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Removing Ice in Full Freezer (3 Drawers) Without Defrosting: Tips and Alternatives to Heated Cloth

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How can I remove ice from a full three-drawer freezer without defrosting the whole appliance or moving all the food out?

You generally should not try a heated cloth; it cools down too fast and may even stick to the ice, and you should avoid metal scrapers because they can damage the inside or the exposed evaporator pipes [#19090748][#19090783] The practical method is to turn the freezer off, remove the drawers if possible, and protect the food by wrapping it tightly in blankets/quilts or bubble wrap so it stays frozen for the short defrost period [#19095248][#19095203] Then use a hair dryer on low heat with strong airflow, keeping it about 15 cm from the frost and moving the stream around; several replies report this clears heavy icing in about 10–15 minutes to about an hour, depending on how much frost there is [#19095248][#19095945][#19095203] If the frost is light, a household fan/blower can help, but for a thick ice buildup the hair dryer is the more effective option [#19090794][#19093755][#19095248] A pot or bowls of hot water can speed things up somewhat, but in this kind of open-evaporator freezer it is usually only an aid, not a complete solution [#19093040][#19094356] Avoid steam cleaners and chemical/antifreeze sprays on the freezer parts [#19090820][#19092848]
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  • #1 19090717
    Anonymous
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  • #2 19090748
    piotrkol7
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    A plastic, hard spatula? ;)
    Or a flat ice scraper.
    Nothing metal - you will scratch the inside.
    A heated cloth will do nothing, it will cool down quickly.
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  • #3 19090761
    78db78
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    Either a window scraper or you take everything out to a blanket, wrap it in a few, preferably a quilt and put a pot of hot water in the freezer to defrost faster and also help with a scraper. . Goods wrapped in a duvet will not defrost.
  • #4 19090766
    Anonymous
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  • #5 19090770
    klm787
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    piotrkol7 wrote:
    A heated cloth will do nothing, it will cool down quickly.

    And how to heat it with boiling water, and squeeze so much hot liquid (boiling water) that it was able to absorb part of the melted ice.
    And repeat this operation until we get the expected result?

    Much of this ice?
  • #6 19090774
    piotrkol7
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    The cloth is a closed thread ;)
    Thermodynamics bows, its basics.
    The cloth has too little thermal capacity, even soaked in boiling water (apart from how hard it will be to hold such a cloth in your hand) it will cool down quickly.
    You would have to repeat this operation for half a day.

    EDIT:
    The item in the picture is an evaporator - you can't remove the ice from it mechanically. Better defrost.
    Can you turn off the freezer independently of the fridge?
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  • #7 19090778
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    #8 19090783
    rnb_bolii
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    The rag will stick to the ice. Like a tongue in frost to ice. Too much temperature difference.
  • #9 19090785
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    #10 19090794
    rnb_bolii
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    These shelves are at the bottom of the fridge? Open the door and blow the blower. How do you have it. Turn off the fridge for 30 minutes. from the network. The temperature in the refrigerator will not drop so quickly. Of course, do not open the refrigerator during the procedure.
  • #11 19090797
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  • #12 19090802
    klm787
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    A heat gun would be better than a farelka.
    You could then act, but skillfully without exaggeration, but not too close.
    And in addition, point, where there is more ice.
  • #14 19090812
    klm787
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    piotrkol7 wrote:
    Thermodynamics sucks

    The heat gun gives you more energy :D
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    Anonymous
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  • #16 19090816
    rnb_bolii
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    klm787 wrote:
    A heat gun would be better than a farelka.
    Then you could work, but skillfully without exaggeration, but not too close.
    And in addition, point, where there is more ice.

