LOOK.
My freezer is actually empty! Clean! Defrosted!
And I’m just about ready to plug it back in.
After working through nearly everything from my last freezer post, I put the few remaining items in my kitchen freezer.
Then I unplugged the chest freezer and let it sit for a day or two so that all the ice could melt.
This “unplug, then walk away” thing is definitely simpler than the usual defrosting methods.
(Except for the part where you painstakingly use up your freezer contents for six months beforehand. Ha.)
This is where I started.
I sort of can’t believe I made it through all of that food while managing to only throw a small portion of it away. Phew!
Last post, I had all this stuff to use up:
And I’m pleased to say that I got through almost all of it. Only the tilapia remains!
And there’s definitely plenty of room for a little tilapia in this freezer.
I would love to tell you that I will never let my freezer get this messy again. I am full of organized hopefulness at the moment!
But I know myself, and I accept that there’s a possibility that I’ll be in this same spot again in a few years.
I mean, look how many times I’ve cleaned up my laundry room, and then it gets bad again.
I will try really, really hard to avoid this sort of freezer situation again, though.
oatmeal with berries and walnuts from my freezer. also: heavy cream.
Hopefully, some of the habits I’ve gained over this loooooong freezer challenge will help me do a better job of maintaining my freezer.
THANK YOU so much for following along on my freezer saga. I would definitely not have been as motivated to get this done if I wasn’t sharing my progress with all of you.
I appreciate you cheering me on and being my online accountability partners. 😉 Here’s to clean freezers in the future!
Deidre
Saturday 19th of January 2019
Wow Kristen! Good for you! You have encouraged & inspired me to tackle my out of control clutter again with renewed hope enthusiasm & gusto - I have a partially walled entry area outside my back door that was thickly festooned with spider webs & I think the glass windows had not been cleaned for many, many years; I sprayed one day to deal with the livestock, next day brushed & scraped the webs away, then used a mop sideways to take off thick layers of grime before cleaning with my enjo window mitt then finished with a damp miracle cloth - it's the only pristine area of my house but I stop & admire it every time I come in & out of the house - makes me feel better about the chaos within... - great challenge - thank you! I shall think of your freezer & carry on!
Tammy
Friday 18th of January 2019
Woohoo!
Something I have seen professional organizers on Instagram using in pantries and fridges is a "use first" basket. I think it would really well for a freezer! Then you could look in that basket/container for things that need to be used up on a regular basis, and the little odds and ends would be separate from the things you're stocking up on.
Deidre
Saturday 19th of January 2019
Oh that is a good idea - I'm going to do that in my fridge
Alicia
Thursday 17th of January 2019
Thank you for the freezer clean up posts! It's been something I've had to do too so it motivates me. I've been working on it and it's definitely an improvement from what it was. Plus it saved me $ from not having to shop as much! Congratulations on accomplishing your goal!
Angela
Thursday 17th of January 2019
I just took inventory of my freezers yesterday so I can clear out my deep freezer and defrost it!! You've definitely been an inspiration. And now I'm going to have to look for those dividers!
Jamie
Thursday 17th of January 2019
I have to say thank you....you inspired me to start working through my freezer so I can defrost too. :) It is hard but really it is so good to be using up that food before it goes bad! I have to keep up my own motivation now that you're done posting though!