Defrosting the freezer (quickly?)

Obviously could just switch it off & let it melt but would like to do it as quick as possible, as I don't really have any where to store the contents for long (could ask our neighbour/friend). Have experienced the joy of stabbing the element with a knife in the past, so would like to do it safely too.

Is there a quick way?
Saw some defrost-quick spray in a better-ware mag once and one of the lads used a (home) steam cleaner to clean the works freezer box out yesterday.

fan heater (but not on full blast)

Hair dryer can be a good idea. You can aim it to the right places.

and most food will stay more than frozen enough in the fridge for a good few hours

i sit a fan heater on a plastic box about a foot away form the door to keep it away from water

WARNING: HAIRDRIERS AND WATER DO NOT MIX

Car de-icer helps it along, and use a plastic fish slice, not a bloody knife.

Best way:

Stop buying food, eat the contents first – switch off and open the door – leave. Handy if like ours its in the garage…, otherwise lots of towels.

Quick way:

Blow heater and hot water.

Washing up bowl with hot water in left in the freezer?

use a plastic fish slice, not a bloody knife.

hey I was young and it was all going so well, until the inevitable happened 😳

take it outside,give it a good hosing with a hose pipe (not jet wash) ten Minuit job.I do mine twice a year like this,never had a problem.I just put all the food in bags,put it back in freezer after wiping it out with a towel,food stays frozen.

Best Way:

Frost free freezer.

But as you don't have one, some people reckon bowl of bowling water in the bottom helps and change regualr. No idea really though.

I had great fun shooting hot water into the freezer with a washing up liquid bottle – it really cuts (harmlessly) through the ice 🙂 You have to resist the temptation to lever at the ice with anything as the elements are easily damaged, even with a plastic instrument!

I used a wall paper steamer when I did mine a couple of weeks back. only too about 30 mins to get rid of it all.

I was a bit wary about holding the steam jet in one place for too long though in case it FIU

I thought similar to simonfbarnes, but maybe just drag it outside and use the hose, no mess inside then.

Hairdryer for me, sorts it out pretty quick, and no need to get the hairdryer into the wet area, just lob a towel at the bottom to catch it all.

Put your frozen food in the bath with a sleeping bag or duvet over it, no problems.

Put all your food under a sleeping bag or duvet. It will last for a couple of hours or more.

C

Same way as Keith. Drag it into the yard and hose it. Wipe it down and re-stock it. About 30 mins total.

Drag it into the yard and hose it. Wipe it down and re-stock it. About 30 mins total.

Christ, it's about 15 mins with a hairdryer!

I place saucepans with boiling water in them on the shelves.

….oh and knife as i like to gamble.

I thought all the freon boils and the universe implods if anyone puts anything hot in a freezer ?

I use hot water and an axe; we get thick thick ice in our freezer.

how about chucking lime into it, perhaps in the form of a grenade of some kind

If you can get outside easily just use a hose pipe. You can totally defrost it in a few minutes, dry it off and get it up and running before you know it.

Hairdryer and coldness, nothing better, very comforting, do it all day if i could!

problem with moving it is that most should be left standing still for 24 hours before being switched on. This is based on last time i sold a freezer but it may not be true any more

Hairdryer and coldness, nothing better, very comforting, do it all day if i could!

ha! thats my job! 😀

and use a plastic fish slice, not a bloody knife.

using a knife is the quickest way. Mate defrosted his using a knife and hr later he was in the shop buying a new freezer with no ice.

Sit on the floor beer in one hand hair dryer in the other takes no more than 15 mins or two cans worth

burneep – read above, been there done that.
MMW I was under the impression it should be stood for 24hrs after moving too.
That and it's a 6ft tall fridge freezer, so can't just 'pop' it outside.. hairdrier it is then.

Great response cheers.

you only need to leave em standing if you're a clumsy f00ker,if you keep it upright and don't chuck it about whilst moving it you're ok.

how about chucking lime into it, perhaps in the form of a grenade of some kind

but maybe just drag it outside and use the hose

that would require two other people much burlier than I 🙁

Salt? I chuck salt into mine – then hot watter

Get your father in law to try it with a chisel whilst you are on holiday in Canada.. then return to a brand new fridge freezer .. .shimples!