    Maybe faster. But pay attention to the fact that the heat gun has a high temperature as close as you put it and the housing could not withstand high temperatures. I think the breeze of farelka is gentle and better. Nothing fast...
  • #17 19090818
    piotrkol7
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    I suggest you reconsider this statement ;)
    Heat gun, dryer - similar power.
    It is known that a heat gun will give a higher temperature, BUT...
    Would it be wise to heat ~400 degrees on the inside of the freezer, even if it was icy? ;)
    It's more like playing with fire, you could even say literally.
    So a dryer is enough.
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  • #18 19090820
    klm787
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    betmari wrote:
    steam cleaner

    Oh, oh, that's gonna be good.
  • #19 19090829
    rnb_bolii
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    Farel for some not very long distance. Circulation should help her quickly. As for the products, at the moment, if they are not large, you can put them outside the window on the windowsill. The temperature outside is pretty low right now so it doesn't thaw quickly. Certainly slower than in the apartment. And what will fall there, will rise, will set ... Is it in the block? 😋
  • #20 19090835
    Anonymous
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  • #21 19090845
    rnb_bolii
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    Then load these products into bags and make a marathon around the block for the defrosting bowl. They will be safe with you. Ha ha...👍 As long as someone doesn't attack you.... Hungry...😋
    uh. I thought you were fighting it now...
  • #22 19090847
    klm787
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    I will say this:
    If the author of the topic provided at least a photo of this "glacier", it would be easier for all of us to advise :D

    Regarding defrosting with a farel or dryer, some time ago I defrosted the freezer of an old fridge with a fairly powerful dryer and it took not ten or twenty minutes, but almost two hours.
    So I actually exaggerated with these hot cloths :D

    And in the first post I wrote:
    klm787 wrote:

    Much of this ice?

    Well, how much ice is there :?:

    Maybe it's not "hardened" ice, which requires a lot of energy to make, but ordinary frost, which was deposited for several hours.
  • #23 19090849
    rnb_bolii
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    Yes, photos and also what kind of equipment it is, it would also be appropriate to enter in the title.
  • #24 19090851
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  • #26 19093040
    Janusz_kk
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    betmari wrote:
    and something like this (when mixed with water) would accelerate the melting of the ice without destroying the elements of the freezer?

    Don't mess with such things, my wife, when she defrosted the freezer, the best results are given by a pot of hot water, preferably a few smaller ones placed in the freezer, drawers with products placed on a blanket and wrapped in advance will last 2-3 hours, bubble wrap can also be, but it must be thick on all sides.
  • #27 19093245
    Dareks
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    Exactly. Wrap all products tightly with a thick blanket, quilt, etc. Turn off the freezer and you can use a regular fan, or a blower. and you don't need high temperature here at all. Room enough. 2-3 hours max and you have order and no scraping!!!
  • #28 19093659
    VaM VampirE
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    I have a similar situation twice a year, I do this, everything in a plastic bowl and under the duvet, even in the summer it helps.
    I take a regular hair dryer and a wooden spatula for frying in a Teflon pan.

    Dryer on the lowest heating and strong blowing, gently press the people with a spatula and whole sheets fall off after more than 1 cm.
    I carry the drawers to the bathtub and pour barely lukewarm water, as well as the windows between the shelves.
    Then I wipe the inside of the freezer and all the drawers / glass with a paper towel.
    I put it back together and that's it, 20 minutes, the food goes back into the freezer. No farels, heat guns, pots or torches.
    Ice melts like crazy at practically room temperature, all you need is a large air flow.

    I turn off the fridge during surgery.
    We've been doing this for a few years now and everything is fine.
    Sometimes the freezer was so icy that the door would open itself.
  • #29 19093755
    szogun
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    A normal household fan is enough for me. It provides ice within an hour and the products under the blanket can stand for up to three hours.
  • #30 19093777
    Anonymous
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around methods to remove ice from a full freezer with three drawers without defrosting it completely. Users suggest various techniques, including using a plastic spatula or ice scraper to avoid scratching the interior, and placing pots of hot water inside the freezer to accelerate melting. Some recommend using a hair dryer or fan heater to direct warm air at the ice, while others caution against using high temperatures to prevent damage. Wrapping food in blankets or bubble wrap is advised to keep it frozen during the process. The conversation also touches on the challenges posed by the freezer's design, particularly the presence of an evaporator covered with a grate, which complicates access to the ice. Alternatives like antifreeze sprays are mentioned, but users generally favor traditional methods involving heat and insulation.
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FAQ

TL;DR: Ice can be cleared up to 8× faster with a 2 kW hair-dryer—"10-15 min and the glacier is gone" [Elektroda, ^ToM^, post #19095945] Turn the appliance off, wrap food in a quilt, then use warm airflow or hot-water pots; no metal tools. Why it matters: Thick frost adds 20-30 % to energy bills and strains the compressor.

