Think about all the food in your freezer right now. Now, think about all that ice cream, meat, frozen dinners, and other staples for your weekly meal plan going bad because your freezer broke down. Luckily, knowing how to clean a freezer and perform regular maintenance on it can help you avoid this inconvenient scenario.

While these tasks may seem straightforward to homeowners, this guide will teach you the best way to clean a freezer once or twice a year to maximize its efficiency, as well as some freezer maintenance tips that can help prolong the life of your appliance.

If you’re also worried about maintaining the refrigerator section of your combination fridge and freezer, check out the tips in our Guide to Refrigerator Maintenance.

How to Clean Your Freezer in 5 Steps

Time is of the essence when cleaning your freezer. The food in the refrigerator section of your appliance will only stay cold for a few hours with the door closed, so be sure that you have time to work quickly and efficiently until the task is complete. Before you begin, fill a cooler with ice where you can place your frozen foods. Make a solution of half white vinegar and half hot water and pour it into either a bowl or a squirt bottle. Soap can leave residue and baking soda can help you deodorize your freezer but isn’t ideal for cleaning. Have another bowl or squirt bottle with warm water for rinsing ready, as well as a sponge, clean towel, or rag.

Start by moving all the food from your freezer to a cooler filled with ice. Then, unplug the appliance. If you’re trying to find out how to clean a freezer without turning it off, it’s not recommended. Keeping the freezer running will make it harder to get it sufficiently clean and may put a strain on the appliance’s motor. If you’re wondering how to get rid of freezer frost, unplugging it will also help.
Remove any shelves or racks; if your freezer has them, and if you use them, also remove any ice cube trays or containers. Soak all parts in warm soapy water or place them in your sink for washing later. If you have shelves made of glass, use room temperature water to avoid stressing and potentially cracking them.
The best way to clean a freezer is to wait until it has reached room temperature so that grime is easier to remove. Take your white vinegar and hot water solution and coat the interior of the freezer. Scrub it from top to bottom, wall to wall, then clean the edges, freezer door, and shelves. Also, be sure to clean the rubber gasket around the door and check for any damage.
There’s no need to wait for the cleaning solution to dry; you can now rinse it with warm water and dry the freezer’s interior with your clean towel or rag. Getting your freezer completely dry is important because any moisture that remains when you turn your appliance back on will turn to ice, prompting you to repeat the steps on how to get rid of freezer frost again.
Return your clean shelves or racks to the freezer, and then all the food from the cooler. If necessary, you can also clean the freezer coils at the back or bottom of the appliance (check your user manual for their precise location) with a brush or vacuum attachment. Then, plug your refrigerator back in.

How Do You Clean and Deodorize Your Freezer?

If you need to know how to clean a freezer that’s been plagued by nasty food smells, there are a couple of extra steps you can take. After rinsing and drying your freezer, you can wipe it down with a solution containing one teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water. This can help kill bacteria-causing odors, as well as any that could cause foodborne illness. After returning all the shelves and food, you can place a box of baking soda inside to help absorb any new odors.

How to Clean a Deep Freezer or Chest Freezer

Closeup of frozen packaged foods packed into in chest freezer

Cleaning a deep or chest freezer is very similar to the process above, except that it will take more time and defrosting will produce much more water. As these freezers can vary in design and function, consult your user manual for more specific information on how to clean a deep freezer, but be prepared to keep some towels or trays on hand to catch melting ice.

Regular Freezer Maintenance

Knowing the best way to clean a freezer is only part of keeping your appliance in working order. Performing regular freezer maintenance tasks can help the appliance run efficiently. Some of them you can do yourself, while others are best left to the professionals. Here are some freezer maintenance tips you can do:

Defrost Your Freezer Yearly

Closeup image of freezer with frost covering shelves

If you didn’t defrost your freezer during cleaning, be sure you do so at least once a year or whenever frost begins to overtake the interior. A buildup of frost can cause your freezer’s motor to overwork and break down sooner than normal. Newer model freezers don’t typically need to be defrosted, but others should be a regular part of freezer maintenance. This is also a helpful tip for deep freezers and chest freezers.

Check the Thermostat

The ideal temperature for your freezer is zero degrees Fahrenheit. If your model has a built-in thermostat, you can monitor it to make sure that the temperature remains constant. If it doesn’t have a thermostat, you can use a household thermometer. Keeping your freezer at this temperature (or one suggested in your user manual) can keep your appliance operating under ideal conditions.

Clean Condenser Coils

As previously mentioned, cleaning your freezer’s condenser coils (usually located at the back or bottom of the appliance) can do wonders for its performance and longevity, making it one of our most important freezer maintenance tips. Make sure they’re free of dust and debris by wiping them with a clean towel or rag, or carefully using a small vacuum cleaner attachment around the area.

4. Maintain the Freezer Gasket.

The freezer gasket is the strip of rubber that runs along the edge of the freezer door. It’s vital for keeping cold air sealed inside your appliance and preventing food from thawing. Even small tears, holes, or misalignments with the gasket can break the seal of your freezer door and cause a temperature drop. Regularly inspecting, cleaning, and replacing (if necessary) the gasket is important to freezer maintenance.

Keep the Freezer 75 Percent Full

Closeup image of a full freezer

Overfilling your freezer can prevent cold air from fully circulating and cause its motor to work harder. Leaving it too empty can increase the size of the space your freezer has to keep cold, which also wastes motor power. Keeping your freezer three-fourths full will maximize its efficiency. If you’re unsure of what’s appropriate to keep in a freezer, check out our guide on What to Freeze and What Not to Freeze.

Of course, at-home freezer maintenance will only get you so far, and simply running your appliance will naturally wear down some of its parts. Having home warranty coverage for your refrigerator and freezer can help offset repair or replacement costs when they eventually break down, so get your free home warranty quote today.

The contents of this article are provided for general guidance only. First American Home Warranty does not assume any responsibility for losses or damages as a result of using this information.

Please be aware that if you disassemble a covered system or item, it can invalidate your home warranty or manufacturer's warranty.