Maintaining your gasket in a good condition is one of the most imperative preventative steps which can go a long way in terms of saving your money and time. It is recommended to clean your refrigerator gasket quarterly, or more recurrently if you notice spills and/or mold growth. A filthy food spill on the gasket can impair its reliability by causing it to stick, pull and possibly tear.
2 Simple Techniques to Clean Your Refrigerator Gasket
Method #1: Vinegar and Water
It is advised not to use hard cleansing agents such as bleach and ammonia as they can be harsh on the gasket’s material if not used properly. Instead, using a vinegar solution will aid in eliminating any mold or bacteria without injuring the gasket.
Here’s the Million Dollar Formula!
Make a solution of one part vinegar and two parts water to clean the gasket.
- In a 2 cup measuring glass, accurately measure ½ cup of vinegar.
- Gradually add water. Fill the measuring cup until it touches the 1 ½ cups mark.
- Slowly stir the mixture.
- Apply the solution to a wet sponge or tooth brush to get rid of filth.
- Gently dry with a paper towel.
Method 2: Bleach and
Water
If you don’t feel comfortable cleaning your refrigerator gasket with a vinegar solution, try using a blend of one part bleach to four parts water. Avoid pouring concentrated bleach straight onto the gasket.
- In a 2 cup measuring vessel, measure ¼ cup of bleach.
- Gradually add water to the measuring cup; fill it until it reaches the 1 ¼ cups point.
- Gently mix the solution.
- Apply the prepared solution onto a wet sponge and tooth brush to remove any hazardous particles.
- Lightly dry the gasket using a paper towel.
To keep the rubber flexible, gently rub a slight amount of lemon oil, mineral oil or common body lotion around the edges of the gasket. Repeat the process every 3-4 months for maximum results.
A magnetic seal is also known as a fridge seal or fridge gasket. They can be found sealing doors and drawers of refrigerators and freezers. A magnetic fridge seal is designed to hold a magnetic strip to ensure that the fridge door stays closed with an airtight seal around the refrigerator cabinet. The profiles with magnet chamber are in the categories: dart-type (push-in) profiles, flap profiles and lip profiles. The profiles with magnet in our assortment are indicated by the extension M after the profile number (e.g. 38-M).
It is possible to order a seal with a magnet only on 3 sides and / or a U-shaped seal. Use our seal configuration tool to see all available options.
The magnetic seal takes care of the sealing between the door or drawer and the refrigerator or freezer cabinet. This way the cold air stays in the cabinet so the refrigeration compressor does not have to run continuously. A properly sealed refrigerator saves energy and extents the lifespan of the refrigerating unit.
The gasket seal on your refrigerator is one of the most important and underestimated parts of the fridge. If your fridge isn’t cold enough, you may be wondering if it’s the condenser coils or the circulation fans or the temperature sensor. But it might just be that your fridge gasket isn’t sealing properly.
Like a cracked window in an air-conditioned home, an unsealed fridge will slowly leak cold air, allowing warm air in and forcing your fridge to work harder, staying cool. Your fridge door may also hang open a little if the seal doesn’t seal. So today, we’re here to share the top three ways to keep your refrigerator gasket seal in the best possible condition for the efficiency of your fridge.
Wipe Down Regularly
The first thing you can do for your gasket seal is to wipe it down regularly. Over time, grime and dust and spills can coat the once-sticky surface. When this happens, the door gasket can no longer make full uninterrupted contact with the surface of the fridge. This smooth contact is necessary for the gasket to form an airtight seal to hold in the cold air.
Even if you can’t see anything on the seal, it doesn’t need to be visible to cause a problem.
Take a wet and lightly soapy sponge and run it along the gasket. Try to get every side. Take the time to clear out the troughs inside the folds where grime can hide and build up. If you feel a rough spot or see visible grime, scrub it with the reverse side of the sponge until the rough spot is gone.
Apply a Thin Layer of Petroleum Jelly
Once your fridge door gasket is wiped clean, there’s a very handy trick you can use to improve both the performance and the functional life of your gasket seal. All you need is a tiny amount of petroleum jelly.
Your fridge gaskets are made out of rubber or synthetic rubber, which is actually more like a plant fiber, and it dries out like wood. When your fridge gasket dries out, it shrinks and becomes hard like shriveled up wood. Petroleum jelly, however, remoisturizes the wood like a lotion and locks in the moisture, so it takes longer to dry next time.
Rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly with your finger or a paper towel along the surface of your refrigerator gasket seal. Just a very thin layer is enough. Get as much of the rubber as you can reach, but the most important surface is where the gasket touches the fridge doorway. The jelly also helps form a seal between the door and the gasket.
Replace If Damaged
It is possible for your fridge gasket to be damaged by impact or twisting. If your fridge gasket is torn, dented, or twisted then it may need to be replaced. Fortunately, this is easy and safe to do.
Underneath the flap of the gasket are mounting screws. Loosen but do not fully remove these screws all the way around and pull the gasket away from the fridge door. Install a new one by reversing the process, fitting the new gasket into the door slot. Then tighten the mounting screws that fasten the gasket into place. For a bonus, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to your new refrigerator door gasket to protect it, improve the seal quality, and keep it from beginning the process of drying out.
—Taking care of your refrigerator gasket is an important part of efficient fridge use. Your refrigerator will use less electricity, and your food will stay consistently cold if your gasket is in good condition. For more repair insights or assistance with an appliance repair in your home, contact us today!