How to Clean a Freezer Like a Pro

What’s your freezer situation? You might have a drawer freezer or one that’s at the top of your fridge, or even a chest deep freezer taking up space in your garage. Whatever you’ve got, we’d be willing to bet that it’s been a while since you cleaned it. Since freezers don’t show dirt like some other appliances, it’s common for people to neglect them unless there’s an obvious need to get out the cleaning supplies.

Don’t worry if you’ve been procrastinating about cleaning your freezer. If it’s been months or even years, we’ve got the specific guidance you need to get the job done. You might be setting up your own cleaning company or hiring a pro so you don’t have to clean your freezer, or even just dread doing it yourself. The good news is, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the best advice our Pros have to offer about how to get your freezer sparkling clean.

Why Do Freezers Need to Be Cleaned?

Your freezer might not be the cleanest, and even so, then you might be pondering whether you need to tackle the task at all. The Department of Energy says that you should, and here are some of their reasons.

• Even frozen foods may get contaminated with unwanted organisms, including harmful bacteria, gross fungus, and so on.
• Unclean freezers may have a funky smell that’s unpleasant and can even get into your frozen foods.
• With periodic cleaning, freezers run at their highest level of efficiency, something that’s especially true if your freezer has a lining of built-up ice.

Your freezer probably needs a little TLC. Getting into the habit of emptying and scrubbing it regularly is the best way we know to eliminate contaminants and even save money on your electric bill.

How Often Should You Clean Your Freezer?

We believe that the inquiry of how often to clean out your freezer isn’t something that people ask about frequently enough.

It’s our take that every freezer requires a deep cleaning about once every three months. In between cleanings, here are some ongoing tasks that can simplify the deep cleaning process and save your precious time.

• Antibacterial wipes are something you can use every day to clean the handle of your freezer and the outer door.
• When something spills inside your freezer, mop it up and clean the area right away.
• Make a habit out of reviewing the expiration dates of food in your freezer, and discarding anything that’s past its expiration date or has freezer burn.

Doing these three things is a good way to keep your freezer looking good and save yourself some time when your deep cleaning date rolls around. You may also want to clean your ice maker!

What Cleaning Products and Supplies Should You Use in Your Freezer?

Here are some of the things that our Pros find most useful for cleaning your freezer, including cleaning products and supplies.

The supplies and products you’ll need are basic and you probably have most of them on hand. That means there’s no excuse for not cleaning your freezer today!

Do You Need to Defrost Your Freezer to Clean It?

The good news is that you’re not required to defrost your freezer if you want to clean it. We’ve included methods here that don’t require you to do the defrosting dance.

That said, you should defrost if there’s a build-up of ice in your freezer.

How to Clean Your Freezer with Vinegar

We have a real appreciation for using vinegar as a cleaner because it’s both food safe and inexpensive. Utilize these simple steps to clean your own freezer with vinegar without even having to defrost it.

Step 1: Begin by emptying your freezer of all food and containers, including shelves and ice cube trays. Use a cooler to keep food at the right temp while you work.

Step 2: Create a mixture of equal parts hot water and white vinegar. You can either put it in a basin and use a towel to clean, or put it into a spray bottle.

Step 3: Dip your towel in the vinegar and water and wipe down your freezer, or if you prefer, spritz it on with your bottle. Allow the cleaning solution to sit for about 10 seconds, then use a dry towel or microfiber cloth to wipe it away.

Step 4: Repeat the prior step as many times as you need to, until your freezer is sparkling clean.

Step 5: Dry the inside of your clean freezer with a microfiber cloth. Don’t skip this step — if you do, you’ll get a coating of ice covering the interior.

Step 6: Return all shelves and racks to the freezer, then organize your food, making sure to toss anything that’s expired or frosty.

How to Clean a Freezer with Baking Soda

Baking soda is another super inexpensive and effective cleaner, and you can incorporate it into your freezer-cleaning method. It’s great for removing unpleasant aromas!

Step 1: Empty your freezer as outlined in the previous section.

Step 2: Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with one cup of water and one cup of plain white vinegar in a spray bottle. Shake to make sure it’s thoroughly combined.

Step 3: Use bottle to apply the baking soda solution to every surface inside your freezer, then let it sit for 15-20 seconds. Wipe with a towel, then apply and dry again, as needed.

Step 4: Grab a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub away at any difficult-to-remove stains.

Step 5: Re-spray the whole freezer and wipe it dry with a fresh microfiber cloth.

How to Defrost and Clean a Deep Freezer

It’s rare for modern freezers to require defrosting before cleaning, but people with older freezers or deep freezers probably should if there’s an ice igloo inside. 

Step 1: Unplug the deep freezer from your outlet and place all food items into a cooler to keep them frozen.

Step 2: To speed the melting of interior ice, take a regular house fan and position it so its airflow is directed into your freezer. Whatever you do, don’t try to pry ice away from the freezer walls, since that can actually damage the freezer.

Step 3: As ice begins to break away, scoop it out and into a large bucket or dish basin.

Step 4: Take some towels and use them to sop up water from the freezer bottom.

Step 5: Clean with either vinegar and water, or with the addition of baking soda, as outlined in the previous two sections.

Step 6: Plug the freezer back into the outlet. Let it run until it has cooled, then replace your food inside it.

To see the process for defrosting a deep freezer, watch this video.

Tips for Cleaning a Freezer After a Power Outage

One of the most stomach-churning cleaning jobs in existence is coping with your freezer after you’ve experienced a power outage. FoodSafety.gov informs us that frozen food may still be okay to eat after up to two days without electricity. You’ll need to keep the freezer door shut and make sure the food maintains a temperature of less than 40° Fahrenheit.

Keep these important cleaning guidelines in mind when you’re attacking your defrosted freezer.

• Don’t take unnecessary chances by holding onto food that’s been fully defrosted, smells weird or rotten, or has been through an outage of more than 48 hours.
• Your freezer may have mold in it after a long power outage.
• Plain white vinegar has enough acid to remove most mold and bacteria, but you may want to consider bleach.
• Leaving your freezer unplugged with the door open will banish lingering odors
• You can place a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract inside the closed freezer to eliminate nasty smells.

If you opt to use bleach to kill mold or mildew, it’s a must to wipe out the inside of your freezer to get rid of the bleach. Remember, bleach is NOT food safe.

FAQ About Cleaning a Freezer

Conclusion

Even if it’s been forever since you made cleaning your freezer an item on your to-do list, these pointers and steps from our Pros will help you complete the job without stress, whether you’re a renter, a homeowner, or a professional cleaner.