Question about GE GSH22JFR Side by Side Refrigerator
How do I clean the door handles and restore them to the original white color?
The brillant person posted the perfect solution. We just tried it this weekend. The plastic composite on the handles is not UV protected plastic, so it yellows or turns brown over time. You can't clean it, as it's a defect due to light exposure. We downloaded a diagram of our fridge and learned how to take off the handles. The top and bottom white portions pop off, but be careful when doing so. We gently lifted them off the metal backing and put a butter knife underneath so we would not damage the plastic. You can then see the clips that hold them in place. Gently pry them and they will pop out. You have to remove the top and bottom pieces first then it will expose the screws that hold the handles in place. You need a star type screwdriver-we found one at Home Depot. The metal strip is a simple backing and will just stay in place. Now, the key is the Krylon Fusion paint-Satin White, like the one person wrote. It's for plastic. Clean off the handles and make sure they are dry. Tape off the portions you don't want paint on and spray them outside with the paint. It dries quickly, but we waited about 8 hrs to put them back on. Just put them back on with the handles first and then the top and bottom portions-they cover the screws. Ours now look brand new! Cost? Only $6.50 for the can of paint and we got it at Walmart. If we had to replace them w/new handles? About $175. Thank you to whomever it was that shared this idea. It really works!
Posted on Jan 11, 2010
OMG!! You just made me So HAPPY! I Just did what you said to do and They Just popped right off I took off the top and bottom Handle Pieces that I hated so bad for years now. It was so Easy! They came off just like you said...I to used a butter knife underneath like you said to do and whala Wow!! =-)) So Can't wait to paint them Now!!! Sooo Excited!!!! Thank You so Much!!
Yipeeeeeee! It worked!
I did this about 1 month ago and it looks great, BUT now the paint is wearing away on the handles where people (teenage boys!) open it all day long! is there a coating to spray over it to protect it ?
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I had the same problem with the handles yellowing. I purchased the Krylon Fusion and painted the handles. It worked great and the handles look brand new. It sure was alot less expensive than buying the new ones. I bought the satin white in the spray paint. Even my husband was pleased with the results.
Posted on Jul 03, 2009
I did the same thing and the end result is awesome. The secret is the Fusion paint, which also works great on Jeep fender flares.
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I think my handles "yellowed" because a friend tried to clean them with pure bleach... This is a NO NO NO! LIke a nylon blouse, it turned them almost orange and nothing helped. I decided to try medical strength peroxide straight out of the bottle, I just wiped it on and an hour later, it looked less orange so I just left the peroxide bottle out on the sink for the rest of the day, and whenever I thought of it, I wiped it on again and by the next day -- they were brlght white, just like new! I was thrilled as painting them did not appeal to me and nothing else I tried worked. (I did not try the baking soda paste, as I did not see that one when I was looking for help. Good luck.
Posted on Feb 06, 2013
Cleaning them just removes the paint! They are a yellow foam underneath and when you use abrasives or chemicals on them , it removes more paint revealing more yellow foam! Painting is the only fix/ thread.
Posted on Jan 05, 2014
I have tried everything to clean these handles. This refrigerator was a piece of junk from the onset. The fan on the ice maker has had to be replaced twice and the motor once. The ice maker has always leaked and frozen. This was extremely disappointing and I will not be buying GE products again!
Posted on Apr 05, 2008
yes the handle is a basic problem with this refridgerator, and I think GE should come up with a free solution. However, this refridgerator is at least one of the ones that you can purchase replacement parts for and that will save you a lot of money over the years. It is a great refriderator for the price, but the handles discoloration is a problem.
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Try using a dump cloth with some comet powder and rub the handles.
Posted on Dec 01, 2007
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I have tried everything to get my GE side by side refrigerator door handles to look clean. They have gotten so yellow looking. I have tried ammonia, bleach, grease lightning, ajax, etc. to no avail. It is not cheap to replace them and I would not know how to replace them if I ordered new ones. Does anyone have any suggestions?? Please send to:
[email protected]
My mother is having the same problem with hers. I've tried Magic eraser and Barkeepers friend. 2 of my favorite cleaners and it only improved slightly. Please let me know works.
i have the same problem - tried everything
I have the same problem, along with an water dispenser that continually freezes up and a noisy compressor. It is only 4 years old. This will be the last GE appliance that I buy.
I have the same problem and finally gave up trying to whiten them and instead purchased new handles.
My GE frig handles are yellowing. Ive only had the frig about 3 months. What can I do to whiten them? Have tried baking soda, bleach, a couple others.. not doing any good.
Our GE Profile TFX22PRXA is still running great after nearly 14 years. We estimated that the refrigerator-side handle has been touched more than 100,000 times. It looks like the cream-color (aka white) has been rubbed off in favor of the yellowish base color. No amount of cleaning will help restore. We'll try the baking soda impregnation. Maybe it will work like toothpaste. Hard to complain though - wish our cars would last that long.
I have the same problem with my fridge. I purchased stove and dishwasher at same time 7 years ago....only the fridge has yellowed. I have tried bleach and multi cleaner and Mr. Clean Erasers...anyone have any suggestions?
I have a white GE profile side by side, it was over $1k when we bought it. Â The handles where we use it to open the doors are clean, but below there are rust or coffee colored streaks on the handle I cannot seem to get off. Â I have tried comet, baking soda, vinegar, vinegar and baking soda, shaving cream, bleach, etc. Â
Now I am considering painting them. Â Does anyone know what kind of paint won't chip off of these vinyl handles. Â It looks so gross. The top looks fine, but the bottom gross. Â It is so weird that it is not stained where we open it. Â I clean it with 409 where we open it frequently. Â
full strength peroxide wiped on several times, no scrubbing and WALLAH! Bricht white again!
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