Cleaning the refrigerator door shelves?

[stunami]

I have a 20 year old Dometic refrigerator with stains on the door shelves from aluminum cans. I've tried using every cleaner in my kitchen, but nothing so far has worked. How can I get these clean?

Thanks,
Stuart

[Tim A.]

Remove the shelves and wash thoroughly with soap and water and let dry. Use metal polish to remove the metal that has rubbed off the cans. A polish like Flitz works well, but there are many other possibilities. It will take quite a bit of rubbing.

For general final polishing of the plastic and interior in our refrigerator, I use, believe it or not, Walbernize. I have done so since our trailer was new in 2002 and the refrigerator still looks almost new.

Tim

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, mine never got that bad and they never came completely clean. I cut and installed non-slip shelf rubber mats on the only shelf where I put my canned drinks.

[stunami]

Thanks! I'll try the Flitz polish and Walbernize. If that doesn't work, then I'll go with the rubber shelf mat.

[John & Roberta]

Dealers replace refrigerators every now and again. The old units are used as spare parts lockers where may be found USED but CLEAN door shelves. When our refer was replaced under warranty, I asked to have some of these goodies returned to me so now I’m up one interior shelf and two door shelves . . . just in case.

A thought: as expensive as new door shelves are (what, $55 per?), maybe a local dealer would provide one for $10-15. Save a lot of rubbing.

[Lily&Me]

I pull those inserts out to wash them, and would try some Softscrub with bleach.

Maggie

[jamieb1086]

After you wash them, try using Mr. Clean magic erasers! Those things are amazing. We use then to remove marks on the white laminate inside our cabinets.

[dnsapp]

Spray them down with scrubbing bubbles and let the soak the rinse the off and used one of those white stain removing sponges made by Mr. Clean. The are amazing. I remove mine from the refrigerator each spring and put them in the dishwasher when I start the de-winterize process and spring cleaning getting ready for the season.

[carlfish]

Try “Mr. Clean” Magic Eraser pad. It worked great for me.

[Jimz]

After you wash them and get them clean, do not run them through the dishwasher. Ours went through the dry cycle and they warped.

[PatLee]

I'm in the camp of "use them until they wear out" versus "get new ones so they look good" and then tossing the imperfect but useable ones into a landfill. As long as they are clean and you know that - and since you will keep them filled with drinks anyway - why not just let them be.

[PatLee]

I forgot to add that my 'go to' scrubbing solution is always Comet. As someone said, some elbow grease may be required to get the stains out.

[emelaich01]

Deal with your shelves like you would a scuff or stain on your automobile's finish.

Try DuPont (or equivalent) rubbing compound to get the stain and roughness out, followed by a good automotive wax, i.e., Turtle Paste wax, Meguiar's, etc.

You can also use a polishing compound between the two to make the final finish a little easier.

If the rubbing compound doesn't do the trick initially, you may want to try a very fine grade of sandpaper--200 grit or so--prior to using the rubbing compound.

I've used the same procedure on a couple of Wurlitzer jukebox clear plastic domes with excellent results, removing even some deep gouges.

[PC Conner]

Originally Posted by emelaich01

Deal with your shelves like you would a scuff or stain on your automobile's finish.

Try DuPont (or equivalent) rubbing compound to get the stain and roughness out, followed by a good automotive wax, i.e., Turtle Paste wax, Meguiar's, etc.

You can also use a polishing compound between the two to make the final finish a little easier.

If the rubbing compound doesn't do the trick initially, you may want to try a very fine grade of sandpaper--200 grit or so--prior to using the rubbing compound.

I've used the same procedure on a couple of Wurlitzer jukebox clear plastic domes with excellent results, removing even some deep gouges.

Lots of good advice: No dishwasher; Mr Clean, etc.
I like the "make sure its clean even if stained." Once the cans are in there you can't see the stain.
But, before going to light sandpaper, try emory cloth. Still an abrasive but finer.
If you use sandpaper, be sure to use wet and dry, with water. I would use no courser than 400 grit (try 600?). I use that for final finish on fiberglass.

[stunami]

Wow, thanks for all the ideas!

[ORtraveler]

Magic erasers worked for me.

[cegardner]

I just cleaned mine yesterday with barkeepers friend. I have also used bon ami. Cleans right up and not abrasive