Performing freezer cleaning does not have to be tedious. Galaxy Maids brings you a follow-up to our last blog article on cleaning inside of the Fridge, inspired by Melissa Maker. We will also throw in a hack to remedy bad-tasting ice.
This is something that you can do on an as-needed basis or even once a year. Galaxy Maids recommends getting rid of debris and old freezer-burned food and make space for the yummy stuff. If you live in a cooler climate, do this during the winter, so that you can place frozen items outside. If you are located in warmer locations, do this the day before garbage pick-up. As with the fridge, this is the perfect opportunity to sort through old stuff and get rid of it.
8 Steps for Freezer Cleaning
- Unplug the fridge.
- Remove all items and store them in a cooler area or in an area where the food can stay frozen. Do this the day before garbage pick-up.
- Toss anything that is old or has freezer burn. Generally, anything older than a year must go… yes, I am talking to you, cabbage rolls.
- Scoop out any large debris or crumbs with a dampened paper towel, then toss the paper towel into the trash.
- Grab rubber gloves and fill a bucket with hot, soapy water. Dip a sponge into the water and wring it out well.
- Scrub the base and sides well, lifting away stains and debris. You probably won’t be able to buff it dry. Wipe well with a damp cloth.
- Replace all items in an orderly fashion.
- Plug the fridge back in.
HACK: My Ice Tastes Bad!
You know what I am talking about: You kick back on a Friday night and eagerly take your first sip of your favorite drink on the rocks, only to discover, uh-oh it tastes like the inside of your freezer. What a buzzkill! There are a number of reasons why your fridge might start making bad-tasting ice. Galaxy Maids recommends several steps from Melissa Maker that you can take to remedy the situation.
A freezer that is too full of buildup on the walls or old freezer-burned food will start to transfer its flavor to the ice. The first step is to always make sure that your freezer is clean, fresh, and organized by following the freezer cleaning steps above. Hey, even a stinky fridge can transfer flavors to the ice, so make sure you stay on top of keeping your fridge cleaned out.
Dump out the ice and give the ice bin or trays a good wash in hot, soapy water and ½ cup of baking soda to fight those odors, then set it back in for ice making. Since the bins are porous and made of plastic, sometimes bad tasting ice is a persistent problem. Sometimes it is best to get a new bin and dump out the ice cubes when they start to taste bad.
If you’ve done all this and your ice still has a bad taste, the problem may lie in the ice maker itself and the tubes that carry the water. Check your refrigerator/freezer manual instructions for options for replacing the water filter and/or cleaning out the ice maker or call your repair person if you don’t know how to access these parts yourself.
