appliance cleaning page. Prices are fixed and listed on our prices page. Find vetted local teams on our areas page, including end of tenancy cleaning in London, and book online in a few minutes.