Take everything out of the refrigerator. Store the perishable items in a cooler with ice or in another refrigerator. Unplug the refrigerator.
For very small refrigerators, consider carrying into a shower stall to defrost. Open the refrigerator door and put towels around the opening to catch melting ice.
Place a plastic bag or solid container next to the refrigerator to hold wet towels. Put a pan with hot water in the refrigerator, or use an electric fan or hand-held hairdryer blowing into the refrigerator to speed defrosting. Replace wet towels frequently to prevent water from making the furniture or floor wet.
Place a bucket or container next to the refrigerator. Gently pull larger chunks of ice out, as the melting loosens them from the surface, and place them in the container.
Thoroughly dry the refrigerator once all the ice melts. Dump the container with the melted ice and take care of the wet towels promptly to avoid mildew.
Close the refrigerator door and plug in the electric cord. Wipe all items prior to returning them to the refrigerator to avoid reintroducing moisture and speeding up the formation of more ice.