How to Clean a Freezer

• Begin by disconnecting the freezer from its power source. Many freezers have off switches, but unplugging the freezer ensures that the power cord won’t get wet as you clean.
• Remove the frozen food. Put as many items as possible in your refrigerator, space permitting. They won’t have time to thaw while you're cleaning. If you are cleaning the freezer that is adjacent to your fridge, don’t worry about it being unplugged. Leaving the door to refrigerator closed will keep everything cold for a few hours even if it doesn’t have power. Put the rest of the frozen food in a cooler, including the ice from the freezer.
• Use this time to inventory the food in your freezer. Get rid of the items that have freezer burn or are past the expiration date.
• Take any removable shelves out of the freezer. Depending on the model of freezer you have, some racks and shelves may not be removable. Check your owner’s manual for details about which parts of the freezer can be taken out for cleaning.

Clean out and deep clean your freezer at least once a year. Kitchen gloves are optional, but can keep skin from sticking to cold, dry surfaces.

• Make a solution of hot water and vinegar and put it in a spray bottle. A solution of water and soap can also work, but vinegar is food safe and has no soapy film.
• Spray the interior walls, floor and gaskets. Wipe with a sponge or microfiber cloth.
• Need to figure out how to clean a freezer floor that might have sticky areas? Try scrubbing the trouble spots with a toothbrush or small scrub brush dipped in hot water.
• Dry the interior thoroughly with a cloth or paper towels. Any water residue that’s left inside can freeze and cause wear to the interior surfaces.
• Clean the outside of the freezer with stainless steel cleaner or another appropriate cleaner and microfiber cloth.
• Be sure to dust the condenser coils.
• Replace all the shelving. Put the food back.
• Plug the freezer back in and turn it on.

Tip: Most freezers today are self-defrosting, so you shouldn’t have to defrost or remove ice.

• After you have emptied the freezer, take out shelves and drawers. Also remove things like ice cube trays. These items are easier to clean when they are outside of the freezer.
• Mix fragrance-free dish soap with warm water in a sink or basin. Wash the items with a dish sponge, as you would hand-wash dishes. Rinse to make sure no traces of soap remain.
• Be sure shelves and other removable items are completely dry before returning them to the freezer.
• Dishwasher-safe ice cube trays can be washed in the dishwasher, refilled and returned to the freezer at your convenience.

Tip: Wait until shelves, drawers and other removable items are room temperature before cleaning them in water. A sudden change in temperature can cause some items to crack.

While freezers are designed to store foods for extended periods, edible items can go bad if given enough time. Take special steps to clean a freezer that smells.

• If the freezer has strong, lingering odors, it can take several days to thoroughly clean, dry and deodorize. Before cleaning a smelly freezer, make a plan for temporarily storing your frozen items.
• Start by following the cleaning steps above. Then mix a solution of 1 gallon of water and 1 tablespoon of bleach. Use it to clean the inside of the freezer with a scrub brush.
• Leave the freezer door open for two days to dry completely and allow the odor to dissipate.
• If the smell still remains, fill a bowl with activated charcoal, baking soda or cat litter and set it in the empty freezer. Run the freezer for 2 to 4 days to absorb the odor.

While most freezers self-defrost, there are some that still need to be defrosted manually. The longer you allow frost to build up, the longer it will take to remove it. The more often you defrost your freezer, the less time consuming it will be.

• Newer models don’t require defrosting. Still, you may need to know how to remove freezer ice, especially if you have a deep freezer or chest freezer, before you can thoroughly wash the appliance.
• Check the owner’s manual. You can defrost most freezers using similar methods, but there may be differences. Expect defrosting the freezer to take most of a day.
• Unplug and empty the freezer.
• Place a towel at the bottom to soak up melting ice. Place a baking sheet or similarly shaped pan on top of the towel to catch water.
• To speed the defrosting process, place a pan of hot water at the bottom of the freezer. You can also use an electric fan, blow dryer or the blow setting of a wet/dry vacuum to replace the cold air with warmer air.
• Gently loosen or remove melting ice with a plastic scraper or spatula. Do not chip at it with an ice pick or sharp tools, which can damage the freezer.
• If the freezer has a drain or stopper, open it and use a basin, drip pan or hose attachment to catch the water.
• When the freezer is defrosted, clean and thoroughly dry the unit.

Tip: If you have a freezer with more than 1/4 inch of ice on the base or walls, you should go ahead and defrost it.