How to Defrost Your Fridge Freezer
‘Why do fridge freezers ice up?’ might not be a question that keeps you awake at night, but if you’re fed up wasting precious time chipping ice from the inside it’s handy to know.
Ice builds up in your fridge freezer when warm air gets inside, condenses into water, and freezes into ice.
This isn’t a problem if you have a fridge freezer with a frost free or total no frost refrigeration system, like the Bosch KGN34NWEAG 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer whose NoFrost tech keeps it completely free of ice.
But if you have a fridge freezer that does need defrosting, here’s our simple guide.
How often should you defrost your fridge freezer?
Ideally, you should defrost your freezer once or twice a year or when you notice a quarter of an inch of ice build-up inside.
That layer of ice might look pretty on a festive card.
But too much frost in your fridge freezer means it has to work harder to keep frozen food safe at the recommended -18°C or below, increasing your energy bills.
Excess ice also reduces storage space and makes it tricky to keep the door closed.
Here’s what to do:
1. Empty the contents of your fridge freezer
Choose a colder day to help keep frozen food cool, moving items to a cool bag/box or neighbour’s chest freezer, if you can. Wrapping frozen food in newspaper also slows the rate at which it warms.
Throw away out-of-date items to maximise space in your freezer when you refill.
2. Spread towels to protect the floor
Prepare the floor around and under your fridge freezer by using towels to soak up excess water as ice melts.
Place baking trays or plastic food boxes inside to catch larger chunks of ice as they fall.
3. Turn off your fridge freezer
Next, switch off and unplug your fridge freezer. Leave the fridge freezer door open so the solid ice can start to melt.
Remove compartments and drawers and let them reach room temperature before gently washing by hand. Allow to air dry if you can.
4. Use the ‘bowl of hot water’ trick
Manually defrosting your fridge freezer can take several hours – no wonder it feels like a chore.
But placing a bowl of hot water inside the freezer section on a small towel will speed things up. Leave the door open and replace the steaming water when it cools.
Use a plastic spatula (never a knife - or a hairdryer!) to gently loosen built-up ice as it melts.
A good quality freezer defroster spray is another effective way to remove ice faster, whether you have a chest freezer, under-counter freezer or American-style fridge freezer at home.
5. Clean your fridge freezer
Once your fridge freezer is free of ice, clean the walls and shelves with warm soapy water or a natural alternative such as diluted vinegar or bicarbonate of soda paste. Use an old toothbrush for crevices that are hard to reach.
Dry surfaces thoroughly or allow to air dry if you can.
Prevent future ice build-up by checking your fridge freezer’s door seals for damage or mould. The seals keep warm air and humidity out, so replace any that are brittle or torn.
Alternatively, say goodbye to manual defrosting forever by choosing a frost-free fridge-freezer, like the Hoover HOCH1T518EWHK 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer with Total No Frost tech.
Or explore our full range of Beko, Blomberg, Bosch, Haier, Hisense, Hoover, LG and Sensis fridge freezers.
6. Let your fridge freezer cool before refilling
Switch your fridge freezer back on, choosing the fast-freeze option (if available) or letting it run for at least an hour before refilling.
Whether you have a big American-style fridge freezer, integrated fridge freezer or smaller under-counter freezer, all fridge freezers work best when they are 75 per cent full.
So, as you refill, organise your food by storing it in the right place. Make time to regularly clean the inside of your freezer in future to remove any frost as it forms.
If you're unsure which fridge freezer is right for you, our experts are here to help you find the perfect match for storing your fresh and frozen goods. Find your local store for expert advice, or browse our full refrigeration range.
