Winterize or prepare your fridge for long-term storage

First, remove all food from the fridge and freezer, making sure to store it elsewhere so it won’t go bad. Discard expired or spoiled food as needed.

Next, clean the interior using a mild detergent or warm, soapy water. It’s best to use a soft microfiber cloth as the cleaning tool. You can use our guide for in-depth instructions for cleaning a fridge.

When you’ve finished cleaning, don’t forget to completely dry the inside of fridge so no parts are damp or wet. Mold or mildew may form while the fridge is in storage if you don't leave the interior bone dry.

Turn off your home’s water supply to cut off water to the fridge's water line.

If you have a water filter, make sure to have a spare one ready when you return. When you're ready to use the fridge again, give it a taste test to determine whether you want to keep using the old filter or swap in a new one. Water filters are available on Samsung.com.

Turn off the ice maker and then disconnect the water line from the back of the fridge. For specific instructions, please see your model’s user manual.
Important: Make sure to turn the ice maker off first. Leaving the ice maker on while the water line is disconnected can cause damage.

Then, dispense excess water from the water dispenser into a bucket or large container. Keep dispensing until there is no more water in the line; the internal reservoir will have around 2 gallons in it. Make sure the water line is completely empty. Otherwise, mold may form.

Gather any ice from the ice maker, and then store or dispose of it as needed.

When all is said and done, unplug the fridge from the wall socket or turn off the connected circuit breaker.

Leave the fridge’s doors open to help with air circulation. If needed, use an object to prop open the doors because they may close naturally based on the fridge’s leveling.