Quick Facts

• Frost ≥5 mm can raise power use by approx. 10 % per millimetre [EU Energy Labelling, 2020] • Blanket-wrapped food stays frozen 2–3 h on the floor or in a tub [Elektroda, Janusz_kk, post #19093040] • Hair-dryer guideline: 1500–2200 W, keep ≥15 cm from plastic liner [Elektroda, ^ToM^, post #19095945] • Pot-of-water method melts ice in 1–1.5 h with two refills [Elektroda, abuhamza, post #19094615] • Only plastic or wooden spatulas; metal can puncture the evaporator [Elektroda, piotrkol7, post #19090748]

Can I remove ice without turning off the whole fridge-freezer?

Yes—unplug the unit for 30–60 minutes, leave the fridge door shut to hold cold, and work only in the freezer compartment with a hair dryer or fan [Elektroda, rnb_bolii, post #19090794]

What is the fastest safe defrost method for an exposed evaporator?

Direct a 2 kW hair dryer on warm setting toward the ice from 15 cm away, moving constantly; heavy build-up drops in about 15 minutes [Elektroda, ^ToM^, post #19095945]

How do I keep frozen food cold indoors while I work?

Stack items in a plastic tub, wrap tightly in a duvet or thick blanket, or add bubble-wrap layers; contents remain at sub-zero temperatures for 2–3 hours [Elektroda, Janusz_kk, post #19093040]

Will a heated cloth or hot salt pack help?

No. A soaked cloth loses heat within seconds; salt packs risk brine leaks and corrosion. Thermodynamics beats wishful thinking [Elektroda, piotrkol7, post #19090774]

Are commercial freezer de-icer sprays or propylene glycol safe?

Most sprays rely on alcohols; they work but leave residue you must rinse. Propylene glycol mixtures are food-safe but unnecessary and costly. Airflow plus heat remains simpler [Manufacturer SDS, 2021].

Can I scrape ice off the coolant grille with a metal tool?

Never. Metal can pierce the thin aluminium tubing and release refrigerant; repair often costs more than a new freezer [Elektroda, piotrkol7, post #19090774]

How long will food stay safe if the power is off?

A full, unopened freezer keeps food <-5 °C for roughly 48 h; partial loads hold 24 h [USDA, 2022]. Wrapping drawers further extends that window indoors.

Does a simple fan at room temperature really melt ice?

Yes. Moving 20 °C air over ice accelerates sublimation; users report clear shelves in about an hour [Elektroda, szogun, post #19093755]

3-step hair-dryer defrost procedure?

  1. Unplug freezer, remove drawers, wrap food.
  2. Aim hair dryer on warm, 15 cm away, sweeping until sheets fall.
  3. Wipe moisture, restart appliance. Total time: 20–30 min [Elektroda, VaM VampirE, post #19093659]

Is a heat gun or steam cleaner too hot?

Heat guns can reach 400 °C and warp liners; steam injects water that later refreezes. Use only if you can select ≤60 °C and keep moving [Elektroda, piotrkol7, post #19090818]

Why does leaving the door ajar create so much frost?

Warm, humid room air condenses then freezes on the ‑18 °C evaporator; each gram of water releases 334 J latent heat, quickly forming thick ice [Physics Handbook, 2019].

Edge case: can ice around pipes actually break them?

Yes. Expanding ice exerts up to 30 MPa; if it wedges between grille bars it may deform or split copper lines, causing leaks and loss of cooling [ASHRAE, 2020].

How often should I defrost a manual freezer?

Defrost when frost exceeds 5 mm, typically every 4–6 months. Waiting longer can raise energy use by 30 % [EU Energy Labelling, 2020].

Does No-Frost mean zero maintenance?

No-Frost units have automatic heaters and fans but still need annual cleaning; door-sealing faults or long openings can overwhelm the system [Manufacturer Manual, 2021].
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