How to Defrost a Freezer

Prep Steps

When you are defrosting a freezer, the first thing you need to do is empty all its contents. Move everything to another freezer or pack them tightly into a cooler - or move them to a outdoor space, if you’re doing this in winter and the temps are below freezing!

After the freezer is cleaned out, turn it off. This may be as simple as turning a dial in the freezer or in the fridge section of the appliance, but more likely you’ll need to carefully pull the unit away from the wall and unplug it. If you have a water or ice dispenser in the appliance, be extra careful when pulling it out. It would likely take a big yank to disconnect the water lines, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

How NOT to Defrost

It may be tempting to start hacking away at the chunks of ice on the walls of a freezer, but resist that temptation. Using an ice pick, knife, or anything else that’s metal is a surefire recipe for disaster. No matter how careful you think you are going to be, you are going to scratch or damage the wall of the freezer. So put away the screwdriver and let’s do this the right way.

Defrost Option 1: Hot Water

Using an ice pick, knife, or anything else that’s metal is a surefire recipe for disaster. No matter how careful you think you are going to be, you are going to scratch or damage the wall of the freezer.

Ask anyone over the age of 50 how their mom defrosted the freezer, and they’ll likely tell you that she used a pot of boiling water. This method is more hands-off than others, but it may also take a little more time.

To defrost your freezer using hot water, first boil a large pot of water. While you’re waiting for the water to boil, make sure you have enough room to put the pot in the freezer. Then put a hot pad or trivet on one of the shelves, and place a towel on the bottom of the freezer to soak up the water as the ice melts.

Once the water in the pot is boiling, simply put it on the trivet and close the door. Freezers are well-sealed, so the steam from the hot water will heat up the inside of the freezer, causing the ice to naturally melt off the walls. After about 30 minutes, open up the freezer and wipe up the water that has accumulated, then use a plastic scraper to gently knock any remaining ice from the walls.

Defrost Option 2: A Hair Dryer

The next option for defrosting a freezer is to use a hair dryer to start melting the ice chunks. Again, you’ll fist want to line the bottom of the freezer with towels to catch the water.

If you use this method, the quickest way to get the ice to release is to focus around the edges of the ice. Blow the hair dryer almost parallel to the wall of the freezer, with your goal being to get the warm air behind the ice. If you can get the edges to start to release and continue to blow some warm air behind the ice, you’ll be able to use your plastic scraper to gently pry the ice off the walls.

Defrost Option 3: Alcohol

If your freezer doesn’t have much frost build-up, you may want to opt for a quick wipe down with alcohol. Pour a bit of rubbing alcohol onto a clean towel, then use the soaked portion to start wiping the frost; the frost should start melting fairly easily. This method is good when you don’t have chunks of ice, but rather just a thin layer of frost to remove.

This post was originally published on Quick and Dirty Tips http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/house-home/housekeeping/appliances/how-to-defrost-a-freezer