Deep freezers come in handy, especially when you need to store extra food. Modern freezers are made to be sanitary, durable, and easy to clean, especially as chest freezers tend to collect ice in and around the interior. Here's our guide to show you how to clean a freezer with ease!
How to Clean a Deep Freezer: A Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Remove All the Food Inside of the Freezer
The first step is to remove all the food items inside the freezer. Place the frozen food in an ice chest or separate chest freezer to prevent them from thawing out, especially for sensitive foods like raw chicken. Remove any spoiled food, and check for freezer burn.
Step 2: Let the Freezer Thaw
Remove the freezer from its power source, and let the freezer thaw. This will melt all the ice, as well as any blood from raw meat, and drippings from the frozen foods inside the freezer. Letting the ice thaw out will let you clean the freezer easier as well. Use hot water, or a hair dryer in a low heat setting to melt the ice - this will hasten the defrosting process.
Step 3: Create a Cleaning Solution
In the meantime, create a cleaning solution for your freezer by mixing together warm water, baking soda, and a few drops of dish detergent in a spray bottle. This will clean a freezer by breaking down the oils and food residues from the freezer door, as well as the interior walls of the chest freezer.
Step 4: Drain the Freezer
Once all the contents of the chest freezer has completely thawed out, drain the water away using the drain spout located towards the bottom of the freezer. Use paper towels to wipe away any remaining moisture, and if possible, rinse the inside of the freezer with hot water.
Step 5: Wipe the Freezer Clean
Spritz your homemade cleaning spray inside the deep freezer, and let the warm, soapy water drip down. Use a soft sponge or cloth to wipe the deep freezer clean, rinsing the sponge as needed to remove the food residue. Re-apply the solution until the freezer is completely clean. Let the freezer air dry with the door open.
Step 6: Sanitize the Freezer
Sanitize the freezer with regular rubbing alcohol, and let the solution air dry to completely disinfect the interior. This is especially important for freezers used to store raw meat products, as bacteria and pathogens often feed off raw meat juices.
Step 7: Place Food Items Back Inside
Once the chest freezer is fully cleaned, you can now plug it back into its power source, and place the freezer contents back inside. Use a putty knife to remove as much ice from the items as possible to save on space, and to prevent the ice from growing in the freezer.
Tip on Maintaining an Organized Freezer
Deep freezers are useful in storing temperature-sensitive food products, and can provide you with extra storage space for your meats, ice, and other goods that no longer fit in your regular freezer. However, due to the structure of the chest freezer, it has the tendency to accumulate drippings, and can easily become disorganized. Here's how to maintain a deep freezer:
- Label all the items going into the freezer.
- Use the FIFO method: first in, first out. This means you should store newer items at the bottom, while older items sit right on top, ready to be used.
- Clean a freezer at least once every two months or so to maintain its freshness.
- Toss out expired or spoiled items.
- Section out your freezer so you can easily identify the items you're looking for.
- Never place raw meat and ready-to-eat items, such as cooked meat and ice cream, together.
Cleaning your freezer is just one part of keeping a clean kitchen. When it's time to do the house chores, you can always rely on Luce to help you upkeep your kitchen! Our professional home cleaning services will get rid of every speck and stain from your kitchen so you can cook comfortably in a pristine space,
Check out our blog articles for more tips and tricks on kitchen cleaning.
