If you are reading this post then you must be weary about your fridge hygiene and wondering how can mold grow in a freezer. You may be alarmed about that white residue in your fridge which looks like the early stages of mold growth.
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What causes mold to grow in a freezer?
A clean a steril fridge will not have any mold growth. Most of the causes of mold in a freezer are external and can be avoided. Here are the four main causes of mold in a freezer:
- Freezer Malfunctioning. A working freezer will not have any mold growth. This is because low temperatures naturally inhibit any mold growth. Any malfunctioning of the freezer may cause the temperatures to rise and create a warm environment for mold growth. Mold growth may a sign that your freezer is malfunctioning and may need repair.
- Defrosting With the door open. Any defrosting should be done with your freezer doors closed. Defrosting creates a pool of water and a warm environment that may create the right conditions for mold growth. Leaving your door open may increase the chance of your freezer being contaminated with mold spores from external sources.
- Unplugging or power outage. Similar to a malfunctioning freezer a power outage will also increase your temperatures and create conducive conditions for mold growth. This however can be avoided by having an external power supply for your fridge. Having a backup fridge generator for your fridge is recommended.
- Frequently opening your fridge. Frequent opening of your fridge may cause contamination of your freezer with mold spore. Opening your fridge alone may not cause mold growth. This will only cause contamination which may later cause mold growth when any of the former causes above are met.
How to stop mold from growing in your fridge
As stated above mold will grow in a warm and moist environment. Proper low temperatures will keep your freezer sterile and discourage mold growth.
Preventing mold growth can be as simple as keeping your fridge powered to maintain a cold sterile environment. Your fridge doors should also be kept shut to maintain the cold temperatures incase of a power outage.
Mold spores that may have been deposited in your fridge by moldy food may also begin to sprout. To stop this, it is important to keep your fridge clean at all times. Follow the right cleaning steps to get rid of any mold spores in your fridge.
How to clean a moldy Freezer?
Cleaning your freezer may one of the easiest ways to get rid of mold in your freezer. Before beginning any cleaning you must first remove all the food in your freezer and manually thaw out your fridge. Just unplug your fridge and let it thaw out. You may then follow the steps below:
- Empty your freezer. Remove all the food in your freezer to make space for your cleaning step
- Defrost your freezer. You can choose to manually defrost your freezer by leaving the door open and letting thaw out or you can use lukewarm water to quickly defrost it.
- Spray or rub vinegar in the freezer. The acidic PH levels of vinegar should be enough to sterilize your freezer. Mix you vinegar with water in the ratio 2:1 and generously rub the inside of your fridge with a cloth of a spray bottle. Let it sit for 10-20 minutes before proceeding to next step.
- Use baking soda to clean out your fridge. Baking soda will neutralize the acidic PH levels of vinegar. Mix baking soda with water and use it to clean the inside of your freezer
- Rinse with clean water. Use clean fresh water to finally rinse out your freezer and and plug it back to the power source. We have written a guide on how to get your fridge cold here.
