Storing appliances
Researched and written by Ashley Davis · Reviewed by Emily Johnson · Last reviewed August 2026
Appliances in storage fail from water left inside them and from sealed doors. Disconnect and drain every line, run the last cycle empty, dry the drum, the seals and the ice maker completely, then store upright with the door taped slightly open so air moves through. A refrigerator or freezer also needs to stand for a period before it is powered on again, because the compressor oil has to settle back.
How do you prepare a washer or dishwasher for storage?
Disconnect the supply and drain hoses and let them empty fully, then tip the machine to clear what stays in the pump and the sump. Run a short empty cycle beforehand if you can, and wipe the drum, the door seal and the detergent drawer dry by hand. Water left in a hose freezes, splits the line and floods a unit, and water left in a seal grows mould against the rubber.
How do you store a refrigerator or freezer?
Empty it, unplug it and let it defrost completely with the doors open, which takes longer than most people allow. Dry every surface including the drip tray and the ice maker line. Then store it upright with the doors taped a few inches open, since a sealed cold cabinet with any residual moisture will smell of mould within a month and the smell does not come out.
Do appliances have to be stored upright?
Yes, for anything with a sealed refrigeration circuit or a suspended drum. Laying a fridge on its side moves compressor oil into the coolant lines, and laying a washer down can shift the drum suspension. Upright is also the only orientation that lets the door stand open, which is the other half of keeping it dry.
What happens when you take an appliance out of storage?
Stand a refrigerator or freezer upright for several hours before plugging it in, longer if it travelled on its side, so the compressor oil can drain back out of the lines. Check every hose and seal for perishing before reconnecting water, and run the first washer cycle empty. The refrigerator and washer and dryer pages cover moving them safely.