Cleaning An Upright Freezer

An upright freezer that may reside in the garage is easily overlooked when spring cleaning comes around. Over the course of a year, spills and leaks take their toll. Food particles may become lodged in the folds in the gasket and other hard-to-reach places. Over time, this may prevent the freezer from closing completely, leading to lower performance and higher power bills. As part of required freezer service, you must clean your upright freezer at least once every year. You can easily clean your upright freezer with regular home cleansers by following the below instructions.

Step 1: Turn Off the Power Supply

Turn the temperature control knob on the freezer to ‘Off’. Turn off the power supply to the freezer and disconnect the cord before starting to clean.

Step 2: Empty the Freezer

Place a blanket on the floor. Remove each item from the freezer, wrap it with newspaper, and then place inside the blanket. When you have removed all the food from the freezer, cover with the blanket to form a bundle. This method will keep the food frozen for a few hours. Alternatively, you can transfer the food to another freezer. This is a good time to inspect the contents of the freezer and to throw out any freezer-burnt or expired food.

Step 3: Remove the Racks and Containers

Fill the kitchen sink with warm soapy water. Remove all the racks and containers in the freezer and immerse them in the soapy solution in the sink.

Step 4: Defrost the Freezer

Before you can start cleaning, the freezer must be at room temperature. You can speed the melting process inside the freezer by turning on a fan and placing it in front of the freezer door. After the frost has melted, remove all the water inside the freezer with a sponge.

Step 5: Clean the Interior

Clean the interior of the freezer thoroughly with a warm solution of water and mild soap. Use only a soft cloth for this purpose, so as to avoid any scratches. Clean the grooves between the gasket and the door thoroughly. After this, immerse the cloth in a mixture of baking soda and water, and run the cloth through the entire surface of the interior.

Step 6: Clean the Compartments

Thoroughly clean the compartments and racks that you placed previously in the sink. Wipe these dry. Wipe the interior of the freezer dry, and place the compartments back inside the freezer.

Step 7: Clean the Area Around the Freezer

Move the freezer away from its usual position by gently pulling it. You might need some help here, because freezers are generally heavy. Wipe the exterior of the freezer with mild soapy solution and then wipe dry. Thoroughly dust and clean the floor and wall that are usually covered by the freezer. Move the freezer back to position.

Step 8: Plug In the Freezer

Connect the freezer back to the power supply and switch it on. Turn the temperature control knob to the desired level. Wait till the temperature of the freezer has dropped enough, before you put back all the food items.