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Original poster

Asking Someone to Defrost Freezer

185 replies

Aquarius1234 · 10/09/2024 18:39

AIBU to want to pay someone to defrost my freezer?
I just can't do it.!!
Anyone know what type of cleaner/ handyman does this?

OP posts:
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8
Magnastorm · 13/09/2024 20:54

What do you mean the "suction" doesn't work?

Do you mean the door isn't staying closed? That has nothing to do with whether it's on or off.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:53

Do I still need to prop chair ? It's closed just not as it should.

Asking Someone to Defrost Freezer
OP posts:
Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:49

I used a dry J Cloth to wipe. I used about 6 cloths earlier. Dropped a bowl of water.

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LondonJax · 13/09/2024 20:48

Have you wiped the rubber seal? If it's been open to defrost sometimes the seal is wet then it won't 'suck'.

And don't worry about the fridge being off overnight. If you don't keep opening the fridge door it'll be fine. We were without electric during storms earlier in the year for over 24 hours and stuff like butter was still rock hard because we kept the fridge opening to a minimum.

HappyDane · 13/09/2024 20:47

Prop something up against it for tonight.

You honestly don't need to bother with bowls of hot water etc.

First thing tomorrow turn it off, open the door, leave towels at the bottom and outside the door and leave it all day if necessary.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:46

Right not eaten yet. So I should turn off fridge and freezer and just walk away for a while.
I don't get how the small bowls of water help.
Maybe I should start again tomorrow. I feel I don't want the mess now.
Just can't understand why the suction on door isn't working.
Yes I was freaking out. As I keep thinking it's the worst thing ever to have a freezer that doesn't shut.
But if there's nothing in there??

OP posts:
Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:42

yikesanotherbooboo · 13/09/2024 20:26

Yes , nothing has gone wrong. Leave the freezer off , door open, bowls of water in it and go back every half hour to get off any more ice that has melted . Keep going.

Why do you think it's not shutting properly when there isn't ice in the way.
Never had issues before. Just had to shut door quickly. And obviously loads of ice was building up.
But the suction was always working just about.

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Magnastorm · 13/09/2024 20:41

Just turn it off, put some towels down and leave it. Assuming your kitchen is warmer than your freezer, it will just melt.

Don't hack at it.

Sparklfairy · 13/09/2024 20:41

Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:32

I'm worried it's completely broken as the door isn't closing.

I mean this with all the kindness in the world, but you need to take a deep breath and stop flapping. If you've turned it back on, wedge the door closed for now with a chair or similar pushed in front of it.

But you are going to have to tackle it again tomorrow. Either go out and buy a steamer, which will help with your apparent expectation for compacted ice to instantly melt! Or, do the boiling water thing. I reckon it'll need at least six bowls before you see any progress at all. Change them every 10-15 mins if necessary - as soon as they cool enough that you can put your hand in. I don't think you've comprehended how dense the ice is and it will take time to shift without a direct heat source like a steamer. You need to be patient.

I'm fairly sure once the ice is gone and you've dried all around the seal, it will close again. It may not, but until the ice goes you're pretty stuck anyway.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:40

Sparklfairy · 13/09/2024 20:18

Looks like you've been a bit impatient! If no steamer then bowls of boiling water and put something in front of the door to hold it shut. Replace every 20-30 mins.

Don't start hacking away at the solid ice as you could damage the elements and break the freezer.

Its completely compacted. Its gonna take a while to start to loosen. At first you'll think nothing is happening because it's so thick, but then suddenly it'll start to crumble in big chunks.

I did do some hacking. Then stopped..hopefully I haven't made holes in the plastic ..just deeper scratches into middle bit in-between shelves.
I got impatient as I felt the hard ice was never going to become softer.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:34

Drawers runners are a pain
I just ended up taking them out.

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Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:32

I'm worried it's completely broken as the door isn't closing.

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helibirdcomp · 13/09/2024 20:32

I have a 14 cu ft chest freezer it takes us about 20 mins to defrost. after emptying we turn off put washing up bowls in the bottom use a hair drier low down on the sides and scrape (well really lift off by getting edge under the ice) frost off with thin plastic spatula trying to drop the sheets of ice into the bowls. Scoop missed water and ice lumps out of the bottom with a clean dustpan. Wipe out with cloth wrung out in hot water (it occasionally sticks to the sides as they are still cold so apply a second hot cloth on top to unstick). Switch back on and refill. Don't think I could cope with an upright freezer - all those drawers/doors or runners on the sides so you can't scrape.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:31

I felt like the hard ice was never going to melt. It was better before I turned it off 😞😓 I used a hammer and large metal spactual hope I didn't chip at the plastic too much.

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sanityisamyth · 13/09/2024 20:29

Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:27

I can't have the fridge off all night. So turned it all back on a while ago.
The door seal doesn't feel cold anymore?? It's room temperature
So by turning it off I've broken it?
I've pushed it closed but not door not closing like it should do.

FFS. Why can't you have the fridge off overnight? I lived for 4 years in my childhood without a fridge. Turn the freezer off and let the ice melt.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:29

Why isn't the suction working anymore?
It's been back on for an hour.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:27

I can't have the fridge off all night. So turned it all back on a while ago.
The door seal doesn't feel cold anymore?? It's room temperature
So by turning it off I've broken it?
I've pushed it closed but not door not closing like it should do.

OP posts:
yikesanotherbooboo · 13/09/2024 20:26

Yes , nothing has gone wrong. Leave the freezer off , door open, bowls of water in it and go back every half hour to get off any more ice that has melted . Keep going.

MotherJessAndKittens · 13/09/2024 20:25

If you have a combined one you have to switch the whole thing off. Get a few insulated bags and wrap the freezer stuff up in the bags. Leave to defrost with doors open and protect the floor. I put bowls of boiling water on a few shelves. Have also used hairdryer for quickness. Once defrosted wipe over and switch back on. Wait a couple of hours before putting food back in freezer to allow it to get cold enough.

thesandwich · 13/09/2024 20:19

fill a bowl with hot water and put it on the inside shelf

Sparklfairy · 13/09/2024 20:18

Looks like you've been a bit impatient! If no steamer then bowls of boiling water and put something in front of the door to hold it shut. Replace every 20-30 mins.

Don't start hacking away at the solid ice as you could damage the elements and break the freezer.

Its completely compacted. Its gonna take a while to start to loosen. At first you'll think nothing is happening because it's so thick, but then suddenly it'll start to crumble in big chunks.

PonyPatter44 · 13/09/2024 20:17

You've still got loads of ice to get rid of! Keep going.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:16

What have I done!! No suction anymore.

Asking Someone to Defrost Freezer
Asking Someone to Defrost Freezer
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Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 13/09/2024 20:14

Hope that works.

Asking Someone to Defrost Freezer
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HScully · 13/09/2024 20:13

Strangly I'm doing mine tonight, it's a horrible job, I keep putting bowls of water in it and leaving it, taking off anything thats softened. Ice takes ages to melt you have to keave it and keep going back. Toping up the warm water. I'm about 90% done now. Started it at 5.30pm.

Oh and cover your floor, getting it wet uis unavoidable apparently

Can't believe this is my Friday night #adulting

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