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A Good Housekeeping report identifies five freezer categories that professional cleaners recommend removing: messy open packages, old ice, expired or unwanted foods, nearly empty containers and mystery items. The advice is practical guidance, not a formal food-safety rule; the report does not set universal storage time limits or assess individual items.
A Good Housekeeping report citing two cleaning professionals recommends clearing out five kinds of freezer clutter: messy open packages, old ice, expired or unwanted foods, nearly empty containers and unidentified items. The advice is intended to help readers make space and assess what they are likely to use, but it does not establish a universal expiration schedule for frozen food.
Rochelle Wilkinson, owner of Dirt Detective Cleaning, says open packages that spill or leak should be dealt with rather than left to make a mess. If the food is still usable, she recommends cleaning up and transferring it to a freezer-safe, spill-proof container. The report says items with mold, freezer burn or a passed due date can be discarded. It also notes that unwanted items that remain in date may be donated or composted where appropriate.
Old ice is another item on the list. Logan Taylor, founder of The Dazzle Cleaning Company, says ice can absorb odors from other foods in the freezer. The report recommends replacing it and washing ice bins, trays and other storage containers. That is a cleaning suggestion; it does not claim that all stored ice becomes unsafe after a particular period.
For food with no visible date, Wilkinson suggests judging its condition. The report names freezer burn, a solid mass of food frozen together and excessive ice inside packaging as signs that an item may have been stored for a long time. It also advises removing nearly empty packages unless the contents are likely to be used soon, or combining portions where practical, and discarding unidentified food when its contents or age cannot be established.
A Cleaner Freezer, Less Guesswork
The recommendations address a common household problem: frozen food can remain out of sight long enough that owners lose track of what they have. A focused cleanout can make it easier to find usable ingredients, prevent spills and free storage space, while reducing the chance that unidentifiable packages are mistaken for something else.
The advice also distinguishes between clutter and food quality. A nearly empty bag may simply be consolidated, while food with mold or an uncertain identity is a different matter. The report offers practical cues, but its suggestions should not be read as a substitute for package instructions or official food-safety guidance. Freezer burn alone is a quality concern and does not, by itself, establish that food is unsafe.
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How the Five Categories Were Chosen
The article is a household cleaning and decluttering report by Good Housekeeping, based on comments from Wilkinson and Taylor. It focuses on the condition and usefulness of items rather than giving a food-by-food storage chart. The five categories are messy open packages, old ice, expired or unused food, nearly empty containers and mystery items.
Wilkinson also suggests using leftover portions rather than automatically throwing them away, including combining vegetables and proteins in soup. That option depends on being able to identify the food and judge that it is still suitable to eat. The report does not provide detailed handling instructions, specific freezer temperatures or time limits for individual foods.
“Ice takes on the smells of other items kept in the freezer.”
— Logan Taylor, founder of The Dazzle Cleaning Company, as quoted by Good Housekeeping
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What the Advice Does Not Specify
The source does not state when the report was published, give a standard storage duration for particular foods or identify a single rule for deciding whether every frozen item is safe. Condition and age can be difficult to verify, especially when packages are unlabeled or dates are missing. The report’s recommendations are attributed to cleaning professionals, not presented as a formal assessment of each item’s safety.
It also does not explain which organizations or programs accept frozen food donations, or what local composting services allow. Readers should check local requirements before donating or composting food. Whether an item is worth keeping will depend on its labeling, condition and the household’s plans to use it.
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A Practical Freezer Cleanout
The report’s next step for readers is a hands-on review: remove items that are expired, moldy, unidentified or no longer wanted; clean spills and ice containers; and move usable open packages into suitable sealed storage. Labeling packages with their contents and date can help make future cleanouts easier, though the source does not set a labeling system or schedule.
For items that appear usable, readers can consolidate small portions or plan a meal around them rather than discard them automatically. Any food-safety decision should account for the product’s package directions and reliable food-safety guidance. The report offers no follow-up study or announced update, so its advice remains a set of practical recommendations rather than a new safety standard.
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Key Questions
What five items do cleaning professionals recommend removing?
The Good Housekeeping report lists messy open packages, old ice, expired or unwanted foods, nearly empty containers and unidentified freezer items.
Does freezer burn mean food is unsafe?
The report identifies freezer burn as a sign that food may have been stored for a long time, but it does not say freezer burn alone proves food is unsafe. It is generally a quality issue; check package guidance and reliable food-safety information when deciding what to do.
What should I do with an open package that is still usable?
Cleaning professional Rochelle Wilkinson recommends cleaning up any spill and transferring usable food to a freezer-safe, spill-proof container.
Why does the report suggest replacing old ice?
Logan Taylor says ice can absorb odors from other freezer items. The report recommends replacing it and washing the tray or bin, but gives no specific age at which ice must be discarded.
Can unwanted frozen food be donated or composted?
The report says non-expired items that are no longer wanted may be donated or composted. Acceptance rules vary, so check with a local food-donation organization or composting service before bringing food.
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