Defrosting Freezer

[burlyshirley1]

I'll admit I've been very lazy when it comes to defrosting my freezer (please don't ask how long, I'm embarrassed !) and the ice and frost build up is terrific. I turned it off on Thursday morning and today, two days later, there has been very little progress. Very little water has gathered on the bottom and there is still an awful lot of ice. To try and speed things up today, I placed two bowls of hot water in the freezer only to find them both frozen solid when I went back to check some time later ! What's going on - it's definitely turned off ? Anyone had a freezer take so long to defrost?

[jollyroger66]

Invest in one of these - 20 minutes from start to finish

https://www.screwfix.com/p/performance-power-phg1800-1800w-electric-heat-gun-220-240v/704kj

[jno]

I used to just point an ordinary blow heater at mine.

[Hopkirk]

It's not turned off. The plug you switched off was the radio next to it.

[Hopkirk]

Are you leaving it open?

[burlyshirley1]

It says on the instructions not to use heated dryers on it, so I haven't, should I ignore this then ? I am getting desperate now ...

[burlyshirley1]

Lol wish it was that simple Hopkirk !

Yes, leaving door open, but shut it when placing bowls of hot water in it. That was a total waste of time !

[anneasquith]

Treat yourself to a self defrosting one.

[bednobs]

we were "Lucky" and ours went a bit mental during that hot weather. It defrosted in super quick time! It literally took a few hours with the door open.
Sorry to be so simple, but have you actually taken the plug out?

[burlyshirley1]

Has anybody else used a hair dryer to speed up the defrosting process?

[calmck]

I put a cool fan in front of mine. Takes 30 minutes. Are you sure it's off

[Hazlinny]

^^ My cousin says he does use a hair dryer and I have once - at a distance!! Did help but took a long time.

[burlyshirley1]

I have taken the plug out bednobs. I wonder if jno means an ordinary fan heater - I've read that online ...

[jno]

yes, just an ordinary fan heater, and sometimes a hair dryer for awkward corners. Don't get too close in case the whole fridge melts. It used to take half an hour or less, but yours sounds as if it may be fuller.

[bhg481]

Ours is a chest freezer, so it might be different from yours, but we put casseroles of hot water inside and close the lid. After a while we slide a palette knife between the ice and the freezer wall and crack the ice off.

[burlyshirley1]

^ Lol when I put hot water in mine and closed the door everything just froze up ! I'm going to leave it till tomorrow now and if there is still little change, I will probably try the fan. This will teach me not to leave it for so long next time !

[Tilly2]

Make surre that no drops of water can fall in the hairdryer. Don't hold it in the freezer,it's not safe.

[burlyshirley1]

See above tilly, I've decided to use a fan. Thanks anyway.

[Lie-in King]

At one point last year, I suddenly realised I couldn't get my shopping into the freezer as it had gone through an Ice Age all of its own.

Around 90 mins with a hair-dryer, a plastic scraper (came with a separate fridge), lots of towels & a washing-up bowl for wringing-out & lumps of ice did the job.

[burlyshirley1]

I may have to use a hair dryer as a last resort LIK. I've just had another peep at it, there are a few water droplets, but I would have expected more after over two days of being switched off ..

[THECORBYLOON]

I've used a hairdryer and a spray bottle before.

Adjust the nozzle so the water comes out as a jet and scoosh it on the ice to help it melt.