Homeowners · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
Kitchen refit checklist: clearing old appliances before fitters arrive
Why appliance removal needs planning
Kitchen fitters normally strip out cabinets and worktops but often do not take old appliances away, or charge extra if they do. If the cooker is still connected or the fridge is full on day one, the whole job can slip. Agreeing who is removing what, and when, saves time and money.
- Ask your fitter in writing whether removal of old appliances is included
- Decide which appliances are being replaced, reused or sold
- Measure new appliance spaces before ordering
- Check whether your new appliance supplier offers take-back on delivery
It is also worth photographing the back of each appliance and its connections before anything is removed. This shows where the gas, water and electrical points are and helps the fitters plan the new layout.
Two weeks before
- Book a Gas Safe engineer to disconnect any gas cooker or hob
- Book an electrician for any hard-wired cooker, oven or hob
- Book a collection for all the old appliances in one visit
- List any working appliances on a reuse site or with a charity
- Plan where you will keep food without a fridge for a day or two
If the same electrician is wiring the new kitchen, they can often disconnect the old cooker on the first morning instead. Confirm this, as a cooker still wired in on collection day cannot be taken.
The day before collection
- Switch off the fridge and freezer, empty them and leave the doors open to defrost
- Put towels down and mop up the water as it melts
- Run the dishwasher empty and clean the filter
- Turn off the water isolation valves to the washing machine and dishwasher
- Check the valves close fully, as old ones sometimes seize or drip
- Clear a route from the kitchen to the front door
If an isolation valve will not turn, do not force it. It may need a plumber to replace it before the appliance can be disconnected without flooding the floor.
Collection day
Make sure parking is available close to the door. Show the collectors each item and confirm anything wired or on gas has been made safe. Integrated appliances may still be screwed into the cabinets, so it helps if the fitters or you have released them beforehand, or ask the collector in advance whether they can unscrew them.
If the collectors need to cross newly laid floors or freshly decorated hallways, put protection down first. Old appliances are often dirty underneath, and a fridge or washing machine dragged across new flooring can leave marks that are expensive to fix.
Typical costs for clearing a kitchen
| Item | Typical guide price |
|---|---|
| Gas cooker disconnection by Gas Safe engineer | £60 to £120 |
| Hard-wired cooker disconnection by electrician | £50 to £100 |
| Single appliance collection, non-fridge | £30 to £70 |
| Fridge or freezer collection | £40 to £90 |
| Three or four appliances in one visit | £100 to £220 |
| Retailer take-back on delivery, per item | £15 to £40 |
These are typical guide prices and vary by area, access, stairs and the size of the appliances.
Small electricals and the rest of the kitchen
A refit is a good time to clear out small electricals too: old kettles, toasters, microwaves, extractor hoods and boxes of cables. These are all WEEE and should not go in the general bin. They can usually be collected in the same visit as the large appliances, or taken to a household waste recycling centre. Building waste such as old units, worktops and tiles is different and usually goes in a skip or with the fitters.
Keeping the new appliances safe
Once the old appliances have gone, the spaces are often left with open pipes, hoses and cables. Make sure any gas supply has been capped and tested, water valves are closed and labelled, and cables are safely terminated. Fitters will appreciate knowing which services are live before they start.
If new appliances are delivered before the kitchen is finished, store them in a dry room, away from the dust, and keep fridges upright. Leave them in their packaging until fitting to avoid scratches. Keep the paperwork and serial numbers together, as you will need them to register the warranty, and note the date in case a recall is announced later.
- Register each new appliance with the manufacturer for warranty and recall alerts
- Keep the old appliance waste transfer note with your kitchen paperwork
- Check the new washing machine transit bolts are removed before first use
Frequently asked questions
Will kitchen fitters take my old appliances away?
Some do, but many do not, and others only take them for an extra charge because appliances have to go to licensed WEEE recycling rather than in a skip. Ask your fitter exactly what is included in their quote. If removal is not included, book a separate collection for the day before the fitters start so the kitchen is clear.
Can old appliances go in the skip with the kitchen units?
They should not. Fridges and freezers are hazardous waste and many skip hire companies refuse them outright or charge a surcharge. Other appliances are WEEE and should be recycled separately. Putting them in a skip without the hire company's agreement can lead to extra fees, and the skip firm may leave them behind.
How long can I manage without a fridge during a refit?
Most people are without a fridge for one to three days between the old one going and the new one being installed. A cool box with ice packs, buying food daily and keeping essentials at a neighbour's house usually works. Time the old fridge collection as close to the start of the work as you can, and order the new fridge for delivery as soon as the space is ready.
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