Your freezer, lauded for its capacity to store copious amounts of food and personal items, could potentially become a hotbed for bacteria and germs if it is not cleaned on a regular basis, thus putting your health at risk. Having a full-time job, managing children, cooking meals, and maintaining a lawn could make the task of cleaning a freezer quite overwhelming given the time and effort needed.
But before we reveal the step-by-step guide, let’s first identify what can damage your freezer. In this way, you’ll have an idea of what to do first to protect your most essential appliance.
What Can Damage A Freezer?
If you’ve ever opened the fridge and found that it smelled a bit off, or that your favorite ice cream had started to go bad, you know how frustrating it can be. But what causes this? And more importantly, what can damage freezers?
>>Overfilling the freezer.
Overfilling the freezer is another common mistake. If you put too much in at a time, your freezer will have to work harder to keep it all frozen. This can cause ice to build up on the back wall of your fridge, which can ruin the food stored there and may make it unsafe to eat.
Another problem with overfilling is that some foods freeze better than others, so you shouldn’t be packing them all together like sardines! You’ll want to keep meats separate from vegetables, for example, especially since meats are often wrapped tightly in plastic packaging that doesn’t allow for much air circulation.
>>Leaving items in the freezer for too long.
You can’t help but notice that your freezer is taking longer and longer to keep things cold. You may have a problem with your fridge door or the compressor. It’s important to check both of these components if you think there’s something wrong with your appliance.
A poorly working freezer can allow heat from the outside room into it, causing food to spoil faster than normal. If you’ve noticed that food items seem to be going bad quicker than usual, check that everything is closed up tightly. If air is leaking into your appliance, items will rot much more quickly than normal or even spoil completely before freezing time has elapsed.
>>Putting warm food in the freezer.
Putting warm foods in the freezer may cause bacteria to grow, which can lead to food poisoning. It can also cause fridge burn, where water-soluble vitamins are lost during the freezing process. Finally, it could be that your food just spoils and you have to throw it out because it doesn’t taste good anymore.
>>Not defrosting and cleaning your freezer regularly.
One of the most common ways that freezers get broken is when people don’t defrost them often enough. For example, if you don’t defrost a chest freezer every year or two, the ice and frost can build up until it becomes so thick that it actually damages the insulation.
If you have a small upright or low-side fridge (with an internal compressor), then this won’t happen to you. However, if you have an older upright or chest model which relies on fans and blowers to circulate cold air throughout its interior, then yes, you should definitely be defrosting on a regular basis!
So how must you clean a freezer to prevent it from being damaged? Check the next section!
Step By Step Guide How To Clean A Freezer
Have you ever tried to use your freezer and found it full of food that is no longer good after an occasion? Or worse, have you found mold growing on the food? This can happen when there’s not enough air circulation in the fridge. If this happens often, it could lead to a buildup of bacteria and toxins that make frozen foods unsafe to eat. Luckily, cleaning a freezer isn’t difficult as long as you follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Unplug the appliance.
The first step is to unplug the appliance. Unplugging the appliance will make sure that it doesn’t start up while you’re cleaning it and also ensure that there’s no risk of electrocution.
If you don’t want to take any chances, double-check that it has been unplugged by feeling for the plug in its socket or checking with a tester. You’ll need a pen light or something similar. Just shine it into the area where you think there might be a socket and feel around for any signs of electricity (the outlet won’t be hot).
Step 2: Remove everything from the freezer.
The next step to cleaning your freezer is to remove everything from it. This includes all food, shelves, and bins, as well as any ice that has built up in the bottom of the fridge. If you have a chest freezer (which is much more efficient than upright freezers) open its lid and remove any ice that has built up on top of your items.
Step 3: Dispose of any food that has gone bad.
While defrosting your fridge, throw out any food that has gone bad. This is a no-brainer: food that has turned can be a breeding ground for bacteria and make you sick, so throw it out! Anything that looks like it’s spoiled or rotten (even if you think it might still be edible) should go straight into the trash bag.
Step 4: Wipe down surfaces.
Now that you’ve emptied the freezer, it’s time to give all the surfaces a good wipe-down. But before you do anything else, make sure your water is warm and not hot, because otherwise, it will melt any ice that may still be clinging to the walls of your fridge.
Also, make sure you’re using a mild cleaner. Though bleach will kill those bacteria, it can also be harmful if ingested. Don’t also use abrasive cleaners. They’ll leave scuffs on your ice cube maker’s finish and stain non-stick pans. And lemon juice? Just don’t go there.
Step 5: Scrub stubborn stains.
If the stain is particularly stubborn, you may have to do a little extra work. A good sponge and muscle power are your best friends for this job. Pour some disinfectant solution on the stain, then mix in some cleaning powder to create a paste. After you’ve done that, scrub vigorously with a brush or sponge: it’ll make all the difference! Let it sit for five minutes before wiping it away with a wet cloth and rinsing thoroughly with water.
Step 6: For deep stains, rub olive oil over them.
Do you still have a stain in your freezer? Just put some olive oil on the stain, then wipe it away with a damp cloth! This method works really well for deep stains or dried-on food (like hot sauce). But if your fridge is just dusty and needs a quick cleaning before getting started on this project, you can use an all-purpose cleaner instead of olive oil, it will do the job just fine too!
Step 7: Wipe down all surfaces with a dry cloth.
When it comes to cleaning out your freezer, you’re going to want to wipe down all surfaces. This includes the shelves and drawers, as well as the door itself. You should never use a damp cloth or rag when cleaning these surfaces because they can scratch them over time and make them stickier than they already are. Instead, use a dry cloth (or paper towels) and clean everything thoroughly.
Step 8: Replace shelves and bins, if applicable.
You’ve taken the time to clean your freezer, and it’s looking pristine. But there are still a few things that need to be done before you can go enjoy your work and wipe the sweat off of your brow. First, you need to replace any damaged or missing shelves and bins. If they aren’t broken or missing, then maybe they just don’t fit in the fridge properly anymore. In that case, replacing them will make sure everything fits snugly, and you won’t have any more trouble when you open up the door!
Step 9: Replace food in the freezer when it is completely dry.
When the freezer is dry, it’s safe to put food back in. It’s important not to put wet food into a dry fridge as this can cause mold and bacteria to grow more quickly than normal.
How Often Must You Clean A Freezer?
If your freezer is filling with frost and ice, it’s time to clean. Technically, this isn’t something that needs to be done each time you use the fridge, but if you don’t clean it when needed, eventually the ice will cover everything and cause trouble.
But if you’re asking for a specific time of the year, it’s better to clean your freezer at least every 2 to 3 months! Don’t wait until you smell a rotting dead rat in your freezer. That’s why it’s also important to check the expiration dates of the food you put inside the fridge to know which one needs to come out first.
Take note that the way you clean a fridge can affect its performance, so you must be careful when handling the interior. If you are afraid to disassemble its interior, you can call a professional deep cleaning company with “freezer cleaning services”, like SURECLEAN!
Which Company Cleans A Freezer?
Everyone knows how much effort it takes to keep a house looking its best. With a busy schedule and kids to look after, sometimes the daily chores pile up. This is where SURECLEAN can help.
SURECLEAN: Can they clean a freezer?
SURECLEAN is a professional deep cleaning company that helps households (and even schools and companies) by making life easier with their convenient deep cleaning services. SURECLEAN provides sanitation and disinfection for every corner of your house, including your freezer!
So if you’re looking for a friendly, professional, and thorough deep cleaning service, SURECLEAN is the best company you should call.
What are you waiting for? Don’t let that ice cream sit in your freezer for another year! Call SURECLEAN using the numbers posted below.
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