"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 4 Aug 2014 14:28:35 -0700, "Pico Rico" >
> wrote:
>
>>
>> Use the fan alone. You will not need luck unless you persist with your
>> "chipping the ice out with a kitchen knife, oyster knife, or a 19th
>> century
>> English carpet stretcher I bought on eBay that works quite well for
>> chipping
>> ice" or your mom's "boiling water trick".
>
> I used to have an upright (non self-defrosting) freezer in the
> basement. I only needed to let it stand with the door open for a
> couple of hours and the ice would drop off without the need for a hair
> dryer. It would be self-defrosting if it was upstairs in the kitchen.
>
I had one in an old apartment. Standard fridge with top freezer. I'd just
let the food supply dwindle then put whatever was left in some coolers.

I would then shut off the power and put a large pot of hot water in there,
changing it a few times. Was usually done in two hours.