Did you know that one of the first thing to wear out of a refrigerator is the rubber door gasket? So, with this simple tip, you can protect the gasket from cracking, drying, and mildew. Just apply a very thin coat of Vaseline petroleum jelly. By this simple procedure, you are preforming a preventative for the cracking, drying, and mildew! It also improves the seal!
By dwedenoja from New Creek, WV
This page contains the following solutions.
If you are having trouble with ice build-up on the heater coils in the back of an older fridge and are having to go through the lengthy process of removing the food and shelves to defrost with a hair dryer -- a little Vaseline may be all you need!
Never use bleach, diluted or undiluted, to clean refrigerator seals as it breaks down the rubber. I used to, but after 18 months I had to replace the seals.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
What cleaning solution do you use to clean the rubber around the doors of your refrigerator and freezer?
By RR
I only ever use some liquid dishwashing soap. I put a squirt on a rag, and wipe the gaskets off, then do a rinse with plain water, and dry them off.
I use my home made counter cleaner of water, bleach, and dishwash liquid which I keep in a squirt bottle. Just spray it on and wipe it off.
I use a solution of half water, half vinegar. Works a treat!
Dawn dish soap first. Apply it directly with a dishcloth and then rinse with plain water. The same can be used for any copper tubing nest.
Drying it, and applying a thin coat of vaseline, will keep gasket from cracking.
What cleaning solution do use to clean the rubber around the doors of our refrigerator and freezer?
I use Young Living Thieves Essential Oils Cleaner. It is absolutely chemical free and kills 99.9% of germs on contact! Also good for removing mold and stains.
Hey do you Dilute it or just do it straight
I bought a used side by side refrigerator and on the freezer size someone had put, of all things, packing tape on the rubber seal. They did this to keep the seal in place because they had taken the door off and didn't take time to put the rubber seal back in its place correctly. When I pulled the tape off the seal to put the seal around the door properly it was sticky. How do I get the sticky residue from the tape off of the seal?
By Norma from SC
On something that contains food - I'd use vodka - apply and let sit for a little bit. For items like glass, etc.
What is the best way to prevent mold/mildew from building up on the door gaskets of the refrigerator? What is the best way to clean it when it does form?
(Submitted via email)
Kris and Velco,
You were very kind to share with the readers that we are NOT to use bleach on the refrigerator. gaskets but I much of missed the 2nd part.
Hydrogen peroxide. I can't praise this stuff enough. Put some in a spray bottle and spray the mold or if you don't have a spray bottle just pour it on. Let it sit a few minutes. Wipe. You may have to repeat.
The rubber gasket around my refrigerator and freezer doors gets mildew and mold buildup constantly. I've cleaned it several times with Clorox and other cleaners however the older stains remain and the mildew/mold builds up again. Does anyone have a better and permanent solution please?
By Nancy
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