If you have been waiting patiently to close on your new home and need to move out of your old house quickly, then you may have most of your belongings ready. However, some of the things you use every day may need to be prepared at the last minute. This may be the case for your refrigerator.

Most moving professionals agree that it is wise to get your refrigerator ready about 24 hours before you move so the appliance can thaw out and dry out appropriately. If you do not have this amount of time, then you can move your refrigerator within a few hours. Follow the tips below for assistance.

Remove All the Food

The first thing you need to do when preparing your refrigerator is to unplug it and remove all the food. If you are moving the refrigerator and the food within a few hours, you can keep foods out of the refrigerator for about two hours. To keep foods as cold as possible, simply place them in a cooler. An airtight box cooler with a gasket seal and insulation is a good choice to keep your food cool. However, if you do not have a cooler, then a few inexpensive styrofoam ones will work well. Place one to two ice packs on the bottom, load the cooler, and place the lid on top. Place duct tape around the lid to create an airtight seal.

If you do not have the ability to get the extra supplies you need, then a plastic storage tote or tub can work well. Line the tote with a layer of aluminum foil to insulate the inside. If you do not have any ice packs, then make your own in the freezer. Smaller freezer packs can be made fairly quickly with the help of some sealable sandwich bags.

Add one-quarter cup of water and one-quarter cup of rubbing alcohol to each bag. Seal the bags and sit them in your freezer for an hour or two. It is best if you do this before you unplug your refrigerator, but the packs will freeze if you have not thawed the freezer yet. Place the bags in the lined tote and then add your food. This same sort of process can be used to help with the storage of foods from your freezer as well. Once the food is added, then use bungee cords to keep the tote lid tight on the top of the container. 

Defrost the Refrigerator

Once the food is taken care of, you need to defrost the refrigerator and the freezer. If you do not have a lot of time, then you can do this inside your home instead of outdoors. Open the doors to your refrigerator and freezer and prepare several large beach towels. Start by removing solid and loose ice from the freezer. If you need to force the ice out of the appliance, you can use an ice pick. You can also loosen some of the ice with your towels. Place one or two large towels in your dryer for about 15 minutes. Immediately ball up the towels and stick them in the freezer for 10 minutes. Remove the towels can pull out loose ice.

Once a good portion of the ice is removed, use your hair dryer on high to melt the remainder of the ice. Wipe away as much of the water as you can until the freezer and refrigerator compartments are only slightly damp. At this time, set up a fan or space heater in front of the refrigerator with the doors open. This will help to eliminate condensation so you can move the appliance soon afterwards. 

To learn more, contact a household moving business.

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