How to Fix a Broken Refrigerator Door Shelf

[@SONshine612]

I love how he recycles and repurposes everyday items

[@ZeppSiros]

To make the patch stick a bit better and cleaner, you should probably sand the plastic first then clean it. Also acetone is an easy way to get super glue off your fingers, just make sure you don't have any open cuts haha

[@GreenNeighbour]

Great tips! Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment.

[@elutuber01]

Great clear video format too. Thank you for sharing your knowlege with us!

[@GreenNeighbour]

You are so welcome! Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind and encouraging comment. Be well!

[@svetlanai2074]

This video is great. That’s exactly what I need. Thanks a lot!!

[@GreenNeighbour]

So great to hear! All the best with your project.

[@paulfonseka4157]

Thank you for the clear presentation. I wondered if you have any tips if the cracks happened to be on say the internal base and it would be too much trouble to dismantle the whole fridge. Do you think it's worth a try gluing just on the topside of the base (without clamps) leaving aside the "unprofessional" look, (unless one uses an artistic shapes perhaps?)

[@GreenNeighbour]

Interesting. I’m not entirely certain what you mean by the “internal base.” Do you think you might be able to send me a picture?

[@dyskover]

I have a second hand side by side that had cracked door shelves. I didn't know what to do, but, I managed a repair that works using clear packing tape. Now, the corners where the shelves rest on the door's frame are another story.

[@GreenNeighbour]

Well done!

[@endeeray4295]

Contact cement or super glue? I'm thinking you mean superglue.

[@GreenNeighbour]

By golly, you’re right! I do mean Super Glue. I always thought Super Glue was simply a name brand of contacts cement, but I now see that they are fundamentally two different types of adhesives.

[@sarahmitchell6154]

Hello! This video was extremely helpful. I have a similar spot that I need to fix. It’s in my freezer though. Do you have any recommendations

[@GreenNeighbour]

Well, I think I would try the same approach, but I would apply a patch on both sides of the surface (top and bottom). Good luck! Please do let me know how it goes.

[@fuchsmom]

What was the 2nd clamp called Can’t wait to get this Great job 😁

[@GreenNeighbour]

That clamp is generally referred to as a locking C-clamp. The one that I use is a Kreg adjustable clamp with what they call an “auto max” feature. It’s a very useful clamp! There are a few different versions of this style of clamp, even under the Kreg brand, but here is one that is very similar to the one that I use: www.amazon.com/KREG-KHC3-Project-Clamp-Automaxx/dp/B01H1WFNJC/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=3TGP7Y2GICR26&keywords=kreg+adjustable+clamp&qid=1653416197&sprefix=kreg+adjustable+clamp%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-4

[@danmc2678]

That won't last. If you study the failure, it failed due to the lack of stiffening on the bottom surface which allows it to flex like a diving board. It flexes more on the side at the widest and weakest point causing failure from repeated use. To fix this would require something very stiff attached to the bottom preventing flex otherwise it will fail again. I know, it happened to me. I fixed it once by welding the plastic crack back together. It lasted a few years then broke again.

[@GreenNeighbour]

I hear you!

[@tonyl4571]

Why din't you glue the colored side and have the white side facing down?

[@GreenNeighbour]

I know, right?! I don’t know why I did that. I just wasn’t thinking at the time.

[@tonyl4571]

@@GreenNeighbour haha. I was wondering ... maybe you had a logic in regards of the ink/pigment on that side

[@GreenNeighbour]

@@tonyl4571 Nope. I just wasn’t thinking at all!

[@KateLate____]

I was thinking the coloured part was a label that would be difficult to remove, and wouldn't be as strong for joining.

[@ELScorcho0110]

Would not JB Weld Platstic Bonder be better for this type of application?

[@GreenNeighbour]

In truth, I’m not familiar with that product, but it sounds like it would do a great job.

[@ELScorcho0110]

​@@GreenNeighbourIt is a two part epoxy. Great product to use!

[@GreenNeighbour]

@@ELScorcho0110 I'll definitely have to give it a try!

[@KateLate____]

Expoxy will set more slowly, so might actually better for this multi step job involving clamps.

[@GreenNeighbour]

Great tip! Thanks so much!

[@VirtuallyKatie]

Great video! Relaxing to watch.

[@GreenNeighbour]

Well thanks so much! I hope it helped.

[@nathanashcroft8677]

You see the supports on either side of the shelves, my one of them snapped, do you have any good fixes for it?

[@GreenNeighbour]

If it is one of the supports that is part of the shelf itself (as opposed to the fridge door), I would try patching it in the same way. You might have to get creative with the clamping, depending on where the patch is going. Also, you can’t put the patch on a surface that goes directly against the fridge. You could possibly apply a patch to the inside (hollow part) of the shelf if it is accessible.

[@nathanashcroft8677]

@@GreenNeighbour unfortunately it is actually the support that is attached to the fridge door, shelf is still intact though.

[@GreenNeighbour]

@@nathanashcroft8677 Interesting. Could you send me a picture?

[@breannestahlman5953]

Put the tube in the fridge or freeze it.

[@GreenNeighbour]

The tube of glue?

[@KateLate____]

Americans always say "the first thing that you're going to want to do is cut this". Australians would say "cut this"

[@GreenNeighbour]

I’m Canadian! Which one did I say?

[@KateLate____]

It's guess its North Americans the. Apparently you have something in common with those to the south of you! Australians are lazy. It pains me to even type "what you're gonna wanna do is you're gonna want cut this...."

[@GreenNeighbour]

Well then, what you’re gonna wanna do is learn how to use the voice dictation feature on your smart phone!

[@KateLate____]

​@@GreenNeighbour the long one! Sorry canada 🍁

[@MyAlbertC]

Good suggestion and too much talking 👄. Please don't talk to much.

[@GreenNeighbour]

Sage advice. Thanks.

[@stephenwalczak3166]

Don't even waste your time.

[@GreenNeighbour]

Why not? It’s about more than saving a shelf: it’s also about saving the fridge. After a while, you can’t order a new shelf for an older fridge, so repairing a shelf can allow you to get a lot more years out of an older fridge.

[@KateLate____]

​@@GreenNeighbourthat's why I'm here - I was able to order the part for one broken shelf but this one no one seems to stock!

[@GreenNeighbour]

@KateLate____ Exactly! I genuinely think it’s part of engineered obsolescence. The manufacturers just want us to buy a whole new fridge.