How to Defrost Your Fridge the Right Way

Frosting is a common problem in a refrigerator. It usually happens when warm or humid air enters in. For example, keeping the fridge open, storing warm food inside or when the fridge door is not sealed properly.

Why Defrosting Is Necessary?

When frost builds up over a period of time, it starts to smell and can also interrupt the functionality. It also affects the efficiency and might also increase the energy bill of your fridge. Thus, defrosting it is an essential maintenance job. Don’t worry, it may sound tricky. But it is not as difficult as it might seem. Read further to know how to defrost your fridge methodically.

Ingredients to keep handy:

1. Step 1: Unplug Your Refrigerator

   Before you start to clean, remember to unplug your fridge from the power source. It’s good to slightly move your fridge away from the wall. It will make the cleaning easier and safe. Remember to keep cotton towels on the floor to catch any drips or leaks.

2. Step 2: Empty Your Refrigerator

   Start by emptying your refrigerator of its contents. Remove everything and store it outside collectively. If there are food items which may go bad, store them in a large vessel. Cover it with lid and place some ice cubes over it. This is also a good opportunity to clear any junk or unwanted and out dated items.

3. Step 3: Remove the Shelves and Drawers

   Now remove all the shelves and drawers in your fridge. But be careful while handling these as cold shelves and drawers are likely to break, if mishandled. You can also use this time to clean these items. You can use a kitchen cleaner such as Cif Kitchen Cleaner which is easily available in the market. Check the pack to understand correct usage instructions.

4. Step 4: Air Out Your Refrigerator

   Once your fridge is emptied, allow fresh air to pass in. If you have an entire day’s time to defrost fridge, you can do this. Simply keep your refrigerator open for upto 8 hours. This ensures thorough results.

5. Step 5: If You Want to Speed Up the Process

   However, if you are in a rush and want to speed up the process, simply place a vessel of hot water in your refrigerator. Keep it until the water turns to room temperature. Remember to place a thick layer of cloth or a holder beneath the vessel to protect the surfaces from damaging.

6. Step 6: Use a Hair Dryer

   While the hot vessel is doing its job, you can aim at larger chunks of ice. Run a hair dryer all over it on a medium to hot setting. This will melt stubborn ice chunks. Keep a plastic spatula handy to clean small ice particles thoroughly. Using a plastic spatula, you can slide all the softened ice into one place and take it out. Remember to use spatulas gently to prevent the surfaces from chipping. 

7. Step 7: Use a Fan

   Once that is done, place a fan in front of the refrigerator. This will not only help clear the ice chunks easily, but also help the ice water to evaporate. This will help speed up your defrosting process.

So there you have it! By the end of your defrosting process, you will have your fridge clean and free of frost. Now you can keep your shelves and drawers back in their spots and store your food as well! You can defrost your fridge once or twice a year, depending on the requirement.

Key Step

Once the defrosting job is done, and since the refrigerator is empty, you may want to quickly run a cotton cloth to clean the surfaces of your fridge. Mix 1 tsp. of dishwashing liquid in 1 cup of water and pour it into a spray bottle. Use the solution whenever needed and use a cotton cloth to wipe the surfaces clean. You can try Vim Dishwash Gel which is easily available in the market.