I've had mixed luck with baking soda too—once tried it on my fridge gasket and ended up with that same gritty mess you described. Took forever to get it clean again. Vinegar's been okay for me diluted, but honestly, I've found lemon juice diluted in water works even better. It's gentle enough not to damage seals, and leaves a nice fresh scent behind. Might be worth a shot if you're looking for another natural alternative...
"I've found lemon juice diluted in water works even better. It's gentle enough not to damage seals..."
Lemon juice can be okay, but I'd be cautious recommending it broadly for appliance seals or gaskets. Even diluted, lemon juice is acidic enough that regular use might eventually cause brittleness or degrade the rubber over time. I've seen seals deteriorate prematurely because of frequent exposure to mild acids—especially in older appliances where the rubber's already starting to age. If you're set on natural cleaners, a mild soap solution with warm water usually does the trick without risking long-term damage. And honestly, occasional use of a dedicated commercial gasket cleaner isn't the worst idea either—most are formulated specifically to maintain flexibility and lifespan of seals. Just my two cents from seeing plenty of worn-out fridge doors over the years...
Good points here, especially about older seals. I've noticed vinegar can cause similar issues over time—had a dishwasher seal start cracking after regular vinegar rinses. Mild dish soap and warm water seems safest long-term, at least from my experience.
I've had similar experiences with vinegar, especially on rubber seals. Dish soap and warm water definitely seem gentler overall. Another good alternative I've found is baking soda paste—it's mild but effective for stubborn grime without risking damage to seals or gaskets. Haven't had any issues yet, fingers crossed...
I've found baking soda paste pretty effective too, but honestly, sometimes it leaves a gritty residue that's annoying to rinse off completely. For rubber seals, I've had better luck with mild castile soap diluted with water—it cleans gently without drying out or cracking the material. Vinegar's definitely a no-go for me... learned that the hard way after damaging a fridge gasket (lesson painfully learned). Anyway, mild soaps seem safest overall, especially if you're cleaning appliances frequently.
