Advice on storing my freezer

[EddieWalker]

Now that I'm single, I don't have much use for my stand up freezer or my second refrigerator. They are both just about empty, and will be empty this weekend.

After I clean them out real good, should I keep the doors open on them? I've seen this done before, but don't know the reason for it???

It might be years until I need them again, or it might be sooner. I'm worried about bugs getting in there and I won't even look for who knows how long.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Eddie

 

[Bird]

Yep, Eddie, I think you want to leave the doors open. They don't have to be wide open, but enough to let air in. Otherwise, some day I think you'll find the door gaskets in bad shape and an unpleasant odor in the boxes that you may not be able to get rid of. But of course my information is dated. That's what used to be, but with newer freezers and refrigerators, it may be different.

 

[CurlyDave]

I think Bird is right. They smell bad after a while closed.

They don't have to be open very far for enough air circulation. A piece of corrugated cardboard folded and placed on top of the fridge so it prevents the door from closing all the way is sufficient.

 

[tallyho8]

Leave the door open for several days until you are SURE that it is completely dried out. If you aren't sure then put a fan up blowing into it for a day. After it is clean and dry spread baking soda on some trays on the shelves and close it up.

Leaving the door open for extended periods will just create a roach motel.

 

[Mousefield]

You want to have some ventilation in them or they could get smelly. Do as the other posts have said just tape a piece of cardboard or something similar to prevent the door closing. I'm assuming you have the space to store them and they are not in your way. You may look at down the road if you are not using them to sell them. If you find you need them again at some point then buy replacements at that time.

 

[emmy71]

I have a chest freezer I stopped using in 2003. Freezer was only a couple years old when I stopped using it. I cleaned it and let it dry and then closed it. I started using it again a couple weeks ago after being closed for almost 7 years. When I opened it it looked just like it did when I closed it. Spotless and no smells. I believe the key is making sure it is dry. Just my experience.

Terry

 

[MF1455v]

Eddie, we had an upright freezer we didn't use for about 2 years while we were in Austin. I did the same as already suggested and cleaned it really good and left is open to dry for about 2 days. The I used my trick for storing my ice chests. Open up 6 to 10 pages of news paper, crinkle them up and place loosely in the freezer and close it up. The news paper will absorb any remaining smells. After 2 years ours smell like new and we went right back to using it.

I have had ice chests that had a bad fish smell, put in the news paper and closed up. Next use, not more fish smell. It works fantastic. It also works on Tupperware bowls too..


James

 

[MarkV]

Another trick the old appliance repair guy showed us was to put a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the rubber gasket. It helps ensure a good seal.

MarkV

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks everyone. I sure am glad that I posted this. I'm leaning towards cleaning them really good and closing them up. Bugs here are a real issue, and dirt dobbers are impossible to stop, but the list is almost endless of what's roaming around here during the night.

James, I like the news paper idea, and have seen it used before, but didn't make the connection. I never thought about it for my ice chests, but will use it in the future.

I'm also thinking of a box of baking soda in there. Any thoughts on that?

Eddie

 

[charlz]

Clean thoroughly, dry and hang a regular tea bag in there. This was recommended to me by the moving guy/truck driver that moved our stuff from Vegas to Boise. I was a little skeptical but it works like a champ. Had one fridge that was 'parked' in the garage for about a year before we needed it again and it had no odor whatsoever.