This weekend we spent some time helping my daughter Britta move. And even though she only moved about 10 miles north of her previous apartment, it’s still never fun or easy to move your whole life from one place to another. And after you’ve done all the hard work of moving all of your stuff, there’s still the dreaded move-out cleaning left to do! Among all the horrible cleaning tasks involved in the process of moving out, one job in particular stands out to me as being especially unenjoyable – cleaning out the fridge.
It takes forever, involves a lot of awkward reaching and stretching, and is usually pretty gross, too. Some very clever person realized these things, and invented a way to prevent the sticky fridge messes that take forever to clean – fridge liners! Fridge liners can be placed on shelves and in bins, and are meant to serve as a barrier between foods and the fridge itself. So when spills and messes occur, you only need to remove and wash the liner, rather than struggling to wipe out the fridge. But you can pay anywhere from $10 to $25 for a set of fridge liners, which feels like a pretty steep for a few pieces of plastic!
I recently came across an idea for a DIY version of fridge liners that can be made for a couple of dollars. I gave it a try, and now I’m kicking myself that I didn’t know about this sooner! If Britta had had a set of these in her fridge, it definitely wouldn’t have taken as long as it did to clean out this weekend! Oh well, live and learn. :-)
Here’s how you can make a set for your own fridge.
DIY Fridge Liners
You’ll need:
- A set of placemats (dollar store mats work great!)
- A marker
- Scissors
To make liners for your fridge’s drawers, remove the drawer and set it on top of one of your placemats. Use a marker to trace the outline of the bottom of the drawer.
Cut out the shape using your scissors, and place the liner in the bottom of the drawer.
It’s a little tricker to do shelves, since they usually can’t be removed from the fridge, but it’s definitely doable.
Just place a piece of paper onto the shelf, and use your marker to mark the shape of the shelf.
Use the paper as a template on your placemat, cut out the correct shape, and place it onto the shelf.
The liners we made stayed put pretty well, but if you’re worried about them shifting around, I’d recommend sticking them down with a couple of removable Glue Dots.
Not only is the project affordable and practical, but its totally customizable, and looks really nice, too. We also thought it would be fun to color code your fridge using your fridge liners. For example, the cheese goes where the yellow liner is, the veggies go where the green liner is, etc.
Note: We loved the look of the colored liners in the drawers and on the fridge door shelves, but the dark-colored liners on the interior shelves blocked quite a bit of light. If you’re worried about that, another option would be to use clear placemats for the liners of the interior shelves.
Have you tried using shelf liners in your fridge?
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I’m all for easier clean up. I hate cleaning the fridge. I’ve been contemplating doing this for awhile now. Awhile back when researching a problem I was having with my fridge I read that you should NOT be using placemats and other such liners. Your glass shelves stay cold and help keep the fridge from working as hard, it helps cool room temp items faster, and a few other things that I forgot. It also pointed out that your crisper drawers usually have slight ridges/moisture channels in them (mine does, but I’ve seen some that do not, but have channels running down the side) that are specifically designed that way to help with moisture. I’m not sure how accurate that info. is, but it kind of does seem logical. Might not make the difference on a new fridge, but if you got an old gal that is struggling or live in an ultra humid area and your fridge works O.T. all the time it might be something to consider.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just use Glad Press n Seal. Easy to change out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m just wondering way are the jars upside down? I know to do this with natural peanut butter but never heard of storing other stuff that way.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It prevents mold!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The REAL dollar store, Dollar tree has clear cutting mats that are almost transparent … for … $1! I have used these for placemats for the grandgirlies and as template material for quilting.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wonder if clear (or a more transparent colored) cutting mats would work to help with the light issue. I have seen those around.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I bet those would work perfectly!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I see you have a few jars upside down. I do that to my natural Peanut butter..but your other items???? fill us in :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was wondering the sme thing! I would be afraid of leakage!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I used contact shelf liner for the shelves in our fridge. Was wondering about the door shelves and drawers – this sounds like a great idea. Will have to give it a try.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Such a great idea. I have thought about this for awhile, but worried about the light just like you mentioned. I will be on the lookout for some clear mats now. Thanks! Hope your daughter is settling in.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A wonderful idea and comments… ty.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Glad press and seal works too
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Press and seal plastic wrap.. and it comes in seasonals (for a fun look) that get marked down.. pull off the amount needed for a shelf, stick down and discard when you decide to clean up the fridge… Easy and it doesn’t move around on the shelf..
