Whether you have a freezer with a no-fost feature or a manual defrost refrigerator, defrosting your appliance is a necessary skill that is worth learning as it helps preserve the condition of your refrigerator freezer.
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Why Do I Need to Defrost My Freezer?
Generally, you need to defrost your freezer to clear out the frost that builds up within your unit. When you open your freezer to get frozen food, the temperature fluctuates and moisture enters your unit. This moisture turns into frost, which builds up in your freezer over time. These are the thick ice build-ups that you see on the side of your freezer shelf.
Itโs good to have a refrigerator with an auto-defrost function. However, if you have a manual defrost fridge, the frost can exacerbate the problem inside your freezer and block your air vents and sensors, which will affect the efficiency of your fridge. Blocked air vents and temperature sensors will cause your refrigerator's motor to work extra hard to reach the right temperature. The frost buildup can also take up significant space that you could use for storing your food items.
Hereโs what you can do with your manual defrost refrigerator to ensure that it will always run efficiently.
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How to Manually Defrost a Freezer?
1.ย Check Your Refrigerator Manual
Like working on other home appliances, we always recommend checking your refrigeratorโs label instructions before defrosting. While the steps for manual defrosting are almost the same for many models, the unique needs of your fridge are worth noting.
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2.ย Gather the Things Youโll Use
You can easily get these items in your home:
- A large bowl or basin
- A clean cloth or towel
- Storage basket or ice box
- Rags or old fabrics
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3.ย Empty Your Refrigerator Freezer
Get your storage baskets or ice boxes and get your frozen items from the fridge. It is good to have some ice blocks in your container to preserve your frozen foods while defrosting your freezer. Itโs good to note that some food items are better cooked once thawed than refrozen.
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4. Turn off and Unplug Your Refrigerator
Before the actual defrosting process, make sure to turn off and unplug your refrigerator. Make sure that the door is open to warm the interior up.
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5.Take Your Shelves Out
Take this as an opportunity to deep clean your refrigerator. Wash the shelves using a mild soap, including the sides, to make sure that everything is thoroughly cleaned. Make sure that your shelves are all clean and dry before putting them back into the fridge after the defrosting process.
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6. Monitor the Melting Ice
Once your freezer warms up, the frost will slowly melt. Do not use any sharp objects to remove the ice from the sides; let it melt on its own, or you will run the risk of puncturing the freezer unit. You may speed up this process by putting hot water in a bowl and placing it in the freezer. If your freezer has a drainage hole, place it in aย big bowl, basin, or bucketย to catch the water. Place a rug in front of your refrigerator to prevent water from spilling all over your kitchen floor.
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7. Clean the Freezer
Once the ice has melted, use a clean towel to clean and dry the surfaces of your fridge. As much as possible, do not involve chemicals when cleaning your fridge. To combat the odour in your freezer, make a 1:1 solution of water and white vinegar. You may also sprinkle some baking soda on your fridge to get rid of the mixed food smells. Once the refrigerator dirt and odours are removed, you can wipe the solution off with a clean, damp cloth. Make sure that your fridge is clean and dry before going to the next step.
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8. Arrange your Food Items
Once the refrigerator is thoroughly cleaned, itโs time to put fresh food items in your fridge. Use this as an opportunity to properly organise your food in the refrigerator. Use the right containers to preserve the foodโs quality as much as possible. Before bringing your frozen goods back to your fridge, only include the items that are safe for refreezing to prevent contamination.
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How to Auto-Defrost a Refrigerator
Some innovative refrigerators have auto-defrost features that work by controlling the cooling process to prevent frost buildup. Auto-defrost freezers contain evaporating coils that are responsible for circulating cold air within the unit. When you open the door to get your items, these evaporating coils shut down to limit the circulation of warm air within the unit (unlike the previous process that we described earlier). When frost buildup is detected, these evaporator coils will heat up to melt the ice.
Note that this process will cause some temperature fluctuations within your freezer. However, you can maintain the right temperature more efficiently by filling your fridge with the right amount of food items.
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How Often Should I Defrost My Freezer?
Maintain the functionality of your refrigerator by defrosting it at least once a year, or when the ice formation becomes ยผ inch thick, or when the red plastic on the side of your compartment is covered with ice. If your freezer is prone to ice buildup, defrost it more often.
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What Happens If Ice Builds Up In My Fridge Frequently?
If the ice builds up often within your refrigerator to the point where you have to defrost it more than three times a year, there could be an underlying problem within your unit. Frequent frost buildup may be caused by a faulty thermostat, a damaged refrigerator door, or other issues with your fridge's components.
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When Should I Invest in an Auto-Defrost Refrigerator?
While manual defrosting can be a tedious task, frequent frost formation can significantly affect your foodโs safety and your power consumption. If you experience these problems or if you plan to upgrade your refrigerator, itโs definitely worth buying a refrigerator model with an auto-defrost function.
The good news is that many of todayโs modern refrigerators readily contain this function. You may visit your favourite appliance store or browse online to get the most energy-efficient fridge in Singaporeย from your trusted brands. For a guaranteed online refrigerator shopping experience, visit Megafurnitureโs onlineย refrigerator collection in Singapore to score the best units at the best prices.