How to Defrost a Freezer
Turn off the freezer., Empty the freezer as much as possible., Take out drawers, trays, and shelves when possible., Look for a drainage hose., Prevent a puddle., Choose a defrosting method., Remove ice as you go., Mop up all the water., Clean the...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Turn off the freezer.
Turning off the freezer will prevent the freezer from using too much power while the process is going.
Keeping the cold food together and in an insulated area should keep everything frozen, so long as you pay attention to your task and get it done quickly. -
Step 2: Empty the freezer as much as possible.
Remove as much of the food from the freezer as you are able to.
To prevent items from thawing, wrap them in towels and place them in a cooler bag or insulated box.
Store this in the coldest area of your house, away from direct sunlight. , Set these aside for cleaning.
Do not force them out if they are covered in ice.
You might break them. , Some freezers will have a drain at the bottom which leads to a hose.
This hose usually comes out below the freezer.
See if you can locate this hose.
If you do, pull it forward and connect it to a longer hose or otherwise guide the water away from the freezer.
You also might want to place shims under the front feet of the fridge to help encourage the water towards the drain. , Put old newspapers around the base of the freezer, this will soak up the water as the ice melts.
Old newspapers are ideal for this job as they can slide under the freezer and are extremely absorbent.
Place shop towels on top of these to catch the majority of the water. , There are a few different ways to defrost a freezer, each with benefits and downsides.
Your options include:
Waiting for the ice to melt.
Just allowing time to take its course is the traditional way of defrosting a freezer.
This can be slow, especially if you live in a cold area, but this is the safest way to get the job done.
Use a hairdryer.
It is perfectly safe to use a hair dryer to defrost a freezer, so long as you practice some basic safety precautions.
Make sure to stand clear of the water puddle and keep the cord and hairdryer away from any water or ice.
You should also not get the end of the dryer too close to the coils or sides of the freezer, since the high heat can damage the unit.
The high heat can also damage the plastic inside your freezer.
Focus on one small area at a time Use a fan.
Using a basic fan can help circulate warmer air into freezer, but this only works if it's decently warm in your home to begin with.
Setting bowls or pans of hot water on the shelves.
A common method to speed up the process is to place bowls or pans of boiling water on the shelf or shelves and closing the door.
The steam should loosen the ice, letting you remove all of the ice by hand after about 20 minutes, if you defrost regularly.
However, this method may cause damage to the shelves.
To reduce the chance of causing damage, put a thickly folded towel under the pot on the shelf.
Use a hot spatula.
Get a metal spatula and heat it up by holding it over a fire.
You'll probably want to be wearing an oven mitt.
Then, simply press the spatula into the ice to break it up.
Use a hot cloth.
You can use a rag dipped in very hot water to loosen some of the ice.
Focus on small chunks at the edges, grabbing and wiping at the ice to remove it. , Speed up the process by removing the ice with your hand, a cloth, or a spatula as it begins to soften up.
Do not use a sharp object such as a pick or knife to loosen chunks of ice.
This can damage your freezer or even cause a gas leak. , Use shop towels to wipe up any water as you go.
Keep the soaked towels in a bucket or sink to keep the water from getting everywhere. , You should take this opportunity to clean the freezer if you have not cleaned it recently. , You should use a hairdryer or towels to get the freezer as dry as possible before turning it back on.
This will keep ice from immediately building back up. , Take the opportunity to check the seal on the freezer.
A poor seal is usually what leads to serious build-up of frost.You may want to replace yours if it seems like it's not getting the job done, or is damaged in some way.
Apply oil to the rubber seal of the fridge and freezer doors, making sure all the grooves are oiled.
This prevents the rubber seal drying out in the years to come and helps to maintain a strong suction seal when the door closes.
After a fresh application there will be stains on the fridge where the door meets but a few wipe downs and the oil itself will eventually be absorbed by the rubber seal itself.
Using a thicker oil like olive oil prevents oil from dripping too much. , Don't wait so long to defrost your freezer in the future.
Defrosting when there is only 1/4" (6 mm) or less of ice will make the process much faster and keep your food from spoiling. -
Step 3: Take out drawers
-
Step 4: and shelves when possible.
-
Step 5: Look for a drainage hose.
