Fastest Ways to Defrost Your Freezer (and Prevent Future Build-Up)
It is almost impossible to keep a freezer completely frost-proof. Opening the door allows moisture to pass through, and that moisture freezes and collects on the walls, ceiling, and floor of your refrigerator. You can spray the interior with special freeze protection sprays – or cooking oil ! – to prevent frost from sticking, but most people do not forget about it (and cooking oil, in general, is oily).
Depending on how much food and frost is packed in the freezer, defrosting is not that difficult. In its simplest form, all you have to do is empty the freezer (put all the food in the refrigerator) and unplug it. There may be a special knob that will allow you to turn it off, but if not, you will need to unplug it all from the wall. Place the drain hoses in a bucket, tuck a few towels under the freezer or inside, and wait. Keep an eye on your towels and change them when they get wet. (Beach towels work best because they are so large.)
How to speed it up
It is very easy to open the door and wait, but defrosting the freezer this way can take many hours, and you are probably in a hurry. Fortunately, there are several tactics to help you get the job done faster.
You can put a fan in front of the freezer and let warm (e) air circulate around the ice, or use a hair dryer, provided you are very careful not to let the dryer come into contact with puddles. even tiny. Line the bottom of the freezer with towels and blow hot air along the edges of the ice where it meets the wall. This will allow you to remove it in large chunks rather than melting it from the outside to the inside. If you only need to remove a thin layer of ice, a paper towel soaked in rubbing alcohol can help move objects from their place (and from there). freezer walls).
You can also harness the power of steam by placing pots or bowls of boiling water in the freezer and changing it as it cools (about every 15 minutes). I like to use two pots and bring one to a boil while the other begins to evaporate. Be sure to line the bottom with thick towels, not only to absorb water, but also to protect the bottom of the freezer from the hot pot.
While it may sound tempting, resist the urge to take your ice ax – or any other metal tool – to the ice. A scratch can damage or puncture the walls of the freezer. If you just need to scratch, use plastic or wood and be careful with your movements. (Although it is unlikely that you will damage your freezer with plastic or wood, it is still possible.)
Clean up
Once the ice has melted, the hair dryer has been put back in place for hair care, and the towels have been in the washing machine, rinse the freezer a little by wiping it down with an all-purpose cleaner, or use a 50/50 mixture. white vinegar and water. Wipe off any debris with a microfiber cloth and dry thoroughly with paper towels.
Prevent future accumulation
If you have severe frost, it is most likely a damaged seal that is easy to replace. If your seal is doing its job (sealing), the problem might be you (or your partner or the kids). Make sure the food you put in the freezer is completely covered to prevent moisture from entering the freezer and keep the door as closed as possible.
If you find yourself spending a lot of time with the door open trying to figure out what you have in there, create some sort of inventory system so you don’t have to. A spreadsheet, a whiteboard, a dry erase marker on the freezer itself – it doesn’t matter, just find a way to keep track of the contents of the freezer so you can keep it closed and dry.