How to clean a freezer – these tips will help keep your food in great condition and improve your appliance's efficiency

Your freezer is arguably the most important appliance in your kitchen. From storing ice cubes for your next drinks party, to housing hearty home-cooked meals, it's the stalwart of any culinary space.

But, do you know how to clean a freezer? Not only does this keep your food fresher, it also improves the efficacy of your appliance, and can extend its lifespan, too, all while banishing bad odors and bacteria.

So, here, we spoke to our cleaning pros for their cleaning tips on getting your freezer fabulously sparkling – without the faff.

How to clean a freezer

Why does a freezer need cleaning?

Just because your freezer operates at freezing temperatures, doesn't mean it doesn't need cleaning, says Forrest Webber, founder of Bear Brothers Cleaning.

For efficiency, 'Ice buildup can make your freezer work harder, which isn't great for your energy bills,' or for saving money at home, he advises. 'Additionally, forgotten fish fillets and ancient popsicles can create smells, and nobody wants to dig through a frosty avalanche looking for frozen peas. Cleaning and organizing saves time and stress.'

How often should a freezer be cleaned?

Often it can be easy to forget about cleaning your freezer, but Diana Ciechorska, general manager at Park Slope Cleaning, stresses the importance of keeping on top of the maintenance. She says, 'Keeping your freezer clean ensures your food stays fresh, prevents odors, and keeps your appliance running efficiently.

'Based on my expertise a deep clean is recommended every six months or better yet whenever you notice spills, frost buildup, or strange smells.'

Before getting started, we recommend gathering your cleaning supplies ahead of time, to avoid getting caught short later down the line. You will need:

• Baking soda
• Distilled white vinegar
• A microfiber cloth: such as the HOMEXCEL Microfiber Cleaning Cloth available at Amazon.
• Warm water
• A sponge: such as the Scotch-Brite Zero Scratch Scrub Sponges available at Amazon.
• Spray cleaner

Step 1. Unplug and empty the freezer

First things first, unplug your appliance for safety and empty everything from your freezer.

Cleaning expert Ciechorska, suggests, 'Store food in a cooler (such as the Coleman Cooler—Chiller 16 Quart Portable Cooler available at Amazon) or insulated bags and discard expired items.' This is a great time to declutter your freezer and move any items not to store in the freezer, to make space for what you really need and use.

*All prices were correct at time of publication.

Step 2. Defrost

Next, defrost your freezer, particularly if yours is frozen over, or there is significant ice buildup.

'Be patient,' advises cleaning expert Webber. 'For stubborn ice, gently scrape with a plastic spatula,' such as the OXO Flexible Heat Resistant 9.25 in Silicone Kitchen Spatula available at Walmart. 'Emphasis on gentle – no one wants a punctured freezer.'

Importantly, never use a hairdryer or commercial deicer to speed up the process, as you don't want to use electricals near water, or chemicals near food.

Step 3. Clean

Then, it's time to get stuck in to the cleaning. To do so, you can either use a simple, spray-and-wipe cleaner, like Charlie's Soap Kitchen & Bath Household Cleaner Spray available at Amazon, which is natural and biodegradable, or try cleaning with baking soda.

'Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with one quart of warm water,' says cleaning expert Webber. 'Or clean with vinegar and warm water, combined in equal parts, and add baking soda for a little extra grime-fighting fizz.'

Whichever you use, use a sponge or microfiber cloth to clean every inch of your freezer, letting it sit on stubborn spots for a few minutes before wiping.

'If you want to be extra careful, clean with hydrogen peroxide by putting some on a paper towel and wiping down the surfaces again to disinfect,' says Taylor Sutherland, president of Charlie's Soap.

'Finally, using a wet rag, moistened with cleaning agent, wipe down the seal to make sure there is no mold or other grime and debris. You'll want the freezer to seal properly, of course.'

Step 4. Dry

Finally, allow your freezer to dry thoroughly to prevent ice buildup. 'Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to soak up any remaining moisture,' says cleaning expert Webber. 'Pro tip: a dry freezer is a frost-free freezer.'

Then, you can turn your freezer back on, and once it's back down to temperature, reload it. Take the time to organize your freezer or organize a chest freezer, as this will help to make food more easily accessible, and don't forget to label everything, too.

To keep yours cleaner in the future (although you can't avoid the task forever!) use freezer mats, suggests Webber, such as the Refrigerator Liners available at Amazon, as, 'they catch spills, making your next cleaning session a breeze.'

Furthermore, 'Keep it full (but not packed) as a full freezer runs better, but leaves some breathing room for circulation,' he adds. 'And wipe spills ASAP.'

FAQs

How can you freshen up a freezer?

In between deep cleans, why not use vanilla to freshen up a freezer, either by dampening a cotton wool round with vanilla extract, or by making a vanilla vinegar cleaner.

Not keen on sweet scents? You can use coffee and salt to deodorize a fridge, and it will work just as well in a freezer, too.

On a cleaning roll? Why not tick off cleaning your refrigerator at the same time.