A refrigerator is one of the heaviest, most awkward things in a house. It is tall, it does not bend, and it usually has to come out through a kitchen doorway that was sized for the new one, not the old one. Add a basement freezer that was carried down years ago, and it is easy to see why so many old units sit unplugged in a garage. Milwaukee County Junk Removal picks up refrigerators and freezers from homes in the suburbs around the city.
Fridges are one part of our broader appliance removal work. A few towns have their own pages with local notes, including Oak Creek, Franklin, and Bayside. Everything else is on the Milwaukee County services page.
Units we pick up
We take top freezer and bottom freezer refrigerators, side by side models, French door units, compact dorm fridges, wine coolers, beverage refrigerators from a basement bar, upright freezers, and chest freezers. A second fridge that has been running in the garage for years is one of the most common requests we get. So is the old unit left behind when a new one is delivered without haul away.
It helps if the fridge is empty and unplugged before the crew arrives. If there is still food inside, or the freezer has not been defrosted, let us know. Leaving the doors closed during the move keeps any leftover water from spilling across your floors.
Text photos for a free quote
Take a picture of the fridge or freezer, the path it will travel, and any stairs, then send everything to 414-301-1028 with the name of your suburb. If there are other appliances going at the same time, include those too. We answer 24/7.
A free quote comes back after we look at the pictures, and the visit is not booked until you approve the price. The crew handles the lifting, the dolly work, and the loading. Once the unit is out, you can pay by cash or credit. Metal can be recycled when that is possible, and refrigerators go where appliances that hold refrigerant are accepted.
Kitchens, basements, and garages around the county
Older homes in Cudahy, St. Francis, and South Milwaukee often have galley kitchens and back doors with a couple of steps down to the yard. Taking off a door, or removing the fridge doors themselves, can sometimes be the difference between a tight squeeze and an easy exit. Photos of the doorways let us plan ahead.
Basement chest freezers are the classic challenge. They were often carried down when the stairs were empty, and now there is a railing, a landing, and a lot of storage in the way. Homes in Greenfield, Greendale, and Hales Corners frequently have this setup. Tell us how wide the stairs look and whether the freezer still runs.
In Glendale, Fox Point, River Hills, and the newer subdivisions of Oak Creek and Franklin, kitchens tend to be larger, but built in or panel ready refrigerators can take a bit more time to slide out. Mention if your unit is set into cabinetry.
Refrigerator pickup questions
Does the fridge need to be defrosted?
It is helpful but not required. If it has not been defrosted, let us know so the crew can keep it upright and protect your floors.
Can you take a fridge from the garage without coming in the house?
Yes. Just make sure the garage door is open or someone can let the crew in. Send a photo of where it sits.
My new refrigerator is being delivered. Can you take the old one the same week?
Text us the delivery date. Once you approve a quote, we can work out a time that fits around it.
Can a stove or washer go at the same time?
Yes. Add photos of each appliance, and they will all be in one quote.
To clear out an old refrigerator or freezer, text photos to Milwaukee County Junk Removal at 414-301-1028 for a free quote. The price is approved by you before anything is scheduled, we are available 24/7, and cash or credit works when we are done.
Related pages: appliance removal, Oak Creek appliance removal, basement cleanouts, and the services page.