Yes. A fridge or freezer can go into a storage unit as long as it's switched off, empty, defrosted, cleaned and completely dry, with the door left open so air can move through it. It won't be connected to power while it's stored, and there mustn't be any food left inside. Most of what goes wrong with a stored fridge comes from moisture left inside and a door shut tight, and both are in your hands the day before.
Getting it ready: the day before
Give yourself a day. A freezer can take hours to defrost, and a fridge that goes into storage damp will smell when it comes out.
- Empty it completely. Use up, give away or bin the food. Our storage terms don't allow food that isn't securely packed against pests, or anything that gives off a smell, so a fridge needs to be fully cleared.
- Switch off and unplug. If yours is plumbed in for water or ice, turn off the water supply first. Bosch's instructions for its plumbed models say to do this before switching off for a long period. Then drain the water line and empty the ice maker the way your manual describes, because water left in them is one of the things that spoils a stored fridge.
- Defrost. Leave the doors open, with towels or a tray underneath to catch the water, and empty the drip tray at the back if it has one.
- Clean inside. Warm water with a little washing-up liquid or bicarbonate of soda. Take out and wash the shelves, drawers and door seals.
- Dry it properly. Wipe every surface, including the rubber door seals and the folds in them, then leave the doors open for a few hours. This is the step that matters most, because trapped moisture is what turns into mould and that smell.
- Secure the loose parts. Wrap the shelves separately, or tape them in place. Tape the plug to the back.
Moving it
Keep it upright if you can, and strap it to a trolley or the side of the van rather than laying it flat. If it has to go on its side, check your manual before you move it. Wrap it in a furniture blanket so the sides and door don't get scratched on the way in.
In the unit
Stand it upright, on its feet, somewhere near the front if you'll want it back soon. Trolleys, ground-floor units and how close you can park vary by site, so mention the fridge freezer when you book. Don't stack heavy things on top, because the top of a fridge isn't built to carry weight for months. And don't plug it in: our terms don't allow anything to be connected to power in a unit without our agreement, and a fridge doesn't need to run while it's stored.
The door needs to stay open. Hotpoint's instructions say to keep the doors "slightly ajar to let air circulate", so that mould and bad smells don't develop. Bosch's say to leave them open far enough that they stay in place on their own, and not to jam anything in the door to prop it open. So open the door as far as it will stay on its own, and only prop it if your manual allows it.
Three things that spoil a stored fridge
- A closed door. Even a clean, dry fridge shut for months can go musty.
- Leftover water, in the seals, the drip tray, or a water line on a plumbed-in model.
- Food. One forgotten jar can mean smells, and possibly pests, for the whole unit.
Using it again
Once it's back in your kitchen, stand it upright and give it time before switching it on. Bosch's instructions say to wait at least an hour after installing, because oil in the compressor may have moved during transport. Other makes may say longer, especially if it travelled on its side, so follow your model's manual. Give the inside a quick wipe, switch it on, and let it reach temperature before you put food back in. That can take several hours.
Is it worth storing?
If it's a good appliance you'll want again in a few months, and it's going in alongside other things you're storing anyway, keeping it usually makes sense. If you'd be renting space for the fridge alone, compare that with the cost of replacing it. If it's old or you won't need it, getting rid of it properly also costs money. Checkatrade's June 2026 guide puts clearance firms' charges at around £75 for a small fridge or freezer and £120 for a large fridge freezer. The most useful question is whether you'll use it in the next home.
A fridge freezer takes up floor space rather than volume. Our room-by-room size guide helps you work out the rest of the unit around it, and you can get a price online in a few minutes. Contents cover is a condition of storing with us, so check your fridge is included: our page on whether you need insurance for your unit explains the options. How warm or cold a unit gets through the year isn't covered here; our honest guide to climate-controlled storage goes into that.
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