Should You Leave the Door of an Empty Refrigerator or Freezer Open?

This is one of those surprisingly common household questions that most of us only think about after unplugging the fridge. You’ve cleaned it, it’s empty, it’s not in use for a while… so what now? Door open or closed?

Short answer: yes, the door should usually be left open when a refrigerator or freezer is not in use for a longer period — but not for the same reasons as defrosting.

Let’s break it down.

Long-Term Storage: Leave It Open

If a refrigerator or freezer is unplugged and won’t be used for weeks or months, leaving the door slightly open is strongly recommended.

Why?

• Prevents mold and mildew
  Even after cleaning, tiny amounts of moisture remain inside. A closed door traps humidity, creating the perfect environment for mold growth and bad smells.

• Avoids unpleasant odors
  That “old fridge smell” is almost always caused by stagnant air and moisture. Ventilation stops it before it starts.

• Protects seals and plastic parts
  Mold doesn’t just smell bad — it can damage rubber door seals and interior surfaces over time.

Best practice:

• Unplug the appliance
• Empty it completely
• Clean and dry it thoroughly
• Leave the door ajar, not wide open (many fridges even have a built-in “storage position” for this)

Defrosting: Door Open (But Only Temporarily)

During defrosting, the door should also be open — but for a different reason.

Here, the goal is to:

• Let ice melt faster
• Allow moisture to escape
• Make cleaning easier

Once defrosting is finished and the appliance is dry, the next step depends on whether you’re putting it back into use.

• Using it again soon? Close the door and plug it back in.
• Not using it for a while? Leave it slightly open.

When Is It Okay to Keep the Door Closed?

Only if:

• The fridge/freezer is still running, or
• It will be unused for a very short time (a few days), and
• It’s completely dry and odor-free

For anything longer than that, closing the door is just inviting problems.

The Bottom Line

• Defrosting: Door open temporarily
• Long-term non-use: Door left slightly open
• Closed door + unplugged appliance: A recipe for mold and smells

It’s a small habit, but it can save you a lot of scrubbing — and nose-wrinkling — later on.