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What a great idea to use press ‘n seal wrap. I’ve been using plastic placemats for years, I was fortunate to find clear ones and they work great but the throw away plastic wrap is even better.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What is your reason for placing your jars upside down in the refrigerator?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I must have missed that blog.
It prevents mold!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.YES INDEED………..the shelves in the doors DO COME OUT :-) EASY TOO! Just PUSH THEM UP and OUT!
AND you can CHANGE them to different levels to accommodate bottles of different heights!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Those shelves do come out just give a thump under them and they will be released I do it all the time to wash them, they just slide up and out but I line them with paper towel too ,,,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Dollar tree has flexible chopping mats in packs of 4.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That would work great
That’s what I have used & they work well!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I buy vinyl Christmas table cloths when they are 50% off – works great!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s such a great idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve used the plastic runners for floors to line the bottom of my bathroom and kitchen cabinets for years. Spills wipe up easily on them. I wonder if the cheaper, thinner runners would work in the refrigerator. You get a lot of plastic for the money. You can buy them at Home Depot or Lowe’s. You can also get clear plastic by the yard at fabric stores. This might work, too. Great idea Jillee! Thanks! Hate cleaning out the fridge.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.For years I’ve used a roll of plastic cabinet shelf liners (No sticky backs. It is just like one long place mat). I don’t have one piece butting against another were a spill can get in. Originally, my shelf liner came from IKEA.
Shelf leaning day is always just before shopping day as the amount of foot is low and I must run my inventory anyway.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Now that you’ve got me thinking, how about the simplicity of plastic wrap?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Outi, I use the press and seal kind.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great idea,that I hav dine for about 20 yrs. But one warning: through cheaper ($ store) mats can stick and leave some of the backing on your glass shelves. I learned that the hard way!!! I now used either a cloth (sprayed with scotchguard/waterproof) or bamboo mat. You have the same protection of keeping refrig clean, mats are easy to clean up and take out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for sharing another terrific idea! Love your blog.
I have used the placemat idea for a couple of years, but like someone mentioned did not think of putting one in the drawers. Will have to try this. On the door I use some of the Rubbermaid waffle-looking liner purchased at a dollar store. It is easily removed washed off dried and put back. Enjoy checking out your ideas and wondering “why didn’t I think of that” Thanks for all that you do for us.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My wire shelves in the fridge seemed to get dirtier than the glass shelves I have now. Stuff would drip and get the bottom of the wire shelves dirty. You can put liners or placemats over the wire shelves! I have paper towels in the sections on the doors now and will look for some clear mats I can cut to fit.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love your idea–i hate cleaning sticky crud from the frig
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sounds like a great idea, but when I looked in my own frig, I realized I look through the glass shelves to see what is on the shelves below. If all the shelves have liners you can’t see through, it is quite difficult to see what is below, or in back of each shelf. Probably good for the drawers and doors, though. I, personally feel it is just as easy to wipe off the plastic doors and drawers without going through all the trouble of making “liners”. Sorry. Not your best tip. I love your blog, though, and read it regularly. You are welcome to delete my comments if you feel they are detrimental to your job.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What a good idea! Def need to do thos in ours. Milk bottle always seems to cause most grime and scratches. Dollar store has place flexible cutting mats also -usually 2 per pack those would work for lack of light maybe.
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