Cleaning Your Freezer

Written by April Reinhardt (last updated August 14, 2023)

No matter the type of freezer you have, cleaning a freezer is much easier than cleaning a refrigerator. In our garage we have a top-and-bottom refrigerator/freezer, as well as a stand-up freezer. In our kitchen, we have a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. Again, it's my opinion that it is much easier to clean any of our three freezers, than it is to clean either of our refrigerators. I think the reason is because the freezers are opened far less than are the refrigerators, leaving fewer instances for dirt and spills to occur in the freezers.

That being said, there have been times when we've had frozen orange juice containers burst, and frozen fruit spilled, leaving a sticky mess to clean up. Follow these guidelines when cleaning your freezers to keep them clean and in good working order:

  • Unplug the freezer from the power source.
  • Lay down a tarp, newspapers, or paper toweling on the floor in front of the freezer to catch any water, ice, or debris.
  • Prop open the freezer door, if need be, and remove everything from the freezer. I like to place everything in my empty kitchen sinks when I clean the freezer. If there is too much food for the sinks, I place it in tubs on the kitchen table and cover the contents with thick bath towels or blankets to hold in the cold.
  • Once you've removed everything from the freezer, use a spray cleaner such as Formula 409 or Windex and spray everything inside the freezer cabinet.
  • Allow the spray cleaner to work, so you won't have to work so hard, and inspect the gaskets around the door. While the spray cleaner is dissolving grime and foodstuffs, you can take a Q-Tip, spray it with cleaner, and go around the groove inside of the door gasket to clean it. Doing so not only cleans the gasket groove, but gets rid of any food particles that might be preventing the gasket from sealing the door shut entirely.
  • Using paper towels, wipe down every inch of the inside of the freezer, cleaning the surface to a shine.
  • If you have food residue, apply a paste of baking soda and water and scour it with a soft pad. Do not use Brillo pads or steel wool, as those types of pads will scratch and etch the surface of the freezer.

Once you've cleaned the entire freezer, dry the cabinet thoroughly with a clean towel. Replace all of the freezer racks and components, and then put the food away. Close the freezer door and lug the unit back into the power source. Do not open the freezer for at least half-n-hour in order to allow the freezer to reach the proper temperature.

Author Bio

April Reinhardt

An admin­istrator for a mutual fund man­age­ment firm, April deals with the writ­ten word daily. She loves to write and plans to author a memoir in the near future. April attend­ed More­head State Uni­ver­sity to pursue a BA degree in Ele­men­tary Edu­ca­tion. ...

MORE FROM APRIL

Don't Give Your Cat Raw Fish

Cats may not be too picky in what they eat, and may be seen through the media to be avid raw fish eaters, but as a pet ...

Discover More

Cincinnati Chili

If you've ever visited a chili parlor and ordered a phony coney and a 4-way, then you're certainly in the greater ...

Discover More

Getting Rid of Ants without Chemicals

If you've ever wondered how to get rid of pesky ants without using harmful chemicals and pesticides, there are some great ...

Discover More

Remove Stubborn Stains Quickly Get everything looking clean again: Walls, floors, baseboards, counters, blinds, appliances, and more. Micro-scrubbers easily reach into surface grooves, lifting dirt away. This low-cost 8-pack is great for stubborn stains and touble areas. Check out Mr. Clean Magic Eraser 8-Pack today!

More Cleaning Tips

Clearing the Table Quickly

While it might be fun to have friends and family over for dinner, it is never fun to clean up the table after the meal is ...

Discover More

Cleaning Your Cabinets

Are the cabinets in your kitchen or your bathroom looking a little dirtier than usual? Read more for tips on how to keep ...

Discover More

Butcher Block Cleaning

Whether it is an entire countertop, table, or simply a cutting board, butcher blocks can be an attractive and useful ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five more than 3?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.