So my fridge/freezer is getting clogged up with ice.
I can’t find the manual, but a phone call to the company secures a replacement.
I have a holiday coming up, so stop buying food that needs cold storage*.
Then I open the manual excitedly.**
‘Remove all food from the freezer. Note: Any increase in temperature of frozen food during defrosting can shorten its storage life.’
Check!
‘Disconnect the appliance from the mains power supply.’
Check!
‘Pull out the defrost water drain from the base of the freeezer compartment.’
Check!
‘Remove the drain plug (see model map for location).’
Check!
‘Place a container under the drain to collect the defrost water as shown in the manual.’
Check!
Actually all this means is:
switch the fridge off
Take out a plug so water can drip down into the bottom compartment
Take out another plug so water can get out the bottom onto a container
Anyway it’s all great fun.
Every so often I hear a slight creak, followed by a short pause and finally a crash. That’s the ice releasing from the metal, falling and gently breaking up.
I have learnt that when carrying (to the sink) a metal tray nearly filled with water that a ripple spells imminent trouble…:eek:
*why yes, I am single. How did you know?
** OK, I’m a geek too.
You call that manly? Not only did you read the manual, but you followed the blummin’ instructions!
You’re supposed to beat the crap out of it, attacking the ice with a combination of rolling pin and carving knife while shouting abuse at every lump of ice that falls off.
Okay, you might end up needing to buy a new fridge by the time you’ve finished, but then you can be extra manly and drag the old one out to the back yard and set fire to it.
One of the manliest men I know defrosted our office fridge by unplugging it and carrying it over to the utility sink, then plopping it in there and opening it up.
Perfect job–12 hours later he took it out, carried it back and plugged it back in.
You want manly? While the fridge defrosts I read the paper and drink Johnnie Walker. Then I plug it back in and go to bed rested and happy, just like my grandfather would have done. He was a patient man.
Manly? You all don’t know from manly. I carry mine to the bathroom, fill the tub with hot water, place the fridge in the tub and plug it in. Sometimes I get out of the tub first.
MANLY defrosting is unplugging the fridge and immediately going up north for a fishing weekend. Then coming home from said fishing trip to an ungodly smell triggering memories of the no-longer-frozen turkey in the freezer compartment. Then hauling the fridge out into the backyard (in between stomach heaving wretches) to hose out said fridge. Then coming to terms with the fact that the fridge is essentially unsalvageable. Then buying a new fridge.
If you do use a pot of hot water to speed up the process, to be manly make sure it’s rosewater with the petals floating on the top. And floating candles, yeah.
Bah. You don’t know manly like Canadians know manly. The proper way to defrost a fridge is to not need one because you hang your food outside from trees in the -30C temperatures while fighting off bears and wolves and harvesting ice for your summer icebox. (City dwellers may grudgingly place food on their windowsills, but then they have to fight off squirrels and health inspectors.)
