Avoid a thick layer of ice
A freezer with a thick layer of ice consumes much more power. In addition, it takes longer for your products to be frozen in a caked-on freezer. So defrost and polish! With this step-by-step plan it is so easy.
1. Empty the freezer
It is best to empty the freezer as much as possible on the days before you start defrosting. Then remove all products. That is immediately a good time to check the food: throw away what is no longer good immediately. Keep the rest in a cooler or cooler bag. Don’t you have both? Then roll everything in newspaper, bubble wrap or blankets, that also insulates.
A day when it is very freezing is ideal for this job, then you can just put the frozen products outside.
2. Prevent flooding
Turn off the freezer and unplug the power cord. If you have a fridge freezer, only turn off the freezer compartment. Take out the drawers and racks.
Some freezers have a pipe or gutter at the bottom where the melt water runs out. Place a container under it to keep the floor dry. Place a towel in the bottom of the freezer.
3. Defrost
Boil a few liters of water and put it in a pan, tub or bucket, for example. Place it on a coaster on the bottom. If you have several floors in your freezer, you can also put a pan of hot water on them.
Close the freezer door to keep the heat inside.
4. Clearing Ice
Wait half an hour. In the meantime, you can clean the drawers and racks with soapy water.
If the ice layer was quite thin, it is probably already coming loose quite a bit. Clean up the loose pieces of ice and replace the cooled water with hot water. If necessary, place another dry towel on the bottom. Repeat this step until all the ice has come off.
Do not cut the ice with a chisel, putty knife, or other sharp object, as this could damage your freezer. Heating everything with a hair dryer or paint burner is also risky. Just be patient and the freezer will remain intact. A thin layer of frost can be removed with a plastic spatula or plastic ice scraper.
5. Cleaning
Soak the freezer with a cloth and an all-purpose cleaner with a neutral scent. Soda also works fine. Carefully clean the rubbers, possibly with an old toothbrush. Rinse with water with a splash of vinegar. Dry the freezer well with a clean cloth, because wetness will freeze again immediately.
6. Power on
Plug in the power plug and turn the freezer back on. Slide in the drawers and racks.
Wait until the freezer is up to temperature before putting the products back in it. Some freezers have a freezing mode that speeds up the cooling process, check the manual to see if this is possible with your freezer.
7. Prevent Ice Formation
This job will keep you busy for a while, especially if a thick layer of ice had formed. Prevent this by cleaning the freezer every three months. Usually the thin layer of ice and frost is still easy to remove with a plastic spatula or scraper.
After thawing, you can spread a thin layer of glycerine on the walls. This can be bought at the drugstore and prevents ice from adhering to the walls.
It is also important to keep the freezer tightly closed. Open the door as briefly as possible and do not leave it ajar. If you quickly suffer from frost, check whether the door seals still close properly. In addition, do not put warm leftovers in the freezer, but let them cool down first.
