Friendly Appliance & Repair: How to Add Years of Life to Your Refrigerator's Door Seals

Here’s a simple trick that will most likely prevent your ever having to replace either of your refrigerator’s door seals. It becomes even more valuable if you own one of the newer models whose seals are no longer attached with screws, but “glued” on (a really dumb idea there, manufacturers!)

Once every year – make it a part of Spring housecleaning? – Anyone still DO Spring housecleaning? - wipedown the working surfaces of the seals with a damp cloth, and dry. Then apply a thin film of Petroleum Jelly to the hinge side surface of both seals. (ONLY to the hinge side working surface that contacts the cabinet, NOT the whole seal!). This allows the sliding face of the seal to, well, slide, across the hinge-side cabinet face, and prevent its twisting and tearing, the #1 cause of failure.

There was a time when new refrigerators, at least Frigidaires, arrived from the factory with this already done, but that was back in the late 70’s.....

Do this at least once a year along with vacuuming your coils will help your refrigerator last longer and work more efficiently! You can get this brush to help with cleaning those coils, we can send you one for only $9.99 plus shipping.