• the freezing process takes 24 hours. No further food to be frozen should be added duringthis period;• only freeze top quality, fresh and thoroughly cleaned, foodstuffs;• prepare food in small portions to enable it to be rapidly and completely frozen and tomake it possible subsequently to thaw only the quantity required;• wrap up the food in aluminium foil or polythene and make sure that the packages areairtight;• do not allow fresh, unfrozen food to touch food which is already frozen, thus avoiding arise in temperature of the latter;• lean foods store better and longer than fatty ones; salt reduces the storage life of food;• water ices, if consumed immediately after removal from the freezer compartment, canpossibly cause the skin to be freeze burnt;• it is advisable to show the freezing in date on each individual pack to enable you to keeptab of the storage time.Hints for storage of frozen foodTo obtain the best performance from this appliance, you should:• make sure that the commercially frozen foodstuffs were adequately stored by the retail-er;• be sure that frozen foodstuffs are transferred from the foodstore to the freezer in theshortest possible time;• not open the door frequently or leave it open longer than absolutely necessary.• Once defrosted, food deteriorates rapidly and cannot be refrozen.• Do not exceed the storage period indicated by the food manufacturer.CARE AND CLEANINGCAUTION!Unplug the appliance before carrying out any maintenance operation.This appliance contains hydrocarbons in its cooling unit; maintenance and recharging musttherefore only be carried out by authorized technicians.Periodic cleaningThe equipment has to be cleaned regularly:• clean the inside and accessories with lukewarm water and some neutral soap.• regularly check the door seals and wipe clean to ensure they are clean and free fromdebris.• rinse and dry thoroughly.Do not pull, move or damage any pipes and/or cables inside the cabinet.Never use detergents, abrasive powders, highly perfumed cleaning products or wax polishesto clean the interior as this will damage the surface and leave a strong odour.Care and cleaning 11