Cleaning a Refrigerator Gasket

Having clean gaskets help your door to seal better. This guide is about cleaning a refrigerator gasket.

Solutions: Cleaning a Refrigerator Gasket

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Use Vaseline to Soften a Refrigerator Gasket

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!

It turns out that the plastic seal around the edge of the door loses its elasticity over time and so may not be sealing as tightly. I got a tip from a repairman that simply rubbing the seal with petroleum jelly will help soften it up. It completely eliminated the problem for me!

By Tahlula from Northfield, MN

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Maintaining Your Refrigerator Gasket

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 Dorothy from New Creek, WV

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Questions

Here are questions related to Cleaning a Refrigerator Gasket.

Removing Tape Residue

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

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Most Recent Answer

By Catlady1105/14/2012

On something that contains food - I'd use vodka - apply and let sit for a little bit. For items like glass, etc. nail polish remover works, and there's a commercial oil called Goo Gone - one bottle will last for years.

Cleaning Refrigerator and Freezer Gaskets

What cleaning solution do you use to clean the rubber around the doors of your refrigerator and freezer?

By RR

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Most Recent Answer

By yorkie lady01/03/2012

Drying it, and applying a thin coat of vaseline, will keep gasket from cracking.

Cleaning Refrigerator Seal (Gaskets)

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?

Connie from Smithville, TN

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Most Recent Answer

By msettamae203/07/2009

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.

Cleaning a Refrigerator Rubber Gasket

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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Cleaning Refrigerator Seal (Gaskets)

Can anyone tell me how I can clean the mildew on the rubber seal on my refrigerator/freezer doors? Thanks!

Pam

RE: Cleaning Refrigerator Gaskets

I use chlorine bleach, either straight or mixed with hot water. Also, to get the mold or mildew out of the gasket grooves, take q-tips and dip them in the bleach, and then run them through the grooves. Great for those tight spots. (02/02/2005)

By Tori

RE: Cleaning Refrigerator Gaskets

A toothbrush and cleaner with bleach works great for scrubbing those moldy gaskets. And my refrigerator repairman says we need to lube them every 6 months, with, believe it or not, vaseline. (02/03/2005)

By Deb

RE: Cleaning Refrigerator Gaskets

I use comet cleanser. Works really well. (02/07/2005)

By jeangnome46

RE: Cleaning Refrigerator Seal (Gaskets)

Clorox Cleanup will do the trick. (03/25/2005)

By suzi homemaker

RE: Cleaning Refrigerator Seal (Gaskets)

I would try Scrubbing Bubbles. In Florida, as you know, we experienced 4 hurricanes last Summer / Fall. Some refrigerators were in terrible shape after several weeks of no electricity and the owners unable to get to them for a variety of reasons. Scrubbing Bubbles to the rescue.

I have started using it each time I clean my refrigerator now --- because it gives it such a nice clean look, and I figure the bleach in it can only help sanitize.

Hope this helps! (03/27/2005)

By Rama

RE: Cleaning Refrigerator Seal (Gaskets)

I use Soft Scrub with Bleach. It works really well. (03/28/2005)

By Meari

Cleaning Refrigerator Seal (Gaskets)

How do you clean black mold off refrigerator gaskets? I really need to clean it up before company arrives in 2 days.

Fionar from Arlington Heights, IL

RE: Cleaning Refrigerator Seal (Gaskets)

I've been in the gasket business for 25 years and the one thing you should not use is bleach. Bleach will dry out the vinyl and in a very short time they will crack.(02/20/2008)

By Kris

RE: Cleaning Refrigerator Seal (Gaskets)

Bleach is very bad for the seals (gaskets). Everyone that uses a bleach product will be buying a new refrigerator, or a new gasket sooner or later. How long have you been using Scrubbing Bubbles? Does it contain Bleach? Any cracks or distorted areas on your gasket yet, bleach users? Does anyone know what the manufacturer recommends? If they recommend BLEACH we all know why. (07/10/2008)

By Velo