If all else fails, wrap it up with cooling packs in a blanket and set it in a cool part of your home.
Some freezers have a switch you can use to turn off the freezer instead of unplugging it.
You also might want to place shims under the front feet of the freezer to help encourage the water to flow toward the drain.
If some shelves won’t come out, leave them in until the ice melts some more. If you just let the freezer sit open without doing anything else, it will likely take 2-3 hours to defrost completely, depending on how thick the ice is.
You can also use an ice scraper, but be careful as you could damage the lining of your freezer.
The steam will help melt the ice. Change out the bowls as they get cold, every 5 minutes or so.
Some vacuum cleaners will also do this. You have to attach the hose to the exhaust, and it will blow out hot air. Use the hot air from the hose to melt the ice. You could also try a steamer used for cleaning or taking wrinkles out of clothes. Set the steamer on high and move it over the ice.
Also, mop up any water from the ice with a dry towel.
After they’ve soaked for a few minutes, scrub them down with a dishcloth in the warm, soapy water. Rinse them thoroughly with clean water and shake off any excess water you can. You should wait for them to come to room temperature because glass shelves could crack if you move them from a freezing environment to a warm one too quickly.
The baking soda will help clean and deodorize the freezer.
Let the freezer air dry for 10-15 minutes. Leave the door open and walk away for a little while. When you come back, the freezer and shelves should be completely moisture-free. Any moisture left in the freezer will just turn back into frost.
Throw out any food that you think might have thawed and reached an unsafe temperature, particularly foods like fish.
