How often do you defrost your fridge/freezer ?

[WildRosie]

Not often enough is my answer. I did mine yesterday and from unplugging it to finishing wiping it dry took just over five hours. Thankfully it didn't take that long for it to get nice and chilly again afterwards. It amazed me just how much ice I removed from it - enough to build a small iceberg. It must have been years since I last did the job.

Never. It’s too full.

Never. I think they're 'frost free' or whatever they call it.

Never! Don’t need to. Thought you didn’t need to defrost freezers in this day and age. Last did this about 20 years ago!

There was more ice than nosh in mine - definitely not frost free. Now I have plenty of space and, hopefully, a lower electricity bill.

When the frost on the freezer is so bad the door doesn’t shut

I've had frost free for decades but new house has integrated appliances in the kitchen and the fridge/freezer isn't frost free!!. Back to turning it off and using roasting trays full of hot water every 4 months.Can't afford a new kitchen.

This is a revelation for me. I'd not heard of frost-free freezers until today. Mine is over twenty years old though.

Only ever when I’m replacing the appliances.

At least every never.

I assumed they had evolved to not need this.

Once a year but my freezer is pretty old so it needs it.

Mine’s frost free. I bet it won’t last 20 years like the OP’s one though.

Mine is also frost free, so never. Our old one used to ice up all the time. It was a huge hassle to defrost it.

Probably 2 or 3 times a year. Just waiting to take roast dinner stuff out on sunday and then will be doing it. I usually turn off and leave over night to dry out. I don't know why but the top drawer and elements always get iced up.
It's only a couple of years old too.

When I can't shut the door because the ice has built up too much.

Fridge freezer - never, just clean every now and again.

Chest freezer is 3rd hand & old so quite often as it gets very frosty in there. Maybe every 3 months ish. It's about ready now tbh but I cba today; will run it down a bit more first.

Mine hadn't been done since I moved in which was about 15 years, then a few months ago, I went out to it and found the door popped open and a massive build up of ice over everything inside as it was working double time to try and keep everything frozen.

I defrosted it then and it has been ok since.

Without wishing to derail this thread may l digress slightly? Why do fridges and freezers have so many nooks and crannies for crumbs and small particles of food to get stuck in. Surely a smooth interior surface is not an impossible ask?

I agree. I reckon most appliances must be designed by men who don't clean as kitchen appliances and bins are generally a pain to clean.

I remember defrosting my old freezer. It was a chest freezer and being 4ft 11in, I could never reach the bottom unless I hung myself over the edge. I’d never go back to chest freezers, it’s frost free cabinet freezers only for me.

Never. I have had frost free models for over 20 years now and would not go back to having other types. Too much hassle.

I wouldn't have found yesterday's job a hassle if there had been less ice to remove and it had been easier to remove it. Luckily yesterday was chilly outside so all my frozen stuff stayed frozen for hours.

Every time someone leaves the door slightly open and I wake up to find the thing so full of ice I cannot close the door!

Every two months give it take a few weeks.