Defrosting the freezer

Bronnie

I wouldn't use bleach on it,personally. If you've got an anti-bacterial spray, you could use a bit of that, but just a good wash out with hot soapy water first will be enough, especially all the little crevices where shelves go etc , then dry it off thoroughly with an old towel.

Leave a little tray of bicarb inside to absorb any smells and tape a small plastic lid to the inside of the door frame to stop the door from closing completely. You need to keep the door slightly ajar to let the air circulate.

Zinger549

I need to defrost are fridge as there is lots of ice and it is too cold. What's the quickest way of doing it.

tanith

Use a hair dryer just be careful of drips.. you just direct the flow from outside the freezer not actually put the dryer into the freezer

ladybirdintheuk

Method I use = Switch power off, open door, (plus put oven on with the door open at this time of year to get the room a bit warmer), boil the kettle and put as many pans/bowls of hot water in the freezer as you can fit. break off as much ice as you can by hand (just so you don't get as much melted ice on the floor), but be careful - I just take bits off litterally by hand - my dad uses an ice-scraper (like you would use to clear ice off the car windscreen) but I know someone who had stabbed through the side of the freezer doing that, so be careful!

I'd not thought to use a hairdryer, but that would definitely be loads quicker. Almost worth buying a cheap hairdryier

Britneyspears

I turn it off and put bowls of hot water from the kettle inside (when the water goes cold i pour it down the sink and refill with water from the kettle) I do want to try those defrosting sprays does anyone know if they are any good?

ManAtHome

I've often wondered about the defrosting spays as well - been to many places round the Med where they use them, so maybe they do work (or maybe because it's normally warm out there...).

Anyway, I either use a hairdryer or a small fan heater just outside the fridge, and have tipped warm salty water into the freezer bit if in a rush.

jools27_2

Try a cheap hand-held steam cleaner, zaps through the ice in seconds!

[Deleted User]

I had to do mine last weekend and just decided to surf the net to see if I could speed up the process.

Depending on what you have got to hand in the house I would:-

1. Open door to freezer fully, not just ajar.

2. Maximise air flow through the freezer. e.g. electric fan (without heater) or electric heater on a stool. Obviously water and electricity don't mix so use a safety circuit breaker and don't touch your fan/ heater with wet hands!!!!!

3. As many pans of boiling water on shelves as possible, once all drawers have been removed.

4. Wipe up all water generated as quickly as possible. It's not just the temperature that is important when defrosting your freezer. The less water vapour there is inside the freezer the easier it will be for more water to change from ice to water vapour and leave the freezer.


I reckon it took about 10 minutes to get 95% of all the ice out of my 5foot tall freezer. Just a niggly bit got caught at the very top, but that soon got sorted out with a cake slice!:j

Hope it gets defrosted as quickly as mine did.

pigpen

We did MIL's when there a few weeks ago.. it had a ball of ice like a football!!

Just turn the thermostat down for a few hours.. when you go back the ice should simply come off.. you may need a spoon or something for gentle leverage but any remaing ice or liquid will run out the drain at the back.

aless02

Hairdryer is good as long as you are careful. If you don't have one, I honestly just switch the whole thing off until the ice melts enough to pry off - steaming bowls/trays of water from the kettle help speed this along. Put a big towel in the bottom to catch the worst of the water runoff.