Defrosted the Norge tonight

[eclecticcottage]

I never had to do this before...I knew I would have to eventually, but I figured it was a trade off (sweet long lasting vintage fridge vs boring quick to break new one). I remember my mom doing it and making a real production out of it so I was prepared to make a mess and take a while. Boy was I wrong. It took maybe an hour and wasn't all that messy. I wrote a blog post about it in case someone like we that never had to do this before needed a little direction. So easy! I can see why someone that hadn't made a decision to buy a freezer that would need this knowing they had a choice to get a frost free might choose to go to a frost free, but I really don't see the big deal. I will be looking for new seals since we need them, and will do it more often, but I was surprised it was as quick as it was.

before



after

[SkipW]

I can remember placing pots of hot water in our frezzer to hurry the defrosting. I also remember making quite a mess sometimes and others being quite easy. I do believe it's much easier the more frequently you do it. The freezer is also much more efficient when it's less frosty.

What are you going to do with all that freezer space now?

[kathyd]

Oh my, I had forgotten about my mom defrosting the fridge. I remember the pans of hot water also. I think mom used cake pans.

[eclecticcottage]

It filled back up pretty quick, lol. We need to figure out how to make a shelf for it, everything just ends up piled in there.

[jade mortimer]

great job!
i remember,as an 18 year old, in my first apartment i defrosted the freezer...chipped away at the ice with a screwdriver until PPPPPSSFFFFSTTTT--i poked a hole in the side!..."um, dad, i need a new fridge"....i wonder how much additional energy it takes to run a frost free freezer (say that three times fast please)...i always enjoyed the sense of accomplishment after the slow process of defrosting with pans of hotwater and face cloths.....

thanks for the memories cottage!
...jade

[downtowndahlgren]

Gosh, I thought cake pans were the required method! My Mom always used them, and I did too in my early apartments and first homes. If I got lucky, I could catch all all the dripping water in the cold cuts drawer and get it to the sink without spilling it all over the floor. (Didn't happen very often, btw.) Boy, that really brings back some memories!

[Don M]

Replacing your seals will also dramatically reduce the ice build-up & improve the efficiency of your fridge! The ice build-up reminds me of a Philliss Diller comment about the black crud that built-up in her oven---she said there was so much that all she could cook was a cupcake then HaHaHaHa!

[eclecticcottage]

Any ideas on where to get the seals? Are they the same as a new fridge, or do I need to hunt them up somewhere?

[Don M]

Search vintage appliances on the internet. I found replacement parts for an old stove we had in our last home. You may be lucky & find the seals still available specifically for your Norge.