If frost is building up in your freezer, it’s time to take action. Yes, that wall of ice means you’ll have less storage space (and the food you do have will be tough to get at). Plus, too much frost means your fridge freezer won’t work as efficiently as it should.

Ever wondered what’s the best way to defrost a freezer? Follow our handy guide and we’ll show you! We’ve also got some clever hacks and the quickest way to defrost a freezer. Ready? Let’s get started…

What you’ll need to defrost a fridge freezer:

• Kitchen towels

• A sponge and a cloth

• An ice-filled cooler - if you’ve got lots of frozen food you want to keep

• Bowl of hot water

• A wooden or plastic ice scraper (optional)

• Freezer defrost spray (optional)

How to defrost a fridge freezer combo

The safest way to defrost a fridge freezer is by using hot water, a sponge, and a cloth. It’s also a method which requires zero scraping, so there’s no chance of damaging your fridge freezer. Just follow these steps:

1. Place towels at the bottom of your freezer: This is to catch melting ice and water so you don’t have to mop up after. You could also use a wide oven pan instead.

2. Unplug your fridge freezer: Turn off your appliance at the mains and remove it from the socket.

3. Remove all food and drawers: If you have frozen food you want to keep, put it in an ice-filled cooler and pack your items tightly together to help them stay frozen.

4. Put a bowl of hot water inside your freezer: Place this at the bottom of the compartment with the door open and it’ll help speed up the defrosting process. Once the water is no longer steaming, replace it.

5. Wipe down the interior with a sponge: Do this once all the ice has melted. Then dry off with a cloth or kitchen towel.

6. Turn your fridge freezer back on: Plug your appliance in and power it on. Then replace your drawers and put your food back in.

Tip: Make sure that your drawers are replaced properly and that they fully close. If any drawer is sticking out, your freezer door won’t close tightly and it’s likely you’ll be defrosting again before too long!

How to defrost a fridge freezer without turning it off

Is it possible to defrost your fridge freezer without turning it off? Probably yes. Is it advisable? That’s a no. Remember: you never want to leave your freezer on while the door is open. That beeping noise blares out for a reason. As not only will you waste a lot of electricity, but you could also burn out your fridge freezer’s motor.

Tip: Check that your fridge freezer’s door seals are in good condition, so they don’t let in any warm air. You can check your seals are working by putting a bank note between the seal and the door. If it stays in place, your seals are fine. If not, then you should think about getting them repaired.

How long does it take to defrost a fridge freezer?

If the ice isn’t very thick, it might only take as little as 2 hours for it to melt away. If it’s glacier-like, you could be looking at as much as 24 hours with the fridge freezer off and the doors open.

If it’s only light ice, we’ve got some suggestions that will help you get your defrost done fast. Speaking of…

What’s the quickest way to defrost a freezer?

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you defrost your freezer in no time:

1. Switch off your freezer and unplug it: Make sure your freezer isn’t running when carrying out any kind of maintenance.

2. Empty your freezer: Remove all the food and drawers from your freezer. You can temporarily store your food in a cool box to keep it fresh.

3. Use the hot water trick: Fill a tray or bowl with hot water and place it at the bottom of your freezer. The steam will help melt the ice faster.

4. Try some freezer defrost spray: To really speed things up, you could also tackle thick icy build-ups with a defrost spray.

5. Wait and scrape away the ice: Wait for about 10 to 15 minutes, then gently use a plastic ice scraper or wooden spoon to remove the ice.

6. Clean and dry the inside of your freezer: Once the ice has gone, clean the inside of your freezer with a cloth. Then dry it thoroughly with a towel.

7. Replace the drawers and turn back on: Put the drawers back in your fridge freezer along with your food. Then plug it back in and turn on.

You may choose to use a hair dryer to defrost a freezer. But it’s not something we’d recommend, since water and electricity don’t mix! Plus, blasting hot air into your freezer can damage any freezer elements.

How often should I defrost my fridge freezer?

You should aim to defrost your fridge freezer at least once a year. Or when ice build-up is thicker than a quarter of an inch or 6mm. This will keep your fridge freezer working efficiently, and more importantly, keep your food accessible at all times!

Defrosting don’ts

• Don’t use salt to defrost your freezer. Yes, salt does help clear icy roads but it can also corrode your freezers elements, seals and linings.

• Never try to be too forceful when clearing ice, and especially don’t use metal tools. You’ll very likely do permanent damage to your fridge freezer.

• If you’re planning to store your frozen food in the fridge, it’s best to avoid doing this with anything like frozen meat. A bit of defrosting is inevitable and you should never refreeze certain foods once defrosted – even if it’s just a little bit.

Tip: Thinking about a self-defrosting fridge freezer? Go one better with a frost-free model. Ice builds up in a freezer when warm air enters it and condenses into water before freezing into ice. Frost-free freezers quickly remove any warm air, saving you a lot of work defrosting it.

If frost-free fridge freezers seem like much less of a hassle, why not speak to one of our ShopLive in-store experts to help you pick your perfect chiller?