Hi! my parents just bought a new fridge and they offered me their old fridge, which is working perfectly. It's a 15-year old General Electric. I bought my first house and I will be moving on the 15th of July. Until then, should I leave the fridge plugged in my parents basement with only a couple of beer bottles inside, or should I leave it unplugged with the doors opened? Someone told me that if I leave it unplugged for too long, it will have a permanent smell. On the other hand, if I leave it unplugged for three months, theoretically it should last me three months more. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

They seem to do better if left on. Just turn up the controls a bit to save energy. Saves the seals and such.

Wolley - hi, LDoyle's advice is on the mark, especially concerning the seals. As far as unplugging it for a couple months, I don't think you'd get permanent smells in your fridge unless you either left food in it, or had some spillage/moisture inside it that you didn't catch.

I shipped a fridge I was using from Denver, CO to Ankara, Turkey when the Air Force moved me overseas...it was closed and inside a shipping box for over 4 months. I'd cleaned it out well and let it sit unplugged with the doors off (I had 2 small children in the house - safety first!) for a week before the movers showed up. When I plugged it in and began using it in Turkey, it had no smells inside it. (I got lucky - the seals held up well.)

So, it's your call but you can go either way. If you do unplug it, be sure to remove the doors or at least prop them open in a way that they can't be shut completely. Wipe down the inside surfaces and let it air out well. Regards! Jim D/Heathsville, VA

[This message has been edited by Jim D (edited May 14, 2003).]

Yes, leave it plugged in - on low.
Many people put baking soda in their frig. to control odors.
When you move it, if it is laid on it's side or back, don't plug it in right away after putting it in its new home. Let is sit for 1/2 hour before plugging it in. A pro told me that the oil that lubricates the compressor needs time to settle after the unit has been laid down.

I'm wondering what's going to happen to the bottles of beer.....