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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
yikesanotherbooboo · 10/09/2024 19:36

I would ask a cleaning company if you really can't do it but it isn't tricky. Run down the fridge so that you have a minimum of items and keep fridge door shut or put in a cold box if it is taking ages.
Turn off at the wall, I leave the freezer door open and put towels on the lower level and by the door. I leave the drawers in to catch water and lumps of ice . I get impatient and poke about from time to time to dislodge chunks of ice. It can take a day if very iced up so asking someone to come in to do it isn't v practical. Just go back to it every hour or so to remove loose ice and chuck out water. Defrosted food won't be able to go back in .

queensonia · 10/09/2024 19:36

Where do you live? I’ll come and do it for you

Pinkyponki · 10/09/2024 19:32

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 10/09/2024 19:30

HappyDane · 10/09/2024 18:42

(Is it psychological that you can't do it, or is it that you don't know how to?)

Both.

OP posts:
Chillilounger · 10/09/2024 19:30

Well you can do what you want. Taskrabbit is an app for handymen. You can ask there, but expect to be charged a fortune (I once knew someone that got a handyman out to change a lightbulb and got charged a fortune). Empty it, unplug it, get some.old towels on the floor and wait. Then wipe it clean once the ice has melted, plug it back in and then stick the food back in. Simples.

HappyDane · 10/09/2024 19:30

There's not always a separate on/off switch for each part. Put items into cold box/whatever to keep them cold. Turn off or unplug. Thaw out your freezer and give your fridge a quick clean at the same time.

TheShellBeach · 10/09/2024 19:30

Aquarius1234 · 10/09/2024 19:28

I can only open it for 2 seconds before the door doesn't work again. Have to really push it shut.
Black mould alone the seal I just wiped off.

Probably because there's far too much ice built up.

TheShellBeach · 10/09/2024 19:29

Aquarius1234 · 10/09/2024 19:27

No idea how to turn it off. It's fridge freezer combined.

Switch it off and keep the fridge door shut while you're defrosting the freezer.

You're not succeeding if you don't unplug the thing!

Newuser75 · 10/09/2024 19:28

I think a cleaning company would do it for you.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 10/09/2024 19:28

I can only open it for 2 seconds before the door doesn't work again. Have to really push it shut.
Black mould alone the seal I just wiped off.

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 10/09/2024 19:27

Aquarius1234 · 10/09/2024 19:25

I don't want to be laughed at asking some kind of handyman to do it?
I've attempted few times before and it's just got worse. Kinda given up.

Edited

You did unplug it?

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 10/09/2024 19:27

No idea how to turn it off. It's fridge freezer combined.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 10/09/2024 19:25

I don't want to be laughed at asking some kind of handyman to do it?
I've attempted few times before and it's just got worse. Kinda given up.

OP posts:
ToBeDetermined · 10/09/2024 19:08

Superhansrantowindsor · 10/09/2024 18:56

when stocks are low, take everything left out. Wrap in bin bag and then a duvet (yes a duvet). Turn freezer off. Put a few bowls of hot water on the shelves to speed things up. Put a few big bath towels on the floor to absorb water. Switch back on and put stuff back in.

The hot water steams and creates more ice.
It’s better to chip the ice out than mop up water.
Give my method a go.

ToBeDetermined · 10/09/2024 19:07

Oh don’t pay someone. It is dead easy to do. Takes 20 minutes.

You switch it off.
Pull out all the food and put in a cool box- outside if it’s cooler outside than in.
Then I usually use a hair dryer to start the melting for 5mins
I get a washing up tub and hold it at the bottom lip to catch water and ice.
Then I turn off hair dryer, and get a butter knife and literally start hacking the ice off in big chunks….they all fall into the washing up tub - empty into sink.
Give a quick wipe with dettol.
Turn back on and put food back in.
Done.

x2boys · 10/09/2024 19:02

Member984815 · 10/09/2024 18:43

Is it a chest freezer or a cabinet one? My chest freezer is an absolute pain to clean out I find switching it off and scraping as much frost off as you can first cuts the mess , my cabinet one is a frost free type .

Yeah my freezer is a chest freezer ,I had ti defrost it recently as it had really over iced and I could only use about a third of it plus ther was bits of food that had fallen out of packages ,but took ages to defrost and clear out ,but it's ao much better now.

Superhansrantowindsor · 10/09/2024 18:56

when stocks are low, take everything left out. Wrap in bin bag and then a duvet (yes a duvet). Turn freezer off. Put a few bowls of hot water on the shelves to speed things up. Put a few big bath towels on the floor to absorb water. Switch back on and put stuff back in.

Funnywonder · 10/09/2024 18:47

I can't imagine anyone would offer this as a service. It's a bit annoying, but not a difficult job. A hairdryer works or a couple of saucepans of boiling water and let the steam do the job.

HappyDane · 10/09/2024 18:47

Ohhh @Sagedragon I have one too and have never thought of doing that! Much better than letting it take it's great time.

StuckOnTheCeiling · 10/09/2024 18:46

I’m sure a cleaner would do it if you specifically booked them to, but they’d have to wait around for it to warm up and melt so might be unreasonably expensive!

Sagedragon · 10/09/2024 18:46

It takes about 15 mins with a steam cleaner. Pretty much the only time we use our steam cleaner!

CheeseWisely · 10/09/2024 18:44

Another who can't understand how you can't do it? I've been known to deploy a hairdryer to speed things up (being extremely careful around the water, obviously).

StolenChanel · 10/09/2024 18:44

I’m so grateful for this thread because mine too is in desperate need of defrosting and had no idea where to start!

Thelittlehouseonthehill · 10/09/2024 18:43

Is there a reason why you can’t do it OP or do you just not know how to do it?

Member984815 · 10/09/2024 18:43

Is it a chest freezer or a cabinet one? My chest freezer is an absolute pain to clean out I find switching it off and scraping as much frost off as you can first cuts the mess , my cabinet one is a frost free type .

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