Annual observance

Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

November 15 Kindness / Community Updated 2025-12-18

This holiday is featured in the Obscure Holiday Calendar app with emoji-style visuals, reminders, and daily fun facts.

Overview

Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, observed annually on November 15th, is an unofficial holiday encouraging individuals to declutter, clean, and organize their refrigerators. Timed perfectly before the heavy cooking and entertaining season of Thanksgiving and other winter holidays, it aims to make space for new groceries, prevent foodborne illnesses by discarding expired items, and reduce food waste. This observance promotes good kitchen hygiene and helps ensure fresh, safe food for holiday meals.

Observed each year on November 15, Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day invites people to pause, share the story, and bring a little themed joy to their day.

Why it matters: Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day on November 15 serves as a timely reminder to declutter and sanitize our kitchens before the holiday cooking season. By promoting good hygiene and reducing food waste, this observance ensures that we can safely enjoy fresh ingredients during Thanksgiving and other winter festivities.

Origin and story

It is strategically observed on November 15th, just before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, to prepare for an influx of holiday ingredients and leftovers.

Experts recommend a thorough deep cleaning of your refrigerator every three to six months to maintain hygiene and prevent bacterial growth.

Quick facts

  • DateNovember 15
  • TypeKindness / Community
  • Great forCommunity groups, Friends, Coworkers

Also on this date

Ways to celebrate

  • Share one fast fact about Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day: It is strategically observed on November 15th, just before the U.S.
  • Bring Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day to work or school with a short shout-out in a meeting or group chat.
  • Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day lands on November 15 — host a quick nod with Community groups, Friends and snap a photo.
  • Post a story with #clean-out-your-refrigerator-day and invite others to try a tiny activity.
  • Pair music, snacks, or décor that match the theme and enjoy a small break.

Fun facts

  • It is strategically observed on November 15th, just before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, to prepare for an influx of holiday ingredients and leftovers.
  • Experts recommend a thorough deep cleaning of your refrigerator every three to six months to maintain hygiene and prevent bacterial growth.
  • A refrigerator should be kept at or below 40°F (4°C) to slow the growth of bacteria and keep food safe.

Sources and attribution

Source not provided.


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FAQ

When is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day?
It is observed on November 15 each year.
What is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day?
Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, observed annually on November 15th, is an unofficial holiday encouraging individuals to declutter, clean, and organize their refrigerators. Timed perfectly before the heavy cooking and entertaining season of Thanksgiving and other winter holidays, it aims to make space for new groceries, prevent foodborne illnesses by discarding expired items, and reduce food waste. This observance promotes good kitchen hygiene and helps ensure fresh, safe food for holiday meals.
How do people celebrate Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day?
Share one fast fact about Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day: It is strategically observed on November 15th, just before the U.S.

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