How to unblock auto defrost hole in fridge?

belfastgirl23

Someone on another thread suggested using the little pump you get in a liquid soap dispenser to clear this out - I thought it was a great idea, sorry I can't remember who it was to give them the credit. You can then see better what's going on and hopefully attack the gunge a bit better.

Ticklemouse

**purpleprincess** wrote: »

Where can I find this hole? Is it inside the fridge or outside?

My fridge/freezer keeps getting soaking wet and it's annoying me now.

Might see if this works, just got to find it first!!

Ta!

On mine (tall larder fridge) it's at the back, at the bottom. You will probably see drainage channels running towards it. It's so the water can drain away onto the pipes at the back, which create a lot of heat - the theory being that as it auto defrosts, the excess water evaporates on the warm pipes. All well and good until the hole blocks up which is when you find it pools in the bottom of the fridge and spills onto your feet everytime you open the door

**purpleprincess**

Actually, thinking about it, I don't think mine has an auto defrost on it. The fridge came with the flat when I moved in and it's probably as old as me!!!!!

Oh well.

Any ideas on how to keep an old fridge with an ice box over-freezing and soaking my fridge???

beemuzed

Ask and ye shall find - and I hadn't even asked yet! Have been tearing my hair out and constantly mopping the bottom of the fridge and the surrounding floor! I'm now off to collect a paperclip, pipecleaner, cocktail sticks etc. and get this one solved!

bluedog

beemuzed wrote: »

Ask and ye shall find - and I hadn't even asked yet! Have been tearing my hair out and constantly mopping the bottom of the fridge and the surrounding floor! I'm now off to collect a paperclip, pipecleaner, cocktail sticks etc. and get this one solved!

Me too .!! normally use a bamboo skewer but not worked this time around. thanks!!

HelzBelz

**purpleprincess** wrote: »

Actually, thinking about it, I don't think mine has an auto defrost on it. The fridge came with the flat when I moved in and it's probably as old as me!!!!!

Oh well.

Any ideas on how to keep an old fridge with an ice box over-freezing and soaking my fridge???

Unfortunately I think the only way is to defrost it regularly so you don't get a massive build up of ice

Helz:A

natters_2

not sure if you will all have the same as mine - but if you pull out the fridge at the back near the bottom there is a small dish attached to catch the water/gunk.

I poke a skewer down mine then flush it through - then pull out the dish and clean that too

martindow

I found that a cable tie is quite effective at poking down the hole - flexible and not sharp but reasonably rigid

Justamum

How about a bottle brush? I have a baby's bottle brush which I find invaluable for cleaning all sorts of awkward areas, and the small end is ideal for this. In fact I had to do it with my small fridge the other day.

Talking of fridges, we got a large larder fridge for nothing. My husband is an electrician and he has to go into offices. One office had a large, nearly new, fridge which they wanted to replace because it had a horrid pong to it (it smelt of sour milk). They gave it to my DH and I cleaned it up, but the smell still hung around, until I poked around the hole at the back, and it's been fine ever since.

katglasgow

Hi just to update you, went back and attacked fridge with one of the kid's pipecleaners got some more gunk out. It has made all the difference so problem sorted. I am sure all of the above implements that were suggested to me would have worked, knew I could rely on your guys!