Simple home DIY repairs

[Mkl22]

On 9/12/2026 at 3:27 PM, Dafansu said:

I used this 350ml about $6 to repaint my whole store rack last weekend 🤭. Quite surprised it's not oil based paint so it's easy to apply and can wash off any excess paint from your body just with water. Don't think can last long though because I need to drag my storage box in and out of the rack. Some small areas already come out the next day after repaint. If can last another 1 to 2 years I'll be happy with it. Anyway new rack only about $300, but I like my existing one, more solid type. 

https://s.shopee.sg/9peFlq2sL6


 

 

 

 

 

Maybe buy thin plywood to lay for those you drag. 

[Dafansu]

On 9/12/2026 at 7:16 PM, Mkl22 said:

I popped by Swanston at Chinatown  last Sunday. Was deserted. Many shelves also empty. I guess Akan datang close shop. 

I thought this used to be very popular. But then there are a lot of such shops around the neighbourhood already, even in malls. I guess most people won't head down there just to stock up. I used to do that though. 

[Dafansu]

On 9/12/2026 at 7:17 PM, Mkl22 said:

Maybe buy thin plywood to lay for those you drag. 

Prefer not to have plywood as I find it ugly. ?Those older bomb shelter racks used to have, newer ones also no more already. Anyway the whole rack are for dragging cause everything kept in Ikea boxes.

[Lala81]

On 9/12/2026 at 7:16 PM, Mkl22 said:

I popped by Swanston at Chinatown  last Sunday. Was deserted. Many shelves also empty. I guess Akan datang close shop. 

Venus doing OK bah. I buy stuff from Venus. No one will specially go Swanston anymore lah.

 

[Lala81]

On 9/12/2026 at 8:04 PM, Dafansu said:

Prefer not to have plywood as I find it ugly. ?Those older bomb shelter racks used to have, newer ones also no more already. Anyway the whole rack are for dragging cause everything kept in Ikea boxes.

White laminate plywood lor.

My first BTO when i got the keys in 2013, got a rack with MDF boards. In the end grew mold, so around 2015 or so, went to Defu Lane and the woodworking shop could just cut the boards for me. Been using them since. Reused my rack when i moved in 2021. Still all very good condition. 8/10.

 

[Kb27]

This tool was initially covered in rust.

I soaked it in oxalic acid for a couple of hours, then cleaned it up with brush and water.

All the rust is gone. Now the metal looks funky grey colour. (converted to iron oxalate) 

Oxalic acid is a good rust remover. Just be careful around it, as it's toxic.

 

[Kb27]

My 20+ yr old Maytag side-by-side fridge is not in good condition. It started to leak water at the bottom. So I think the problem is the door seal. After so many years, the rubber seal hardens and is broken in some places. Since this is a side-by-side, the door seal is really long.

I could not find a replacement, so I decided to take a closer look. It seems that after all these years, the rubber seal has warped and is affected by its own dead-weight due to gravity. So it's no longer sealing the door properly and external air gets inside, and moisture leaked down as water.

The door seal is held in place by many screws, so I decided to lift the "slouching" seal up a bit to better fit the door frame.

It's quite successful in that the water is no longer dripping at the floor. I will keep this old fridge until it's no longer maintainable. 

 

 

[mersaylee]

On 10/9/2026 at 12:53 PM, Kb27 said:

My 20+ yr old Maytag side-by-side fridge is not in good condition. It started to leak water at the bottom. So I think the problem is the door seal. After so many years, the rubber seal hardens and is broken in some places. Since this is a side-by-side, the door seal is really long.

I could not find a replacement, so I decided to take a closer look. It seems that after all these years, the rubber seal has warped and is affected by its own dead-weight due to gravity. So it's no longer sealing the door properly and external air gets inside, and moisture leaked down as water.

The door seal is held in place by many screws, so I decided to lift the "slouching" seal up a bit to better fit the door frame.

It's quite successful in that the water is no longer dripping at the floor. I will keep this old fridge until it's no longer maintainable. 

 

 

Mine the same...leaked water at one bottom corner until i used masking tape to seal all around...

I remember someone here ever mentioned can go jb find those replacement rubber seal...just measure the size n they can cut to measurements...

Edited October 9 by mersaylee

[Volvobrick]

On 10/9/2026 at 12:53 PM, Kb27 said:

My 20+ yr old Maytag side-by-side fridge is not in good condition. It started to leak water at the bottom. So I think the problem is the door seal. After so many years, the rubber seal hardens and is broken in some places. Since this is a side-by-side, the door seal is really long.

I could not find a replacement, so I decided to take a closer look. It seems that after all these years, the rubber seal has warped and is affected by its own dead-weight due to gravity. So it's no longer sealing the door properly and external air gets inside, and moisture leaked down as water.

The door seal is held in place by many screws, so I decided to lift the "slouching" seal up a bit to better fit the door frame.

It's quite successful in that the water is no longer dripping at the floor. I will keep this old fridge until it's no longer maintainable. 

 

 

Now I know fridges also like people - old already would leak below cos everything loose and sagging. 

