Screwdriver (maybe), bucket/towel, bleach or white vinegar, rubber gloves.
Set a calendar reminder for the first day of spring and fall. Pull out your fridge. Clean the pan. It takes less time than mopping up a mystery puddle later.
The compressor is the hottest part of the fridge. As the warm compressor runs, it radiates heat upward, gently evaporating the water in the pan. That steam dissipates into the air behind your fridge. defrost drain pan
Most pans slide out or are held by two clips. Warning: It is likely full of gross water. Slide it out slowly and pour the liquid into a bucket or sink.
If you’ve ever pulled your fridge away from the wall and found a dusty, plastic tray full of murky water, you’ve met the defrost drain pan. It doesn’t look like much, but when this part fails, it can flood your kitchen floor or turn your fridge into a block of ice. Clean the pan
The Unsung Hero of Your Fridge: Why the Defrost Drain Pan Matters (And How to Clean It)
Carefully roll the refrigerator away from the wall. Locate the pan. It is usually a black or grey plastic tray right above the floor in the back. As the warm compressor runs, it radiates heat
Its job is to catch the water that melts off your evaporator coils during the fridge’s automatic defrost cycle. Most modern frost-free refrigerators run a defrost cycle every 6 to 12 hours. The ice melts, turns into water, drips down a drain tube, and lands in this pan. This is the clever part: The pan is usually placed on top of the compressor.
