Save energy by defrosting!

Why now is the best time to defrost: when it's cold outside, you can simply store your food outside in the garden or on the balcony for a short time. Alternatively, ask a friendly neighbor if you can store something at their place for a short time, or use a cool bag.

That's why regular defrosting is important:

Freezers are real energy guzzlers. If your freezer has to cool through a thick layer of ice, your energy consumption can increase by up to 50%!

Tips for defrosting!

Preparation: Switch off the device and unplug it if necessary. Now empty the cupboard.

Step 1 : Defrost quickly and collect meltwater or ice.

To defrost, simply leave the door open. It is best to lay towels everywhere to catch the water. You can speed up the process by putting a cup of hot water in the appliance.

Once the ice cream has thawed, you can carefully pry it off the side walls - for example with a cake lifter.

Step 2 : Clean and disinfect the refrigerator

Tip: Use the opportunity to clean out and sort things properly. What has already been opened and should be stored separately and used up soon? What is no longer edible? And what do I already have at home? Ideally, you can leave a few things out and use them up straight away. How about eating leftovers?

If the freezer is already empty, take the opportunity to clean it! You don't need any aggressive disinfectants for this. Warm water, a fresh cloth and mild all-purpose cleaners, vinegar or dishwashing liquid are enough to remove surface germs as well as dirt and grease. Vinegar not only cleans and disinfects, it can even eliminate unpleasant odors that may have developed in the refrigerator.

Before you put your food back in, wait a while until the freezer has cooled down a bit.

To further reduce electricity consumption, it also helps to open the doors as rarely as possible.

Sources:

- https://www.t-online.de/heim-garten/wohnen/id_52442986/kuehlschrank-abtauen-mit-diesen-tipps-geht-s-schnell-sauber-.html

- https://utopia.de/ratgeber/gefrierschrank-abtauen-warum-jetzt-der-rechte-zeitpunkt-ist/