[13177]

On 10/9/2026 at 12:53 PM, Kb27 said:

My 20+ yr old Maytag side-by-side fridge is not in good condition. It started to leak water at the bottom. So I think the problem is the door seal. After so many years, the rubber seal hardens and is broken in some places. Since this is a side-by-side, the door seal is really long.

I could not find a replacement, so I decided to take a closer look. It seems that after all these years, the rubber seal has warped and is affected by its own dead-weight due to gravity. So it's no longer sealing the door properly and external air gets inside, and moisture leaked down as water.

The door seal is held in place by many screws, so I decided to lift the "slouching" seal up a bit to better fit the door frame.

It's quite successful in that the water is no longer dripping at the floor. I will keep this old fridge until it's no longer maintainable. 

 

 

You can use your fridge for 20 years??!

[inlinesix]

On 10/9/2026 at 1:27 PM, 13177 said:

You can use your fridge for 20 years??!

My previous Panasonic fridge was going strong at 15 years old.

I decided to change it before it expired.

[Kb27]

On 10/9/2026 at 1:27 PM, 13177 said:

You can use your fridge for 20 years??!

I loved this side-by-side fridge. It's the only "luxury" I could afford at that time. I remember clearly it cost $1.8k (a lot of money at that time) and I bought it from BEST. It came with a huge 10 yrs warranty on compressor.

I dunno if anyone sells this Maytag, American brand here anymore. But it belongs to Whirlpool now.

Actually, it might be closer to 30 yrs. 

[Ysc3]

@inlinesix my current LG 2 door is still working as intended .... bought at my old place in 2013 then now moved to my new place.

my washing machine did not survive the move though ....

anyway, i am still holding on to my climate vouchers and see if i need to get a new fridge by end of 2027.

 

[Lala81]

On 10/9/2026 at 3:20 PM, Ysc3 said:

@inlinesix my current LG 2 door is still working as intended .... bought at my old place in 2013 then now moved to my new place.

my washing machine did not survive the move though ....

anyway, i am still holding on to my climate vouchers and see if i need to get a new fridge by end of 2027.

 

French doors look good but break down more easily for most cases. Especiallly if there is ice maker or water dispenser.

Traditional fridge still more reliable. 

 

 

Edited October 9 by Lala81

[Kb27]

On 10/9/2026 at 3:34 PM, Lala81 said:

French doors look good but break down more easily for most cases. Especiallly if there is ice maker or water dispenser.

Traditional fridge still more reliable. 

 

 

That's what they are saying. If you want ice maker, buy a separate standalone one, which I have. I used it constantly.

For my side-by-side fridge, I know quite well how it works now. The freezer is on the left side. There's a thin metal cover. Remove to expose the cooling coil. Man, they are huge. Right below is the defrost heater. This is wired to a thermistor, which hooks onto a coil.

Normally the thermistor is open circuit. When it gets too cold, the thermistor will close, passing current to the heater, which then melts the iced formed. If either heater or thermistor failed, ice will form, and subsequently, the fridge side will not be cold. There's a small circulation fan on top which moves the cold air over to the fridge side.

The first time I paid for a repair, the tech replaced the heater and I saw how he did it. Then I replace it myself subsequently.

[Lala81]

On 9/21/2026 at 8:15 PM, Kb27 said:

This tool was initially covered in rust.

I soaked it in oxalic acid for a couple of hours, then cleaned it up with brush and water.

All the rust is gone. Now the metal looks funky grey colour. (converted to iron oxalate) 

Oxalic acid is a good rust remover. Just be careful around it, as it's toxic.

 

Haha I was just about to post about this 草酸 oxalic acid cleaner.

My 5 year old common toilet WC bowl for some reason has very significant stains which I've tried regular toilet duck cleaner, bleach etc and never worked.

After watching another cleaning video earlier posted by you, I realised that going alkaline isn't working. So I tried regular cooking distilled white vinegar also doesn't help.

Was shopping on PDD for hydrogen peroxide as per your previous video and found this on the rec similar products instead. An acidic based cleaner. Super good reviews. 

 

Received this few days ago and tried to use it this morning and gosh it's damn power. But of course have to handle with care since it's an acid. I put into a spray bottle (came in regular bottle) but that's not so good cos it goes bit airborne when I'm spraying. Dam think I threw away my Kao toilet duck bottle (the regular cheapo bleach ones I'm using the cap is not removable...) 

 

[13177]

On 10/9/2026 at 3:20 PM, Ysc3 said:

@inlinesix my current LG 2 door is still working as intended .... bought at my old place in 2013 then now moved to my new place.

my washing machine did not survive the move though ....

anyway, i am still holding on to my climate vouchers and see if i need to get a new fridge by end of 2027.

 

I think fridge can survive much longer than washer. Cause we use washing machine almost everyday in high volume. More wear and tear.

[mersaylee]

On 10/11/2026 at 10:29 AM, 13177 said:

I think fridge can survive much longer than washer. Cause we use washing machine almost everyday in high volume. More wear and tear.

I'd tink otherwise...when we go holiday washer also holiday...fridge 24/7 no holiday...only icu days if bother to cure...✌️😂