Time to defrost the freezer? Pay attention to the recommended methods to use at home!

We all know that the freezer, just like the refrigerator, should be defrosted at least once a year to ensure it continues to work optimally. It is not always easy to put this rule into practice, especially in the case of the freezer, because it does not often happen that it is completely empty. So to prepare to defrost the appliance you have to consume the food inside for days or weeks and avoid buying more that needs freezing.

Even the procedure necessary to remove all the ice that forms inside can last several hours or a whole night, which is why we often want to use methods that speed up the whole operation. Some, such as using salt or vinegar, while effective, can lead to unexpected damage. So let's see which remedies are best avoided:

Creativo

Methods to avoid when you want to defrost your freezer faster:

• Salt: it is true that salt, just like what happens on the roads, causes ice and frost to melt quickly, but it is also true that it can end up corroding the materials it comes into contact with - especially metal gaskets and other coatings.
• White vinegar: vinegar contains acetic acid, which freezes at about -2 degrees, therefore, lower than when water freezes. This means that it helps thaw out various materials (including food, by the way). But even vinegar can ruin seals and coatings, just like salt.
• Hair dryer: this is also a risky method, as it involves the use of an electrical appliance near water and could cause a nasty (if not fatal) shock.
• Knives: Using a knife as a chisel to chip off blocks of ice faster as the freezer thaws is an absolute no-no. The surfaces can be scratched or nicked, and in the case of plastic drawers, it is easy to break them. You could also puncture the tubes through which the fridge's coolant liquid passes.

Therefore, although these methods can be effective, they also carry the risk of creating severe and completely irreversible damage, so it is better to use the the pot or bowl of hot water method:

• Place rags or old towels at the bottom of the freezer and on the floor around it.
• Place a bowl with hot water at the bottom fridge (inside, on the bottom shelf).
• Close the door for a whle, so the steam melts the ice.
• Change the water in the freezer often so that it always stays hot, and also wring out or replace the rags and towels, so as to avoid flooding the house. At this point, there are those who speed up the process with the use of a hairdryer, but remember that this is risky.

Also, in the case of harder ice blocks instead of using sharp objects (like an ice pick), use wooden ladles, trying to dislodge the ice without using too much force, and keep a bowl or bucket handy to collect the chunks of ice and throw them in the sink before they fall on the floor.

Great job!