Simple steps for keeping your refrigerator in shape

Refrigerators have gone through some changes throughout the years, but they still need the same basic maintenance. Follow these simple steps for the basics.

If you have an owner's manual, check it for specific information about your refrigerator. If you don't, see if you can get a copy from the manufacturer. If it won't send you one, you might be able to go to its Web site and download one to have when you need it.

The most important thing for all refrigerators is to clean the coils. These usually are located underneath or on the back of the unit. A vacuum cleaner is the best tool to use. You will need an extension to get to those hard-to-reach spots. If you don't have one that's long enough, create one from cardboard or PVC pipe. If you don't have a tool to get back into the coils, use a long brush to dislodge the dust, and then suck it up with your vacuum.

Cleaning the inside of the unit also is important. This can be done with a cloth moistened with alcohol or bleach. Don't leave any liquid cleaner in the unit after cleaning. You can add a box of baking soda as a freshener if you like.

Most units have a condensation tray, located near the floor. When the unit defrosts, the water drains into this pan and evaporates. Make sure the pan is clean and positioned properly to catch the drips.

Cleaning the doors and gaskets also is a great thing to do. After cleaning, you can rub a thin film of petroleum jelly around the gaskets for an even better seal. This helps keep the cold air in and the warm air out.

It also helps to have the refrigerator level, so use a bubble level to check it in all directions, and adjust the front wheels if you need to.

If your fridge has a water filter, replace it when you need to in order to keep the ice and water tasting their best.

This is about all you have to do to keep your cool all year long.

Vacuum maintenance

A letter opener is a great tool for cleaning a vacuum cleaner. The best type to use is one that has a short pointed end that is meant to get into the edge of the envelope and has a blade at the end to cut through the flap. This is the perfect tool for cleaning hair, fiber, grass and other stuff that gets wrapped around the beater bar of your vacuum cleaner. So if opening mail isn't a big job for you any longer, move the letter opener to the utility closet and use it where it will get a good workout!

Clever potting option

Plants are like the icing on the cake when it comes to your home's exterior. Whether it's a patio, deck or entryway to your home, plants are an easy, inexpensive way to decorate. One clever potting option is a chimney flue tile. These are available in a variety of sizes and styles. They are made of clay and are meant to be stacked and cemented together to form a solid chimney flue. But they can be used alone as a super-looking planter. Just set them on a solid surface and fill them with potting soil and plants. The heavy tiles won't fall, and since they have no bottom, they drain easily when watered. You even can paint or decorate them if you like - how about putting your house numbers on one?

Super hints

• Spring cleaning includes windows. The best way to polish your windows after washing them is with newspaper. It wipes away any leftover grime and gives them a super shine.

• Store straight razor blades in an empty matchbox. It's much safer than just keeping them in a drawer, and you even can sharpen them a little on the striker side of the box.

• Big planters make a big statement in your landscape. But filling them with soil can cost a big wad of cash. You can add foam packing material of all sorts to take up some space, and you'll use less potting soil in each pot. It also makes them lighter, in case you have to move them from time to time.

Q. How do I know if my freezer is set to the right temperature? It feels OK, but the ice cream is mushy. If I turn it down, then things in the fridge freeze. Please tell me what it's supposed to be set at.

A. Since the temperature control for the freezer determines the temperature in the refrigerator, set it first. If you have a thermometer you can put in the freezer, it would be very helpful in getting it set right first. The optimum temperature in the freezer compartment is about 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Once you have that set correctly, then you can adjust the temp in the fridge. Move the thermometer to the refrigerator and check it. It should be about 35 degrees. The unit should have some baffles or switches to control how much cold air travels from the freezer to the fridge.

Q. My basement had a leak at some point, although we have seen no evidence of this in several years. The result is a large white spot on the concrete floor that we cannot seem to remove. Do you know of a way to get the white spot off the floor?

A. It's possible that the white spot could be efflorescence, which is caused by moisture under or within the concrete. Try using vinegar to clean the surface. If that does it, then you can apply a penetrating sealer to help prevent the spot from coming back. Make sure to correct any drainage problems around your basement to keep moisture damage to a minimum.

Q. Our doorbell doesn't work anymore. I have replaced the main box, but it still doesn't work. Got any ideas?

A. You might try changing out the push button for the doorbell. These are easy to install, don't cost very much and are a common problem. The wires on these can sometimes go bad, or the contacts can become worn and no longer work. If the wires in your walls are at fault, you will have to try to rerun those or buy one that doesn't require wires to operate. Replacing it might be a simpler way to fix the problem.

Reader tips

• The dishwasher in our house had gotten really dirty, and I wasn't even sure it was OK to put dishes in it anymore. Even after they were washed, it still just looked dirty. I put a gallon of vinegar into the washer and ran it through a complete cycle with heat. Then my sister suggested putting some fabric softener into it and running it through another cycle. After that, it looked a lot better. I used baking soda and a scrubber sponge to go over all of the interior surfaces. It looks brand new, and I'm sure it will clean better, too.

• I ran out of the plastic paint-tray liners on my last project but found a good substitute: I used aluminum foil. It fit into the tray nicely and stayed in place all day while I worked. It did a perfect job of keeping my paint tray clean, and when I was finished, I just wadded it up and threw it away.

• I bought a metal knife holder that was a long magnet that attached to the wall. I used it for a while but decided to put the knives away. Now I have this handy holder in the garage. It's great for holding wrenches and some screwdrivers and other smaller tools made of metal. You could use any magnet, I guess, as long as it is strong enough to hold small tools. It's super handy.

• I do some woodworking and enjoy other projects in my shop. If I need extra ventilation when painting, sanding or staining, I have a large box fan that I set up in the window to draw the air outside the garage. I can leave the door down to keep me warm but still expel the fumes from my project. In the summer, I leave the garage door up a little to draw in more outside air and keep things cooler.

• My window screens fall out easily. They just seem too small, but other than that, they have no problems. I wasn't ready to replace them, but we do need them on all of our windows, and we need them to stay in place when the windows are open. I found that I could fit them more tightly by adding some peel-and-stick foam weatherstripping to the window frames. They rarely fall out now, and we have more fresh air and fewer bugs in the house each spring.

Shoptalk

• You could be wasting hundreds of dollars every year if you have a leaking toilet. It can be hard to detect. But the LeakAlertor electronically monitors your toilet and notifies you visually and audibly when the flapper is leaking. It's easily mounted on the side of the toilet, runs on an included battery and starts watching your toilet for leaks immediately. It works on any toilet, is fully automatic and is designed and manufactured in the U.S. For more information, visit the company online at leakalertor.com.

• The Shop-Vac is a standard for most home workshops, and the new Shop-Vac Hang On is a super portable unit. It handles both wet and dry pickups and is extra quiet. The hose locks on for security, has a nice handle to carry it with and even is wall-mountable. Use it to pick up shop and home messes of all types and even remove clogs from drains. It comes with all of the basic tools you might need, and is available at a variety of stores. It also has a two-year warranty. To find out more, visit shopvac.com.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006, or visit the Carrells' Web site at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.