Maintaining the Home:
Interior Maintenance
Freezer Care and Cleaning
Locate the freezer in a cool, dry room for the most efficient operation. The freezer mechanism will run better above 40 degrees. Leave room on both sides and back for heat to be given off in the air. Plug the freezer into a grounded outlet and its own circuit so an overload from another appliance cannot shut it off. It should be leveled so the door closes tightly; uprights may be tilted slightly from the front so the door closes readily.
If the freezer is in an out-of-way location, check frequently to be sure it's running. If you go on vacation, ask a neighbor to check to be sure it doesn't go off and cause food to spoil.
Never run frost-free freezers where the temperature goes below 60 degrees. The compressor will not run enough to keep food from thawing and spoiling.
Defrost freezers about once a year, before frost is ½-inch thick on inside walls, and clean. Use a plastic or wooden scraper, not a sharp instrument, to remove the frost.
Freezer Cleaning
Clean the interior during an annual defrosting. Remove food and store it in cooler chests or boxes insulated with thick sections of newspapers or blankets, or in the refrigerator. Use a fan directed toward the frost to loosen it and remove. Wash inside with a warm water solution of mild detergent or baking soda; rinse; wipe as dry as possible. Vacuum dust off condenser coils. Turn freezer back on and replace food.
When needed, wipe outside with a damp cloth. If a spill will not come off, use a detergent solution and rinse off. If the exterior is synthetic paint (not porcelain enamel), occasionally apply a creamy white appliance wax to the exterior to protect the surface and easily remove spots.
This material was adapted from publications produced by Michigan State University.
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