How to Defrost a Freezer

Regularly defrosting your freezer or fridge freezer is important to keep it operating as efficiently and effectively as possible.

You may have a freezer with auto-defrost or frost-free technology, which reduces ice-build-up autonomously. If your freezer doesn’t have this technology, you will need to manually defrost it now and again.

Keep reading to learn how to defrost a freezer or  fridge freezer, including knowing when and why it needs defrosting.

How to know when your  freezer needs defrosting 

Before we get into the best ways to defrost your freezer, you need to know how to spot when your  freezer needs defrosting. 

As a rule of thumb, you should aim to defrost your freezer when you start noticing ice build-up.

The more frost there is, the less room there will be for your food, and, if left, it can reach the point where it becomes too difficult to shut and seal the door. Ice also acts as an insulator, so your freezer must work harder to keep food frozen, making it less efficient.

Fortunately, ice doesn’t build up overnight and you’ll only need to defrost your freezer once or twice a year. If you find that frost is building up over short periods, there may be a problem with your freezer.

At Homebase, we have an extensive range of freezers and fridge freezers, including built-under and integrated freezers. Head over to your local Homebase or browse online today.

1. Switch your freezer off

The first step is to switch your freezer off at the wall and, if possible, unplug it from the wall socket. Switching it off before you start will save you time, as the freezer can begin to thaw while you’re prepping your space and removing food.

If you’re defrosting a fridge freezer, you may not be able to switch it off or unplug it without also turning off the fridge. If this is the case, check to see if the freezer compartment has a control dial. If so, switch this down to zero, which will effectively turn off the freezer without impacting the fridge.

If you don’t have a control dial, you should leave the fridge freezer on and instead prop the freezer door open. Warm air will gradually defrost the ice in the freezer compartment. Be sure to follow the rest of the steps for preparing your freezer and the space around it.

2. Remove all the contents

Next, remove the contents of your freezer. Make sure to start this as soon as you’ve switched it off and unplugged it to avoid frozen food beginning to defrost.

You should also remove all drawers and shelves, so the freezer is empty.

What do you do with your food while you’re defrosting a freezer?

Transfer your food into an insulated cool box or bag and place it in a cool spot in your house. You can also use this opportunity to bin any food that’s out of date.

3. Prepare your space

Be prepared for lots of water. Of course, the more ice that has built-up, the more water there will be.

Prop the freezer door open and place some old towels on the floor surrounding the freezer to absorb the water from the thawing ice. You can even place a towel inside the bottom of the freezer to soak up more water.

4. Wait for it to defrost

Now your freezer is empty, and your towels are in place, wait for the ice to melt. It usually takes 2-3 hours to defrost a freezer. If you’re defrosting a fridge freezer by leaving the door open without turning it off, this may take a little longer.

You should let the freezer defrost by itself – don’t go poking around with sharp objects to try to scrape ice away as you may damage or scratch the inside of the freezer.

5. Clean the freezer

Once all the ice is melted, you can remove the towels, wiping up any excess water as you go and pop them in the washing machine. Now it’s your chance to give your freezer a clean. Using warm, soapy water and a cloth, give the freezer a good scrub, including any shelves or drawers that have any residual dirt or food stains.

When you’re happy with the cleaning, make sure you dry as much of the freezer as possible with a towel or cloth. This will help to reduce the risk of leftover water freezing when you turn the freezer back on.

6. Turn the freezer back on and replace the food

Finally, once the freezer is clean and dry, you can plug it back in and switch it on. Wait for it to reach temperature before you replace the food. Again, this could take a few hours. If you’ve defrosted your fridge freezer by leaving the door open, simply shut the door and wait for it to return to temperature. If you’ve used a dial to switch the freezer off, turn this back on to the normal settings.

Make sure to throw away any food that’s started defrosting because refreezing food can be dangerous.

There you have it, a simple and hassle-free way to defrost your freezer or fridge freezer with minimal mess and fuss. Now you can sit back and relax! Remember, if you notice ice building up in your freezer very quickly or that food isn’t staying frozen, it might be time for a new freezer. Visit Homebase online or in-store to explore our vast range of freezers and fridge freezers.