3 Easy Ways On How To Remove Mildew From Refrigerator Gasket

Clearing mildew at gaskets can be pretty alarming and problematic. You can start by knowing how to remove mildew from refrigerator gasket, making it manageable to do the chore.

Cleaning your refrigerator doesn’t only involve those that are easily seen; checking your gaskets is a must, too, for it could already be accumulating mildew. If you do see mildew growing on these inconspicuous areas, immediately take action.

how to remove mildew from refrigerator gasket

Continue reading to know more and learn more about mildew and what methods to use for cleaning mildew from refrigerator gaskets.

 

What Is Mildew?

Cleanipedia defined mildew as a type of mold that is a category covering a small kind of fungi. It is usually thin dusting of black, grey, or white growth on fabric, upholstery, walls, and many more.

In terms of health risks, mildews are milder than mold, and they won’t harm your health or your belongings right away. Yet, if you give it enough time to grow, it will undoubtedly impact your health, leave stains on your items, and let out an unpleasant smell.

Speaking of smell, mildew has a musty and earthy odor, a bit like decaying woods or dirty wet socks. For further comparison, visit this article about what does house mold smell like.

 

What causes mildew?

Many factors could be the reason for mildew growth. Some of these were the following:

  1. Too much water in the air or excessive moisture production.
  2. Dark areas are more susceptible to mildew growth.
  3. Not enough fresh air is circulating.
  4. Mildew thrives more in low-temperature areas.
  5. Accumulated dust, debris, dirt, and grease are food for mildew that encourages its growth.

Learn more through this article about the common causes of mildew in your home.

 

Cleaning Mildew From Refrigerator Gaskets

Now, it’s time to indeed proceed on knowing how to remove mildew from your refrigerator gaskets. No one would want for their refrigerator to be infested by mildew, so here are some of the methods you can choose to follow:

 

Method #1. Chlorine bleach

Unplug the refrigerator, make sure it’s turned off, then leave it open. Start mixing one portion of chlorine bleach and another portion of warm water in a bowl.

Use a toothbrush, dip it into the solution, then scrub the gaskets. Gently pull the gasket to reach between the folds, ensuring that the mildew is cleared.

After the mildew was removed, prepare plain water, and dip a clean cloth there. Use the cloth to wipe off the bleach solution you used to clear out mildew, do this a few times to ensure that the bleach is gone.

Finally, it would be best to have another clean, dry cloth for drying the gasket.

 

Method #2. Hydrogen peroxide

Start by how you would usually clean your fridge, make sure that you removed dirt and grime. Then load a spray bottle with undiluted hydrogen peroxide. 

Spray on the gasket, making sure the outside and in between are fully coated. Let it sit for a few minutes.

Wipe the solution with a clean, dry cloth. Recount the process if required.

Finally, proceed with how you usually clean your fridge to clean the solution’s residues thoroughly.

If you want to clear away some of the stains, you can proceed with this method:

 

Method #3. WD-40

You can start with cleaning as much of the dirt, grime, and mildew using the methods mentioned above or your way.

Apply the WD-40 directly on the visible stains, leave it aside to soak for a few minutes. Then wipe away the solution using a clean, dry cloth.

Repeat the process if the stains weren’t removed. Then after stains are gone, proceed on how you usually clean; this is to clean the residue of the WD-40.

If you’re curious, you can also learn from this article about what causes mold in fridge

 

Prevent mildew on the refrigerator 

Cleaning mildew isn’t always enough to keep it from coming back; you’ll need to take a few more actions to prevent it. However, it shouldn’t be that hard.

See the following advice so you’ll have an idea of what to do:

  1. Do a deep cleaning every 3-4 months. It can be done by turning the machine off, removing all foods inside, cleaning each shelf and drawer separately, and washing thoroughly every nook and cranny.
  2. After cleaning, you can use vinegar to prevent mildew.
  3. Regularly check and observe every nook and cranny of the fridge from the gasket, compartments, dividers, etc.
  4. Immediately clean any spills or leaks.
  5. Dispose of the food that is already contaminated by mold or mildew or is emitting a nasty smell.
  6. Properly store your food, like in airtight containers for added protection not only on food but for the fridge.

 

Conclusion

To all those who don’t know what to do, educating yourself about how to remove mildew from refrigerator gasket can be very helpful as a starting point. If you’re facing this ordeal now, follow the instructions given above, and it’ll be more manageable.

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