-
Step 6: Prevent a puddle.
-
Step 7: Choose a defrosting method.
-
Step 8: Remove ice as you go.
-
Step 9: Mop up all the water.
-
Step 10: Clean the freezer.
-
Step 11: Dry the freezer before turning it back on.
-
Step 12: Check the seal.
-
Step 13: Defrost more often.
Detailed Guide
Turning off the freezer will prevent the freezer from using too much power while the process is going.
Keeping the cold food together and in an insulated area should keep everything frozen, so long as you pay attention to your task and get it done quickly.
Remove as much of the food from the freezer as you are able to.
To prevent items from thawing, wrap them in towels and place them in a cooler bag or insulated box.
Store this in the coldest area of your house, away from direct sunlight. , Set these aside for cleaning.
Do not force them out if they are covered in ice.
You might break them. , Some freezers will have a drain at the bottom which leads to a hose.
This hose usually comes out below the freezer.
See if you can locate this hose.
If you do, pull it forward and connect it to a longer hose or otherwise guide the water away from the freezer.
You also might want to place shims under the front feet of the fridge to help encourage the water towards the drain. , Put old newspapers around the base of the freezer, this will soak up the water as the ice melts.
Old newspapers are ideal for this job as they can slide under the freezer and are extremely absorbent.
Place shop towels on top of these to catch the majority of the water. , There are a few different ways to defrost a freezer, each with benefits and downsides.
Your options include:
Waiting for the ice to melt.
Just allowing time to take its course is the traditional way of defrosting a freezer.
This can be slow, especially if you live in a cold area, but this is the safest way to get the job done.
Use a hairdryer.
It is perfectly safe to use a hair dryer to defrost a freezer, so long as you practice some basic safety precautions.
Make sure to stand clear of the water puddle and keep the cord and hairdryer away from any water or ice.
You should also not get the end of the dryer too close to the coils or sides of the freezer, since the high heat can damage the unit.
The high heat can also damage the plastic inside your freezer.
Focus on one small area at a time Use a fan.
Using a basic fan can help circulate warmer air into freezer, but this only works if it's decently warm in your home to begin with.
Setting bowls or pans of hot water on the shelves.
A common method to speed up the process is to place bowls or pans of boiling water on the shelf or shelves and closing the door.
The steam should loosen the ice, letting you remove all of the ice by hand after about 20 minutes, if you defrost regularly.
However, this method may cause damage to the shelves.
To reduce the chance of causing damage, put a thickly folded towel under the pot on the shelf.
Use a hot spatula.
Get a metal spatula and heat it up by holding it over a fire.
You'll probably want to be wearing an oven mitt.
Then, simply press the spatula into the ice to break it up.
Use a hot cloth.
You can use a rag dipped in very hot water to loosen some of the ice.
Focus on small chunks at the edges, grabbing and wiping at the ice to remove it. , Speed up the process by removing the ice with your hand, a cloth, or a spatula as it begins to soften up.
Do not use a sharp object such as a pick or knife to loosen chunks of ice.
This can damage your freezer or even cause a gas leak. , Use shop towels to wipe up any water as you go.
Keep the soaked towels in a bucket or sink to keep the water from getting everywhere. , You should take this opportunity to clean the freezer if you have not cleaned it recently. , You should use a hairdryer or towels to get the freezer as dry as possible before turning it back on.
This will keep ice from immediately building back up. , Take the opportunity to check the seal on the freezer.
A poor seal is usually what leads to serious build-up of frost.You may want to replace yours if it seems like it's not getting the job done, or is damaged in some way.
Apply oil to the rubber seal of the fridge and freezer doors, making sure all the grooves are oiled.
This prevents the rubber seal drying out in the years to come and helps to maintain a strong suction seal when the door closes.
After a fresh application there will be stains on the fridge where the door meets but a few wipe downs and the oil itself will eventually be absorbed by the rubber seal itself.
Using a thicker oil like olive oil prevents oil from dripping too much. , Don't wait so long to defrost your freezer in the future.
Defrosting when there is only 1/4" (6 mm) or less of ice will make the process much faster and keep your food from spoiling.
About the Author
Lori Gonzalez
A passionate writer with expertise in practical skills topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: