If your refrigerator sits next to the wall, you’re probably familiar with the slamming sound it makes every time you let the door swing open on its own. This can quickly drive anyone crazy, and it’s also bad for your refrigerator. The repeated impact can even damage the drywall over time. So here we have a few quick tips to stop the door from hitting the wall.
Place a silicon doorstop, cushioning, or a wedge between the wall and the door to absorb the impact. Consider installing a magnetic door catch or new brackets to reduce the door swing. You can adjust the hinge if your model allows it and even reverse the door swing.
Whichever method you choose to try, it’s essential to find a solution that works for your specific fridge and living situation. Let’s take a look at the different options so that you can finally live in peace and quiet.
How Do I Stop My Fridge Door From Hitting the Wall?
Refrigerator doors are heavy and designed to swing outwards fully. This becomes a problem when there’s a wall next to the fridge. However, the problem can be fixed with a few minor adjustments to the door hinge or some cushioning to the space between the refrigerator and wall.
Below we have a list of solutions. Let’s start with the easy ones first:
Place Door Bumps/Stoppers
These are small, rubber, or silicon bumps (on Amazon) that you can paste on the refrigerator door or wall where they slam. The bump will absorb the impact, preventing the damage and the annoying noise. These bumps are available in different colors and sizes, even in decorative shapes (on Amazon) to fit your style.
Furthermore, they’re self-adhesive, so installation is breezy, and you won’t have to worry about damaging the wall.
A spring doorstop (on Amazon), which is another type of door bumper, does the same job but is more durable and permanent. The spring door stop needs to be screwed to the wall, but it’s simply great if you have a heavy-duty refrigerator.
Use a Door Wedge
A door wedge (on Amazon) is placed on the floor near the inner corner of the refrigerator door. The door hits the wedge when it opens, preventing it from swinging too far. Door wedges are made from rubber or plastic and are covered with rubber.
An adhesive strip holds them in place. But since a wedge on the floor is not so aesthetically pleasing, many people don’t opt for this solution.
Add Some DIY Cushioning
If you don’t want to install any doorstop, or your refrigerator is temporarily in the wrong spot, there’s an easy fix: add some cushioning.
This can be done with a towel, a pillow, or really anything soft you find around the house. It might not look fantastic, but it’s a fast solution that will save your wall.
Use a Magnetic Door Catch
Magnetic catches are installed on or near the refrigerator frame, where the door has metal pieces. You’ll need matching high guess magnets (on Amazon). When the door is opened, the magnets are released, but the magnetic pull does not allow it to swing freely.
Instead, the magnets attract each other and latch the door automatically. It’s a discreet solution and is pretty easy to install. Just make sure you get the right size magnets for your refrigerator.
Change the Door Bracket
Usually, refrigerators have built-in door stoppers at the bottom of the door, called brackets (on Amazon). If your refrigerator doesn’t have these, or they’re worn out, you can easily replace them. Door brackets are specific to fridge models, so make sure you get the correct bracket for yours.
Adjust the Refrigerator Door Hinge
Usually, refrigerator doors can open to 130 degrees, which can be too wide. But some models allow re-adjustment to limit the angle to at least 90 degrees. If you have the manual, check if your model has this feature.
Door hinges are located on the top or bottom of the door. You’ll need a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the screws, then slide the stop to the desired position and tighten the screws again.
Get a professional’s help if you’re not sure how to do it; door hinges are not that complicated, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Reverse the Door Swing
Many modern fridge units have reversible doors, meaning your refrigerator can open from the left or the right. First, check if your refrigerator has the option.
If it does, all you need to do is remove the hinge from one side and screw it to the other side. It’s not as difficult as it sounds, and it’s a permanent solution, especially if you aren’t moving your refrigerator any time soon.
Unfortunately, the French-door refrigerator doesn’t have this option; if your fridge falls into this category, you might have to go with one of the other solutions.
Whichever method you choose, hopefully, it will help keep your kitchen a little bit quieter and your wall a little bit safer.