Refrigerator Maintenance: Why should a piece of paper be kept on the refrigerator door in scorching heat? Learn this magical hack of 30 seconds

In this era of technology and gadgets, whenever the heat reaches its peak, our entire attention goes to AC, air coolers and water bottles. But have you ever noticed that amidst this scorching sun and humidity, which appliance in your kitchen is working under maximum pressure for 24 hours without stopping? That is your refrigerator. In this season, proper functioning of the refrigerator is very important not only for cold water but also to protect food items from bacteria. The good thing is that to keep your fridge healthy, you do not need any expensive mechanic or tool, rather a simple A4 size paper kept in your printer can save both your pocket and the fridge from major damage. Let us know what is the experts’ favorite ‘paper trick’. In this era of ‘Heat Dome’, double pressure is increasing on the refrigerator. At present, the effect of severe ‘Heat Dome’ and heat wave is being seen in many parts of the world as well as in many states of India. This extreme external temperature not only makes humans uncomfortable, but also creates double pressure on the refrigerator kept in the house. To maintain the temperature inside the refrigerator amidst the scorching heat outside, its compressor has to run repeatedly and continuously without stopping. This simply means that your fridge starts consuming more electricity than usual and due to excessive load, the risk of early damage to its expensive parts also increases manifold. What is the 30 second ‘paper trick’ (Dollar Bill Test)? This is the easiest and surest way to check the cooling capacity and condition of your fridge. For this you just have to follow these small steps: 1. Take paper: Step 1. Take an ordinary A4 size plain paper (or a currency note) from your home or printer tray. 2. Stick it in the door: Step 2. Open the door of the fridge and place the paper in such a way that half of it is inside the fridge and the other half is outside. 3.Close the door: Step 3. Now close the refrigerator door as tightly as possible, so that the paper gets pressed between the rubber seals. 4. Pull the paper: Step 4. Try to gently pull the protruding part of the paper outwards with your hand. Test Result: If you feel a good amount of resistance while pulling the paper, then congratulations! The rubber seal (gasket) of your fridge is absolutely airtight and fine. But, if the paper slides out easily like butter without any obstruction, then understand that the door of your refrigerator is not closing properly. The US Energy Department also certifies this hack, it is not a fake or ordinary life-hack going viral on the internet. The ‘Energy Saver Program’ of the US Department of Energy itself officially believes that the most effective and free way to prevent wastage of electricity and energy in homes is to check the rubber seal (gasket) of the refrigerator door from time to time. If the seal is not airtight, it is important to repair or replace it immediately. How does a loose rubber seal hurt your pocket? A worn, loose or torn rubber seal hurts your household budget in two ways: Loss of cooling: A loose seal constantly lets precious cold air out of the fridge and lets warm, moist room air in. Due to this, the compressor has to work overtime day and night to maintain the internal temperature. Huge electricity bill: When the compressor runs 24 hours without tripping, your electricity bill will skyrocket during summers. Additionally, according to ENERGY STAR standards, the internal temperature of the refrigerator should be 35°F to 38°F (about 1.6°C to 3.3°C) to keep food safe and bacteria-free, which is not possible if the seal is damaged and the food can rot quickly. What to do if your fridge fails the ‘paper test’? If the paper comes out easily, there is no need to immediately buy a new refrigerator or call a mechanic. You can try these simple solutions at home: Cleaning with lukewarm water: Sometimes the seal is not broken, but the magnet does not work due to dirt, grease, sticky juice or food particles stuck on it. Dip a cotton cloth in lukewarm water and mild liquid soap and clean the seal and door frame thoroughly. Hair dryer trick: If the rubber seal of the fridge has become hard or stiff due to prolonged use, then pour some hot water on it or put the blow dryer on low-heat and blow air on the seal. Due to this, the rubber will heat up and become flexible again and start sticking to the door. Seal Replacement: If the rubber is completely cracked or rotted, you can easily replace it at home by purchasing a new rubber gasket at a very low cost online or from your nearest spare parts store. Make this free 30-second habit a part of your monthly home-maintenance routine, especially at the beginning of summer. This small test, which takes less time than toasting bread, can save you from huge compressor expenses and mental hassle in the future.