Decluttering of a Different Kind

A couple of weeks ago, we had a refrigerator malfunction. We had had problems with ice build up in the freezer for a couple of years. It meant the occasional defrost but wasn't too bad. The problem got progressively worse. Then, leaking refrigerant forced us to replace it suddenly.

It quit on a Tuesday. Unfortunately, although we ran out and purchased one after some quick research, they couldn't deliver it until Friday. So we got to live out of 3 ice chests and a portable freezer (adjusted to a refrigerator temperature) that my work let me borrow for 3 days. It wasn't fun. And my back hurt after all that bending over to reach in and out of the things. I was quite grateful to have them though.

As a result, however, we threw pretty much everything from the freezer into our chest freezer in the garage. And set something on the lid to make sure it stayed closed. haha

We actually decluttered a lot of the condiments and such just deciding what to put in the ice chests/portable and what wasn't worth the limited space. But the freezer was basically a mass dump as fast as possible.

What's more, after the new one was delivered and came to temperature, I noticed as we began moving things back that the chest freezer had a pretty thick layer of ice inside. It's definitely in need of a defrost itself.

And, so, that brings me to this week and probably the next couple. I informed the family that we will be doing a "Eat from the Freezer" week, maybe month, until I get the freezer empty enough to defrost.

The fridge was decluttered out of necessity. Now it's the freezer's turn. And that should be interesting. Chest freezers work kind of like a purse. All the small things fall to the bottom. To find them, you stick your hand down as far as you can and feel around to find what you need -- hoping that it will feel like it is supposed to and that you don't find anything wet or sticky.

It's always nice to do "Eat from the Freezer" weeks regularly, so you don't find something from 1985 down in there. So I will try to buy only have-to-have groceries for however long it takes and use up the majority of what is in there. It usually takes some creativity with our meals and means we get to have some things we haven't had in a while. 

I do really like my new fridge. After getting the freezer cleaned out, I'm guessing it will feel brand new too.