Then we reload it. The whole process has never taken us more than 45 minutes. This is a quick no-fuss way to defrost a garage freezer. There isn't time for any of its contents to defrost. Well, there might, but anything which might defrost goes into the kitchen refrigerator compartment for 45 minutes tops.
Better is often the enemy of good enough.
We do have to clear off all the kitchen counters first, and that's not part of the 45 minutes.
Our upright is in the basement so using your method would result in a very wet basement.
I usually defrost mine in the middle of winter.
I watch the forecast and when the temps are supposed to bottom out for a couple days, I take everything out and put it in old, beat up coolers I save for that purpose, and stick them outside.
Then I defrost using dishpans and cookie sheets to catch the ice and water.
I do hand dry it with old towels, too, and let it air out overnight. The next day the stuff goes back in.
This year was so mild that we didn’t have the temps to do it, but we are moving to NH this year and I have been slowly transporting the contents to the chest freezer there. When we make the final move, it’s all going and the freezer will defrost then.
I’m probably going to give it to my son at that point. He could use one and this is an older, more reliable model. Plus it will save him a bundle of money.