Yes, you can. A fridge or freezer stores well as long as it goes in switched off, empty, defrosted, clean and completely dry, with the door left open so air can move through it. Almost everything that spoils a stored fridge comes from moisture left inside or a door shut tight, and both are easy to sort the day before. Our guide to moving and storing a fridge freezer goes through the whole job, from defrosting to switching it back on.
Getting it ready the day before
- Empty it completely. Use up, give away or bin the food: one forgotten jar can cause smells or attract pests, and that affects your neighbours’ belongings as well as yours.
- Switch off and unplug. If it’s plumbed in for water or ice, turn off the water supply first, then drain the line and empty the ice maker as your manual describes.
- Defrost it with the doors open and towels underneath, and empty the drip tray if it has one.
- Clean inside with warm water and a little washing-up liquid or bicarbonate of soda, shelves and seals included.
- Dry it properly, including the folds in the rubber seals, then leave the doors open for a few hours. This step matters most, because trapped moisture is what turns into mould and that musty smell.
- Wrap or tape the shelves, and tape the plug to the back.
Moving it in
Keep it upright if you can, and strap it to a trolley rather than laying it flat. If it has to go on its side, check your manual first. A furniture blanket stops the sides and door getting scratched. You can park for free while you unload, and trolleys are free to use at all our sites.
In the unit
Stand it upright, near the front if you’ll want it back soon, and keep heavy things off the top. Our units don’t have power sockets, and a stored fridge doesn’t need to run, so it simply stays unplugged.
Leave the door open. Hotpoint’s instructions say to keep the doors “slightly ajar to let air circulate”, so mould and smells don’t develop. Bosch’s say to open them far enough that they stay put on their own, and not to jam anything in the door to prop it. So open the door as far as it will stay by itself, and only prop it if your manual allows.
Using it again
Back home, stand it upright and give it time before switching it on. Bosch says to wait at least an hour after installing, because oil in the compressor may have moved in transit. Some makes ask for longer, especially after travelling on its side, so follow your manual. Then switch on and let it reach temperature before the food goes back in.
Planning your unit
Our room-by-room size guide helps you plan the space around it. Everything you store needs contents cover, so include the fridge when you add up the value; our insurance FAQ explains how.
Get a price online, or call us on 0800 2545585 and we’ll help you choose the right size.
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