How to defrost a freezer

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Defrosting a freezer may seem like an odd concept. After all, shouldn't a freezer be frosty? However, if you leave a build-up of frost inside, this will affect the overall performance of your freezer. It tin pb to a lack of storage space too as freezer burn, which can ruin the quality of your succulent frozen goods.

Annoyingly, frost build-up can also cause freezer doors to go stuck, which can damage your apparatus. What's more, the more frosty your freezer is, the more energy it consumes, causing a spike in your household bills. While defrosting a freezer may seem like a huge chore, it's actually really quick and easy. Only follow our uncomplicated steps on how to defrost (and deep make clean!) your freezer.

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How ofttimes should you defrost a freezer?

What you'll need

- Towels
- Sponge or microfiber material
- Dishwashing liquid or multi-purpose cleaner
- Warm water

For manual defrost freezers, it's best to defrost your freezer in one case or twice a year or equally soon every bit there is a build-up of quarter of an inch thickness of water ice. If yous take a frost-free or automatic defrost freezer, these will still demand deep cleaning every half-dozen months.

How to defrost a freezer

1. Beginning things first, empty out the contents of your freezer. Remove the drawers or removable shelves, fix to clean later. If possible, shop all your frozen food in a cool place or better nevertheless, an water ice box. If you don't have 1, you tin can always invest in one of the best coolers to keep your appurtenances fresh.

This is likewise a great time to become rid of old items that yous're only not going to swallow. For instance, those 6-month leftovers you've forgotten about that were subconscious in the back of the freezer!

2. Always unplug and switch off your freezer before you lot defrost. This will speed up the procedure. Next upwardly, leave the door open to let in air.

iii. Lay down some old towels or cloths on the flooring around the base of your freezer. You'll be surprised at how much water yous'll be left to mop upward, so the towels will absorb those messy puddles. If you have a drainage outlet, use a container to collect whatever water.

Defrosting freezer — (Image credit: Future)

4. It's best to leave the freezer door open up for a few hours or until the ice completely melts. Ensure you wring out any drenched towels while the freezer defrosts.

5. Next up, information technology's time to thoroughly clean the freezer once it's thawed out. For this, y'all tin use warm, soapy water and a sponge or a multi-purpose cleaning spray. Make clean the within of your freezer and the racks, making sure you get into all those nooks and crannies. These hidden places are oft where germs live from adventitious spills or clay, and don't forget the gasket and handle!

Then clean the outside of your freezer, particularly the door where fingerprints or general grime lurks from regular use. In improver, thoroughly make clean the drawers, or removable bottle holders before putting them back.

6. Now that your freezer is all cleaned up and dry (make sure it'southward completely dry), you tin switch your freezer dorsum on. It'south ever advisable to wait a few hours for the freezer to reach the ideal temperature, earlier you put your frozen goods back. Also, remember non to put back any raw meat that has started to defrost or else yous may run a risk nutrient poisoning.

What's more, this is a good time to nicely organize your frozen foods. While it may exist tempting to pack your frozen shopping into any drawer crevice, information technology'due south advisable not to overfill your freezer with excess nutrient.

Cleaning freezer — (Image credit: Future)

Tips on how to organize your freezer

Organize foods from dorsum to front – Place the new stuff at the back and the older foods that demand to be consumed start towards the front.
Freeze things in small portions – When you melt up a feast, always divide foods into smaller, usable portions before freezing them. This volition avoid any wastage if you defrost more than you actually need.
Freeze things flat – Yous can save so much space in your freezer when you lay things flat. If possible, accept things out of large, cumbersome boxes to save room. If yous exercise need whatsoever of the instructions/dates, just cut them out of the boxes and store in a drawer.
Characterization and date your leftovers – It's easy to brand bootleg foods, throw in a freezer pocketbook or container and forget about them! Just, it's always best to label and date the 24-hour interval it was frozen, so you'll know when it was made. As a full general dominion, it's ever all-time to consume leftovers between 1-3 months.
Group things in their categories – Ever group like items so you can easily notice what you're looking for. Things such every bit meats, seafood or frozen veggies should exist kept in their sections.

Cynthia Lawrence specialises in Homes ecommerce, covering all things homes and garden-related. She has a wealth of editorial feel testing the latest, 'must-take' dwelling appliances, writing buying guides and the handy 'how to' features.

Her piece of work has been published in diverse titles including, T3, Top Ten Reviews, Ideal Dwelling, Real Homes, Livingetc. and House Cute, amongst many.

With a rather unhealthy obsession for all things homes and interiors, she as well has an interior design blog for style inspiration and savvy storage solutions (go rid of that clutter!). When she'southward not testing absurd products, she'll be searching online for more than decor ideas to spruce up her family unit home or looking for a great deal!