How to Keep Your RV Fridge from Smelling Musty During Storage
Whether you’re wrapping up a season of adventure or just parking your rig for a few weeks, one thing no RVer wants to deal with is a musty, sour-smelling fridge. That stale odor is often the result of leftover moisture, hidden food particles, and poor air circulation, all of which thrive in a closed-up fridge during storage. Luckily, there are a few easy steps (and some handy tools) you can use to keep your RV fridge smelling clean and ready for the next trip.
Step 1: Give Your Fridge a Deep Clean (Yes, Even Under the Shelves)
Before putting your RV into storage, take the time to fully clean out the fridge. This means removing every food item and giving every surface a thorough wipe-down. Use a mixture of baking soda and warm water or a vinegar-based cleaner to scrub interior walls, bins, shelves, and seals. Don’t forget the drip tray or drain hole if your fridge has one, these hidden spots are notorious for harboring gunk and smells.
Pro Tip: Use removable shelf mats in your RV fridge during the camping season. These flexible liners catch spills and crumbs and can be lifted out and rinsed clean in seconds. When it’s time to store your rig, you’ll save yourself a ton of scrubbing.
No products found.
Step 2: Let It Dry Completely Before Closing Up
Even after cleaning, your fridge will still have lingering moisture. Leave the doors wide open for several hours (or overnight) with the power off to ensure it dries out completely. If you’re storing your RV in a humid climate, consider placing a small moisture absorber or desiccant pack inside the fridge cavity for extra protection. Just remember to remove it before using the fridge again, and take care you don’t accidentally get a scented version!
You can also add a fridge deodorizer to the fridge as well, as an extra precaution. But as long as you follow step 3, you should be good!
Bonus Hack: Wipe down the door seals with vinegar to kill any mold spores and keep the rubber flexible.
No products found.
Step 3: Keep That Door Propped Open with Special Clips
Here’s the golden rule: never store your RV with the fridge door completely closed. Sealing it shut traps moisture and creates a perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, and musty odors. To prevent that, invest in RV fridge door clips or props designed specifically to hold the doors ajar during storage. These small but mighty tools snap into the door latch area to keep it slightly open, just enough to allow air flow.
They’re inexpensive, reusable, and one of the best RV-specific hacks you’ll ever buy. And you don’t have to worry that’s the old standby of using a kitchen towel that often falls out and seals up the fridge to breed bacteria during storage.
Where to Find Them: Look for “RV refrigerator door prop clips” on Amazon or your favorite RV supply store. Some come in multipacks or are adjustable to fit both fridge and freezer compartments. Some fridges, especially Dometic, includes clips when you purchase them new… if you haven’t lost it!
No products found.
No products found.
No products found.
Pro Tip: Tape a reminder note to the fridge handle that says “DOOR PROPPED OPEN – DO NOT CLOSE” to prevent well-meaning friends or family from accidentally sealing it shut! So many cases of moldy fridges were caused by someone else’s good intentions.
Step 4: Neutralize Odors Naturally
For extra insurance against musty smells, tuck a few odor absorbers inside the fridge before storage. Some popular options:
- An open box of baking soda
- A dish of activated charcoal
- A sachet of coffee grounds or dry rice with a few drops of essential oil
These options will quietly work to soak up any residual odor or moisture while your RV sits.
No products found.
No products found.
Never Have a Musty Fridge Again
Keeping your RV fridge from smelling musty doesn’t take much effort, it just takes a few intentional steps before storage. With a deep clean, door-propping clips, removable shelf mats, and natural odor absorbers, you can rest easy knowing your fridge will be fresh and ready when your next adventure calls.
