Asking Someone to Defrost Freezer

There are loads of companies who offer this service. I just found one online called Bright Home. I can’t face doing it because it hurts my back. I’m surprised so many people do this with ease. The companies bring their own cool bags for your stuff and defrost with steaming equipment.

From OPs pics, she has a very similar model to my old one and they frost up ridiculously. Being unable to safely unplug ours meant it took ages- as mentioned upthread, hair dryer, defroster spray, hot water bowls and washing the drawers in boiling water all got used. However when we were finally able to unplug it to get rid (we took it out of its spot and eventually the plug popped out when we could get close enough to yank on the overly extended cord) it still took ages to defrost it so it could be collected to be disposed of. The frost on those electrolux models gets really thick really fast.

Really would be interested to know how you got on, OP, as a fellow sufferer. As I know you also have unplugging issues- as we did, if if helps, we bought an extension lead to help plug in the new one more conveniently. We have a much more accessible wall plug in a handy spot so the extension lead is plugged in to that. It runs behind the back panel of our cupboard under the sink and meets the cable for the fridge. But we can now turn the fridge off way more easily. If you can/ if it is feasible, it may be worth emptying the whole thing, moving it and seeing if you can plug it in more accessibly with an extension or similar before moving it back.

i suspect the seal is fine. When you started it defrosting the first time, the ice will have begun to melt. When you got impatient and switched it back on, it’s frozen again, preventing the door from closing.
Turn it off, leave the fridge door shut, prop the freezer door open to let warmer air circulate, put towels down and leave it. Until there is no ice.
It is ice, it will melt, it can’t not, that’s just physics!

Isn't it!

one of the most frustrating posts ever

wonder if its still defrosting

Do you have a sibling or parent who can help? You are over reacting to this!

@Aquarius1234 just wait. Don't try and break it off untill it's really melty. It can take upto 24 hours. I've tried the antifreeze sprays but they're shite. You can use a hairdryer if you like but honestly I would just let nature take it's course.
Mine desperately needs replacing. Freezer totally backed up and fridge leaks water every day into everything, especially the veg drawer. 😭

You can't just pay a person to switch off the thing at the mains and wait. That seems excessive.

Just wait till you have hardly any food left, then take the shelves out and leave it unplugged, and open with some kind of newspaper or something beneath?
You can use the drawers to catch the dripping water inside the freezer.

Wipe out water regularly and just keep an eye on it. Use it as an opportunity ity to clean it as well.

It's not really a handyman type job. Just watching and waiting. And soaking up water.

Remember to rehouse the polar bears.
I've got to do mine very soon.

I actually think OP is on the wind up. Nobody can have this much drama switching if a freezer and waiting for the ice to melt.

No, it doesn't.

Honestly, why are you making such a big deal over this? I get you may never have done it before. Weren't confident about how to go about it.

But you've had pages of advise. Endless support and encouragement. It's a basic household chore that doesn't require skill.

And I can't believe, after all this angst, you've left it until Sunday evening to tackle.

What a load of drama about nothing.
Turn fridge freezer off.
Leave fridge door closed.
Open freezer door
Remove any food and put in a cool bag.
Remove any drawers.
Stuff some towels on the shelves and lay some on the floor.
Leave it alone don't touch, poke, Scrape or hack at anything. It is ice. Ice melts above freezing. Presumably your kitchen is warmer than freezing. When ALL the ice mets dry everything..switch back on put drawers and food in and close door.

It really isn't difficult you are just flapping about not achieving anything apart feom getting yourself in a state for no reason.

OP, I don't think you've got anything to lose now.

Turn it off and leave door open while it defrosts overnight (leave towels in front to soak up water).

Either it'll work and everything will be in good order in the morning.

Or it won't work when you switch it back on and you'll need to get it repaired.

There's no point mucking about either it now, unless you do the boiling water thing to get it fully defrosted tonight. But by the looks of that ice block I imagine you'll be doing this past midnight.

I'd leave it to defrost on its own while you go to bed.

Honestly just turn it off and defrost it properly.

I've just done mine it took 4 hours regularly changing the hot water to melt the ice and it wasn't as bad as yours. Just put a bowl in, watch tv a but then swap it, chop any loose ice off if desired. Leave it off or else it is freezing as fast as you melt it.

If you can protect your floor from water, I'd just leave it over night.

When it's clear and dry in the morning it will likely close.

Just unplug it and keep fridge door closed it will keep cool. You can get rid of high risk foods first if you really want to.

If you want to defrost it, then leave it off overnight and the door open.

Leave a few towels down to soak up the water and forget about it until the morning. If the seal is a bit wet it might not close properly if the seal is otherwise undamaged - it's just a magnetic strip.

Just put a chair up against it, that way you won't worry overnight.