How to Keep Your Refrigerator Door Shut
by fungus amungus in Workshop > Repair
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How to Keep Your Refrigerator Door Shut
My fridge is old and busted. Thanks to a few magnets I was able to save my food from rotting and spreading sickness through the household.
The fridge isn't mine. It came with the house that my wife and I are renting and even though it's not really that old it has a problem with the door after someone banged up the bottom of it by moving it around. You can close the door, but it would open if even slightly jostled.
Closing the freezer door would pop the main door open. There were also times that the door would open on its own. We took to putting a chair up against it, but one day I forgot to do that and it opened up during the day, ruining all the food inside.
I was going to install a new latch or fix the hinge, but I found an even better way: neodymium magnets.
The fridge isn't mine. It came with the house that my wife and I are renting and even though it's not really that old it has a problem with the door after someone banged up the bottom of it by moving it around. You can close the door, but it would open if even slightly jostled.
Closing the freezer door would pop the main door open. There were also times that the door would open on its own. We took to putting a chair up against it, but one day I forgot to do that and it opened up during the day, ruining all the food inside.
I was going to install a new latch or fix the hinge, but I found an even better way: neodymium magnets.
Get Some Magnets
I had a few hundred 1/16" neodymium magnets stuck to my fridge, but you can get some easily enough through several different sources. eBay is a good place to look. I got mine from K&J Magnetics (the D401), but I haven't seen any reason to favor them over any other retailer.
If you're ordering for this purpose, I'd recommend that you try and get a variety pack. I was using 1/16" magnets, but a few 1/32" ones would've helped.
If you're ordering for this purpose, I'd recommend that you try and get a variety pack. I was using 1/16" magnets, but a few 1/32" ones would've helped.
Stack the Magnets in the Gap
On my fridge there is a bit of metal between the magnetic strips and the outside of the fridge. It's not very wide, but neither are these magnets.
I simply kept stacking the magnets and tested the fridge door to see what was a good fit. This takes, oh, about a minute.
I simply kept stacking the magnets and tested the fridge door to see what was a good fit. This takes, oh, about a minute.
Make More Stacks
Now make more stacks so that you have a more secure connection and you're done!
This solution has been working for me for the past month. You can see the proof in this short video that shows how the problem of the freezer door opening the main door was solved.
This solution has been working for me for the past month. You can see the proof in this short video that shows how the problem of the freezer door opening the main door was solved.