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Original poster

How often do you de-frost your freezer?

35 replies

Furball · 14/05/2003 11:57

OK guys, seeing as we know how often most of the other utter boringly awful jobs are done around the house. I tackled our freezer (an upright)yesterday. Yeah well, you know when you start something on a whim and then after a few HOURS of chipping away at 3 inch thick ice, both sides of the shelves, you think why o why didn't you just leave it. (I had a freezer de ice spray and more boiling water than an average kettle can cope with) OK, now its done Great.

When DH arrived home, I proudly (saddo) announced my mornings activities and realised it hadn't been done for 4 years!

OP posts:
Mum2Toby · 14/05/2003 11:59

I've done it once and we've had the freezer 2 years. And the only reason it was done at all was coz the door wouldn't shut!!!

Gini · 14/05/2003 12:02

well, this is a sore point to me, about two weeks ago I defrosted our freezer (first time since paid for two years ago). It took ages and my fingers hurt like mad after. On friday the fridge and freezer stopped working and defrosted everything (about 150 quids worth of food too). To add insult to injury when the man (I use the term loosly) to fix it came round he was about 15 and asked me what was wrong with it, I hazarded a guess at the thermostat and he spent time staring in it on his mobile asking someone how to fix it. Then said he didn't have the part and would be back in a week. Arrrrrrrrrrrggg!

BearintheBigBlueHous · 14/05/2003 12:02

Our's is similar to M2T's - the door don't shut. So we're getting a new kitchen.

Mum2Toby · 14/05/2003 12:05

Good plan BITBBH (what a long name you have!!)

quackers · 14/05/2003 12:05

Hey why not! If it doesn't fit get a new one!!!
I daren't do mine. It's getting really bad now though.

Mum2Toby · 14/05/2003 12:07

Yeah Quackers. At one point the capacity of it was reduced to the equivalent of a packet of fish fingers on each shelf!!!

BearintheBigBlueHous · 14/05/2003 12:08

You can get a whole packet on each shelf?!

GeorginaA · 14/05/2003 12:10

Mine hasn't been done in 2 and that was only because we moved house and had to - can hardly open the trays now so I suppose I ought to do it again soon

Next time I'm getting a no frost one...

SoupDragon · 14/05/2003 12:11

Ours needs doing desperately. What are you meant to do with all the food whilst you spend all those hours defrosting it? Doesn't it thaw??

SoupDragon · 14/05/2003 12:12

Actually, I levered a huge lump off with a large screwdriver a few weeks ago - does that count?

Tossum · 14/05/2003 13:17

When I did mine, the icecube tray which had been lost for a year fell out from the snow at the top!!

Zoe · 14/05/2003 13:17

What is the best way to do it?? I think that's why I haven't done mine, because I don't really know!

janh · 14/05/2003 13:17

Soupdragon, if it means you can shut the door again, it counts.

What do you do with the food? Ideally you have a neighbour with a half-empty chest freezer. (Mine used to - changed it for an upright - made defrosting more or less impossible - how selfish.)

Alternatively get hold of as many coolboxes as you can and freeze loads of icepacks before you start. You'll probably find you throw away at least a quarter of what's there anyway - the other day I found some fruit pancakes which I know for a fact had been there nearly 4 years.

sb34 · 14/05/2003 13:19

Message withdrawn

scoobysnax · 14/05/2003 13:25

6 years, never defrosted - is this a record?

Bozza · 14/05/2003 13:26

Its NEVER been done and we've had it six years. Not even when we moved. We just unplugged it, chucked it in the van upright and plugged it in at the new house. Its only a 30 second drive.

Fortunately we were bright sparks who bought a frost free fridge.

The other one in the garage is an old upright (must be 20 year old) because it was in my in-laws house when they moved in and this has been done once because we shut the cable in the door so it all iced up. Actually because it was January in the garage and all I did was turn it off, open the door and stick a bowl in the bottom it took ages to defrost (about 5 days). I ran my frozen stuff down slightly and then rammed it all into the house freezer.

Claireandrich · 14/05/2003 13:27

My freezer DESPERATELY needs de-frosting. But we are moving very soon and have been in this state for the past few months. It is so bad now that I have to chip ice off of it sometimes just to shut the door. Our move in now 10 months delayed and we could literally get the letter to move (2 weeks notice given) any day. Just seems pointless doing it until then. Wew aren't even taking it with us as the new apartment comes with one anyway. I know these are pathetical excuses but they seemsed good to me at the time - and, besidesm I HATE doing it. And what to do with all the food inside there???

florenceuk · 14/05/2003 14:03

Twice in five years. And it took ages - used de-icing spray (useless), hot water, and various implements to hit/chip away at the ice.

BTW, the saleslady at John Lewis told me that the ones with drawers have less space free and so they ice up less than my kind (just a little shelf) and therefore defrosting was less of an issue - is this right?

susanmt · 14/05/2003 14:15

Once. When we had a 23 hour power cut, so we didnt have much option!

LIZS · 14/05/2003 14:46

When we've moved, left the door open or couldn't cram any more in for ice!

suedonim · 14/05/2003 16:43

Never, because ours is frostfree, as is the fridge - a flippin' marvellous invention! Re the food, stuff it into bags, put it all in the coolest place you have and cover with an old duvet. That should insulate it enough while you defrost.
PS And aren't those frost cuts and burns just the sorest thing??

SamboM · 14/05/2003 16:57

I did mine 6 months ago with a hairdryer when the door wouldn't shut any more!

doormat · 14/05/2003 18:19

when food is getting hard to fit in.

Lara2 · 14/05/2003 19:30

ditto!

Tortington · 14/05/2003 19:44

when the electric goes

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