How to Defrost a Refrigerator

Co-authored by Aaron Beth

Last Updated: November 17, 2021

Refrigerators can become frosty and icy for lots of reasons — whether the door has been left open, you’ve put hot food in to cool, or the door just has a bad seal, annoying frost can build up and begin to smell. It’s no glamorous job, but at some point you may have to defrost your refrigerator. Some methods can take over eight hours, but there are tricks you can use to make the process much faster.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Defrosting Your Refrigerator

1
Empty out your refrigerator. Take this as an opportunity to get rid of all the junk or expired food you’ve collected over time! To stop the rest of your food from spoiling when you remove it from the fridge, store it in coolers or on ice.^{[1]
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2
Remove the shelves and drawers from your refrigerator. Though you don’t necessarily need to clean them all, this would be a great time to do so. Be careful at this point, since cold plastic is more likely to be brittle and break.

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3
Unplug your refrigerator and open the doors so the ice can melt.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Aaron Beth
Appliance Technician
Expert Interview. 14 July 2020.} Moving the fridge away from the wall will make it easier to clean any leaking water, as well as give you the chance to sweep behind and beneath.
- At this point, it’s also important to lay down some bowls or towels to collect water that may leak out as the frost melts.^{[3]
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4
Leave the refrigerator open and unplugged for eight hours. If you’re not in a rush, this is your best option to thoroughly defrost the fridge, though you will need to find a more stable and cool place to store food for this period of time.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Speeding Up the Process

1
Place a pot of hot or boiling water in the refrigerator.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Aaron Beth
Appliance Technician
Expert Interview. 14 July 2020.} The heat will help to more quickly melt the ice and frost, but be careful! Make sure to put a towel, blanket, or pot holder underneath to protect your floors.^{[6]
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2
Use a hair dryer to loosen and melt small bits of frost. For larger chunks of ice, loosen them first with the dryer, then use a soft, plastic spatula to chip away or pick it up out of the fridge.
- Only use a hairdryer if your refrigerator does not have styrofoam insulation, which could melt.^{[7]
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  Aaron Beth
  Appliance Technician
  Expert Interview. 14 July 2020.}
- It’s important to use a plastic, not a metal spatula, because metal may puncture or damage your refrigerator.^{[8]
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3
Place a fan near the open refrigerator and turn it on. The increased airflow will not only help to defrost your refrigerator more quickly by raising the temperature, but it will also help some of the melted water evaporate. This will make clean up much easier!^{[9]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you melt ice quickly in a freezer?

Aaron Beth
Appliance Technician
Aaron Beth is the founder of Aaron’s Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie’s Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.

Aaron Beth

Appliance Technician

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

I recommend unplugging the refrigerator and letting the ice melt on its own. If you need to speed up the process, you can also use hot water to help the ice melt.
Question

Is it okay to use a knife to remove ice from a freezer?

Aaron Beth
Appliance Technician
Aaron Beth is the founder of Aaron’s Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie’s Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.

Aaron Beth

Appliance Technician

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

No! Don't use any sharp objects to chip away ice. You may injure yourself or damage the freezer.
Question

Is it safe to use a hair dryer to defrost a freezer?

Aaron Beth
Appliance Technician
Aaron Beth is the founder of Aaron’s Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie’s Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.

Aaron Beth

Appliance Technician

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

In many cases, yes! However, check that your freezer doesn't have Styrofoam insulation first. If your freezer has Styrofoam insulation, it may melt if you direct a hair dryer at it.

Warnings

Never use a sharp object like an ice pick or knife to remove ice from your refrigerator.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Aaron Beth
Appliance Technician
Expert Interview. 14 July 2020.}

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