Whether you have a chalkboard fridge or not – if you have a mini refrigerator, you will most likely need to defrost it at some point. Below are the steps on how to defrost your fridge quickly, and it’s surprisingly simple.
How to Defrost a Mini Fridge Fast:
1. Unplug your fridge.
2. Take all items out of your refrigerator and/or freezer and put them in a cooler with a lid. If you don’t have a cooler (or one big enough), you could unload everything into a bathtub.
3. Open the door/doors to your mini fridge and leave them open for 60 minutes. If you have a lot of frost buildup in the freezer, you may want to place a towel on the floor in front of the open door just in case the defrosting ice comes tumbling out.
4. Come back to your fridge in 60 minutes, and the ice should have started melting away. Then, you can gently (I said gently!) pull the ice away.
Note: Don’t try to stick a screwdriver in and wedge the ice out. This can wreck the sides of the appliance and then you’ll be angry! I sometimes use a rubber/silicone/plastic spatula if the ice needs a little “coaxing”.
5. If the ice is being difficult, use a warm wet washcloth to gently loosen up the ice. Ice is usually not difficult, especially if you are defrosting your mini fridge every 3-6 months.
6. Lastly, wipe down the sides and back with a high-absorbing dry cloth. In other words, remove as much moisture as you can. This will help prevent ice build up in mini fridge from starting right away.
Then, plug the refrigerator back in and reload it with all your food and drinks.
Some Tips for Easier/Faster Defrosting:
1. Defrost Your Fridge on a Warm Day:
Choose a warm and/or sunny day and move your fridge in the sun. A simple temperature change can work wonders, and your little appliance can defrost in as little as 30 minutes.
2. How to Keep Food/Drinks Cool While Defrosting:
Does your compact appliance have 2 compartments (a refrigerator and separate freezer section)? Then, you can leave your food in the fridge and simply leave the door open to the freezer while defrosting.
If you have enough space, move the freezer items into the fridge. This maintain the chill while the fridge defrosts itself.
Alternatively, you can place all food and drink into an enclosed plastic cooler for an hour.
3. Defrost More Frequently to Make the Task Easier:
The more often you defrost the mini fridge, the less time it takes. Plus, less ice build-up makes removal easier too.
Defrosting a Mini Fridge is Easier than You Think.
Don’t be afraid of manual defrost appliances, because removing the ice is quick and easy once you get the hang of it.
When you do regularly-scheduled maintenance and have an easy system in place – it’s a snap. You can watch your favorite TV show while you’re doing it, make dinner – or even go to the grocery store to buy more food.
Will this Defrost Method Work on a Full-Size Refrigerator?
With a larger manual defrost refrigerator, you can apply this same strategy, but the process will take longer. I suggest two things:
- Don’t decide to start when you have a ton of frozen food. In other words, plan a time when your fridge isn’t full.
- Get a bag of ice for your cooler or bathtub before your begin your project. Therefore, you can give your appliance as much time as it needs to melt the frost.
