I need to clean out my deep freezer. I think it's even older than yours. I bought it second hand 25 years ago.

My boss had to defrost the bunks at work (deep freezers with no lid). He rolled them into the back room, put in a little heater and covered it with cardboard. It was thawed and cleaned within a 1/2 hour. I may do that with mine.

Debby, I sat my little infra red heater in front of it, which helped a lot. I wouldn't have had to wring out the cloth so much if the drain hole in the bottom wasn't so small! We bought it Dec of 1983 brand new, but got the defrost it yourself model instead of the frost free to save some $$. Never again! But it is still working great, so I am happy, at least until the next time I have to defrost it! I had three coolers and three clothes baskets full of meat and stuff while it defrosted.

My 51-year old freezer spends its life in the cold garage, so it gets defrosted in the summer time. I try to get it when it's not too loaded, put everything in Rubbermaid containers and wrap them in quilts. It doesn't really take too long then. I'm surprised that there isn't more frost in it, as it's a biggie....17 cu. ft. I bought it when I had seven kids at home!!

I should get off my duff and go through my deep freezer, actually. We keep forgetting about it (it's in the basement) and I think most of the food in there is freezer burned and old. Now that the city has given us huge garbage containers with wheels on them, I can just toss everything in there. thanks for making me work. LOL

Sorry Debby! We have meat coming, so I had no choice.

I set pots of hot steaming water in, and close the lid.
After a few minutes I take the plastic dustpan and get behind the ice. The chunks just fall off the sides.
Then I just scoop them into a pail and throw in the bathtub.

Well, I emptied the deep freezer. Haven't unplugged it to defrost and clean it though. But it's a start. Right?

I can see why you forget about it Debby...it's in the basement. Mine would never get used down there. I am terrified of basements. LOL And cellars and boogedyman rooms.

Wow Phyllis...I would love to see your freezer. I bet it's cool! No pun intended.

I defrost my chest freezer on Superbowl Sunday. Take the food out and stack it on the back steps. Yes I have a drain hole. Pulling the plug works pretty well,as the ice loosens I break it off and throw it in the sink. Then wash the inside with detergent.

Reverse the vacuum cleaner - hot air blowing thaws the chest in a hurry!

ole joyful

I use my hair dryer--if you aim it toward the edge of the frost, so it sort of works behind it, in just a few moments, you can chip a section off with a plastic ice (car) scraper. Doesn't take long that way.

Still, mine's in desparate need of defrosting. And I really have no excuse--it sits right next to the wash tray in the basement, so it's easy to just pitch the ice pieces in there.

As to age? mine's a medium-sized chest freezer, that was purchased in the mid '70's. Still going strong. Wish they built them that well today.