How to defrost a fridge and freezer: a safe step-by-step method
A thick layer of ice raises your electricity use and weakens cooling. Defrosting takes a few hours, but the fridge does most of the work on its own.
- Most common cause
- thick ice from moisture and open doors
- Time
- 3–12 hours (depending on the ice)
- Service, if the ice comes back
- 200–680 zł
Never scrape the ice with a knife or sharp tools, because you can easily puncture the evaporator and damage the fridge. Do not use a hair dryer close to plastic or sprays with gas. Unplug the fridge before defrosting and protect the floor with towels. Warning: on models with Wi-Fi and a screen, unplugging may reset some settings, so check them afterwards.
Step by step
Prepare the food
Take the food out of the freezer and move it into cooler bags or a box with towels. Add ice packs. Frozen food will last a few hours if you do not keep opening the container.
Unplug the fridge
Pull the plug from the socket. If your panel has a defrost mode, you can use it as described in the manual, but unplugging is the simplest way.
Open the doors and lay down towels
Leave the doors wide open. Put thick towels and a shallow bowl under the freezer, because water will run out.
Speed up defrosting safely
Put a bowl of hot (not boiling) water in the freezer and close the door for 15–20 minutes. Repeat if needed. Collect pieces of ice that fall off by hand or with a plastic spatula.
Dry and wash the inside
When the ice is gone, wash the compartments with lukewarm water and a little baking soda. Dry everything and clean the seals.
Switch the fridge on and wait
Plug it in and wait 2–4 hours before putting food back. Put frozen food in only once the freezer reaches −18°C.
- Ice builds up quickly, only a few days after defrosting.
- Water collects at the bottom of the fridge even though the drain is clear.
- The fridge does not cool after defrosting.
- You see a damaged seal letting in humid air.
How much does a repair shop charge?
| Replacing the door seal | 200–480 zł |
| Replacing the defrost heater (No Frost) | 270–680 zł |
| Replacing the defrost timer or sensor | 240–610 zł |
| Diagnostics at a service center | 110–270 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
You can defrost it yourself, and it is worth repeating every few months in fridges without No Frost. If the ice comes back quickly, replacing the seal or the defrost part is usually enough. With an old fridge, check in the calculator whether a repair makes sense.
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Open the calculator →FAQ
How often should I defrost my fridge?
In models without No Frost, when the ice is about 5 mm thick, usually every 3–6 months. In No Frost models you do not need to do it regularly.
Can I use a hair dryer?
Carefully, from a distance and not close to plastic. A bowl of hot water is safer.
Why does the ice come back so fast?
Most often because of a door that does not close fully, a worn seal or putting in warm food. In a No Frost fridge, the defrost heater may be faulty.