The bendy straw unblock

You will need

• Turkey baster or large syringe · Woolies kitchen section or Bunnings, ~$5–8
• Warm water · From your tap
• Bicarb soda · Woolies homebrand, ~$1.50 for a box
• White vinegar · Woolies homebrand, ~$1.20 for 750ml
• Flexible straw or pipe cleaner · Woolies, ~$3 for a pack — the bendy straw is the secret weapon
• Old towel or tray · To catch drips on the fridge floor

Step 1

Empty the fridge shelf and find the drain hole

Pull out the bottom shelf or crisper drawer — the drain hole is usually a small oval or round hole at the back centre of the fridge floor. It leads down to a drip tray under or behind the fridge. Once you spot it, lay an old towel underneath to catch any water that flows out.

Step 2

Poke it clear with a bendy straw

Straighten a bendy straw or pipe cleaner and gently push it into the hole with a light twisting motion — this is the move most people skip. You're breaking up a plug of compacted food debris or ice. You'll often feel it give way suddenly, which means you're through.

Step 3

Flush with bicarb and vinegar

Mix half a teaspoon of bicarb soda into a cup of warm water and draw it up into your turkey baster. Squirt it firmly into the drain hole to flush the loosened gunk down into the drip tray. Follow with a second flush of plain warm water to rinse it clean.

Step 4

Check the drip tray under the fridge

Slide out the drip tray (usually at the bottom front or back — check your fridge manual if you can't spot it). Pour out any gunky water, rinse it with warm soapy water, and slide it back in. A clean tray stops bad smells from coming back.

Step 5

Do a quick test

Pour about half a cup of warm water directly into the drain hole and watch that it disappears within 30 seconds — that tells you the channel is fully clear. If it drains away cleanly, you're done.

The stop point

If you find standing water pooling inside the fridge repeatedly after unblocking, or notice ice building up heavily on the back wall, this points to a failed defrost heater or thermostat — stop and call a licensed fridge technician (appliance repairer).

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