Refrigerator Door Gasket Is Loose & Doesn't Seal
- 1). Tighten the door gasket. Most door gaskets are attached by sliding the edges beneath a metal or plastic retaining strip. The retaining strip is held on by screws or small nuts. Tighten them down to make the gasket sit tighter against the door rim.
- 2). Level the door for a better gasket seal. Once the gasket has been tightened, loosen the hinges on the door by unscrewing the hinge screws but do not remove them. Place a level on the top of the door and adjust it until it is level. Hold it in place while you tighten down the hinge screws. Leveling the door will make the gasket seat correctly for a proper seal.
- 3). Clean the door seal with a mixture of 1/4 cup of baking soda to 1 qt. of warm water. Use an abrasive kitchen sponge to remove any tough, dried-on dirt or food residue, and rinse with the damp sponge.
- 4). Lubricate the door seal with either petroleum jelly or mineral oil. Wipe on a thin coat with a rag. This will soften the door gasket and make a tighter and more airtight seal. Always do this after cleaning.