Manual Defrost

[woodelf]

Is there any way I can make the manual defrost of my fridge freezer any easier than waiting for the freezer to defrost and scrabble and break up the ice?
Is there such a thing as a freezer mat or something similar to stop the freezer freezing?
Because of space restrictions, at the moment the only new fridge freezers we could have are manual defrost, which would defeat the object. Ta Muchly.

[ubasses]

there is this but I have never tried it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Ideas-Anti-Frost-Mat/dp/B000VOGEXC

[bookbinder]

My wife's method:
empty all food from fridge freezer.
fill large bowl with hot water and place it at bottom of fridge freezer interior.
put thick or well-folder towel under bowl.
leave fridge freezer door open until job done.

[bookbinder]

...well-folded towel.

[woodelf]

Bookbinder, is your fridge freezer one whole unit? Mine is two units; fridge below, freezer above; two separate units, as it were.
I will have a look at your link Ubasses - Many Thanks Both.

[bookbinder]

Mine was one unit.

[bookbinder]

...correction: was two units, like yours.

[Bazile]

How can you have a one unit Fridge Freezer ?

[rockyroad]

a one unit fridge freezer is on that has both freezer and fridge in the same unit (strangely enough) . Unplug the unit and both fridge and freezer are turned off. I do the same as bookbinders better half. It only takes around half an hour as you can chip the ice off the freezer bit in fairly big lumps once the hot water gets to work. When you are finished turn up the fridge to full blast setting for a few hours and avoid opening the door.

[Boto]

I have one of those mats in ubasses' link. It's ok for the shelf it's on but useless for the rest of the freezer.

[woodelf]

Bookbinder, does your other half do the thing with the bowl of hot water just in the top half of your fridge freezer, cos if as you say yours is the same as mine, then how would the hot water "transcend" between the two units and even then, only the freezer needs defrosting - or summat like that, if that makes any sense!...what I'm really asking is do you just put the bowl in the freezer compartment?...but would the hot water affect the freezer mechanisms, re contractions or whatever? Many Thanks anyway for all your info.

[peachybabe]

I also have a fridge freezer. When the freezer needs defrosting I get a spray bottle containing a strong salt/hot water solution and spray it over all the freezer surfaces. I then put a bowl of hot water in the bottom of the freezer and shut the door. I repeat this about every 15 mins until clear of ice. While that's working, I take the time to clear and clean the fridge out. Once freezer is clear, I then wipe both out with a very mild solution of sanitising liquid. Plug back in, on to fast freeze for two hours. Job done.

[woodelf]

Hi Peachy, is the spray bottle with contents home made or not?

[dannyk13]

Don't waste your money on anti-frost-mats.They don't work.

[woodelf]

Okay Danny, Many Thanks for that.

[woodelf]

The only other option we have at the moment is to buy a new fridge freezer from Currys, which has the freezer compartments, drawers, at the bottom section, but this still being manual defrost, how would we prevent melt water etc, so if anyone has had to buy a similar, e.g. Currys Essential, how do you manage that kind of defrosting?...I've heard old newspapers are good for soaking up any water?...I'm sorry this is dragging on, folks!