Two Easy Ways to Fix a Leaky Refrigerator Door

When you close your refrigerator door, does an almost suction-cup-like seal form, or does it barely stay shut? If the rubber seal around the perimeter of the refrigerator or freezer door—also known as the gasket—doesn’t come in contact and connect with the inside of the fridge, it means that cold air is likely escaping. It may not seem like a big deal, but your refrigerator or freezer will have to work harder to keep the food inside cool, which means higher energy bills for you. 

But this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to buy a new gasket. If there aren’t any visible cracks, tears, or holes, you may be able to repair your refrigerator seal instead of replacing it. Here are two simple methods to try.

How to fix your refrigerator seal

Once you’ve figured out that your refrigerator or freezer isn’t sealing closed properly—perhaps after taking this one-minute test—there are two simple steps to take that could end up restoring your gasket back to working condition: Cleaning it, and applying silicone grease.

Clean your refrigerator seal

One of the most common reasons a refrigerator or freezer is leaking air is because it’s dirty. When assorted grime, crumbs, and mystery liquids form a film on the gasket, it can prevent a firm seal with suction.  It doesn’t seem like somewhere that should be covered in food spills and stains, but you’d be surprised what ends up and around that strip of rubber.

Here’s my refrigerator seal, for example:

Credit: Elizabeth Yuko

And from the top:

Credit: Elizabeth Yuko

There was a gap at this corner of the seal:

Credit: Elizabeth Yuko

It looked much worse before I cleaned it a few months ago, but it has gotten a little grimy since then.

You don’t need any special supplies to clean your refrigerator gasket. Start by filling up a bucket with warm water, and add a few squirts of liquid dishwashing detergent. Then, dip a rag or sponge into the solution and wipe off any stains, spills, or other gunk from the rubber gasket, its folds, and the areas inside the fridge that it comes in contact with when the door is closed. Use a toothbrush or other small scrub brush to tackle tougher stains. Dry any areas that you washed, and try closing, then opening the refrigerator door.

Here’s mine post-cleaning:

Credit: Elizabeth Yuko

Even though my refrigerator seal wasn’t very dirty to begin with, after wiping it down, the seal got noticeably stronger. 

Rehydrate the seal

Refrigerator and freezer gaskets are typically made of rubber or a synthetic alternative. Over time, they can start to dry out, preventing a tight seal from forming. So, if you’ve already cleaned your gasket and it’s still not sealing as much as you’d like it to, rub some silicone grease—also known as plumbers grease—into the rubber, then buff it off with a clean cloth. I used Harvey Plumber's Faucet and Valve Grease ($5.68 for one ounce tube).

Credit: Elizabeth Yuko

If any corners or edges of the gasket have come loose, use a cotton swab to apply some silicone grease under rubber, then push it back into place inside the groove.

Credit: Elizabeth Yuko

One more time, from the top:

Credit: Elizabeth Yuko

Some people suggest using petroleum jelly instead of silicone grease to rehydrate a refrigerator gasket, but avoid doing that if you can. Petroleum jelly cause rubber to break down, and unlike silicone grease, it’s not waterproof.

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