We recently highlighted a few ways to pamper your dishwasher to make it last longer, but refrigerators need a little TLC, too. Here's some maintenance tips to keep yours humming along smoothly.


Image by swanksalot.

The appliance specialists at Warners' Stellian home appliance blog say that many refrigerator maintenance and repair tasks don't need an expensive house call by a repairman. In fact, one of the most common fridge ailments—a loose rubber gasket—can be easily fixed with a household hack. To know if yours is loose, keep an eye on the condensation that forms on the outside of the refrigerator.

If you see more condensation than normal, check the seal (or gasket as we appliance nerds call it) for any obstructions and clear them. If there aren't any, try moistening the gasket with Vaseline. Seriously, it works. If you don't have any petroleum jelly, I've used Neosporin in a pinch (What won't that stuff do, honestly?).


The post also delves into some good maintenance tips to keep in mind, like making sure you change your water filter on a regular basis. When you're ready to clean your fridge's coils (also important for extending the life of your appliance), be sure to check out the ideas we've mentioned previously.

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How do you keep your refrigerator cold and happy? Share your tips in the comments.

Refrigerator Seal & Fridge Maintenance [Warners' Stellian Blog]