When a fridge handle, drawer, or shelf breaks, you want the problem fixed asap.
But a warranty often doesn’t cover such damage, and finding replacements suitable for your model is near impossible.
The most practical solution left is fixing things yourself. In this article, you’ll find a list of the best adhesives to help you with that.
Regular glues won’t work well, especially since fridge components must be sturdy enough to sustain heavy loads.
You need a tight, powerful bond that can resist high tension, moisture, and low temperatures.
Fridges also contain hard, smooth plastics like ABS and polypropylene. These are difficult to bond without a specialized formula.
Recommendation – Sugru Moldable Glue has a non-runny, silicone-based formula for quick, mess-free fixes. This moldable glue forms a smooth, solid silicone layer as it dries, and it remains waterproof and cold-resistant, which is perfect for a fridge interior. However, it doesn’t have high tension resistance. It supports up to 4.4 pounds of weight.e strength, to boot!
Keep reading for more fridge plastic glues and some extra tips for the best fixing results!
Suitable Glues for Fridge Plastic
There are many types of glue out there, but not each type will meet all the requirements for fixing fridge plastics.
Besides moisture, cold, and tension resistance, you’ll also need glue compatible with smooth, hard surfaces.
The best options in this sense include the following adhesives.
Silicone Sealant
Silicone Sealant is your best bet for any fridge plastic repairs. This adhesive meets all the requirements for the perfect fridge plastic glue.
It’s 100% waterproof, it can withstand extreme temperatures, and it forms an intense, unbreakable bond.
This adhesive works on any material, including smooth, hard ones like ABS, polypropylene, and polyethylene.
Read more about the above in our ABS plastic glue and polypropylene glue guides.
It can fix cracks, gaps, and small chips, which is great if your fridge components are missing little pieces.
It’s also easy to apply because it comes out like a smooth gel that doesn’t run or drip, even on vertical surfaces.
However, not all is perfect about this glue. Its major downsides include the very long curing time.
You might need to clamp the materials for a while if you want optimal results and bond resistance. This type of glue also has a very strong, upsetting odor.
Super Glue
Super Glue is a common choice due to its versatility and high efficiency. This glue works on almost any material except polyethylene and polypropylene plastics.
It’s also very easy to use because it has a short setting time and requires no clamping.
For quick and small fixes, this glue should be just fine. However, it’s best to stick with silicone sealant or moldable glue for heavyweight applications where you need high tension resistance.
It’s worth noting that this glue doesn’t cure properly when used to fill in gaps. It also has low resistance to solvents and prolonged water exposure.
Moldable Glue
Perhaps the best option on the list is moldable glue offers you an easy, mess-free solution to bond all fridge plastics.
This adhesive differs from the rest as it comes out solid and non-tacky.
You work the product like play-dough and can shape and spread it to fill in gaps, chips, and other small missing pieces.
Besides being easy to use, this glue also doesn’t get messy because you get a longer working time.
The glue sets in 30 minutes, so you can always fix small errors as you go along.
Once fully set, the glue has great weight-bearing capabilities. It’s also resistant to low temperatures, 100% waterproof, and can even handle electricity.
You can also use it on glass, metal, and virtually all types of plastics that other glues cannot even adhere to.
Some glues unsuitable for fixing fridge plastic include Gorilla super glue, regular gorilla glue, PVA glue, Rhino glue, hide glue, solvent cement, and wood glue.
Best 5 Glues to Fix Fridge Plastic
For exact recommendations, you can try any of the following products. Whether you choose super glue, silicone sealant, or moldable glue, there’s something for you on this list.
So, these are the best glue to fix fridge plastic:
1. Sugru Moldable Glue
Pros
- #1 best glue to fix fridge plastic
- One of the strongest glue around
- Can fix cracked plastic
Cons
- Will need clamping
Sugru Moldable Glue is highly versatile, as it can bond to porous and non-porous surfaces and a wide variety of materials, including most plastics, glass, ceramic, metal, wood, and more!
Besides fixing your fridge, you can also use this adhesive for other home repairs, sealing, reinforcing, electrical repairs, crafts, and other DIYs.
Thanks to its advanced silicone technology formulation, this adhesive is 100% waterproof, durable, cold and heat resistant, and electrically insulating.
It has a long setting time of around 30 minutes, so you can move at your own pace and pay attention to details when fixing and bonding surfaces.
The silicone-based formula makes for a non-runny, easy-to-apply product. You get only the most precise, mess-free application.
However, because of its long drying time, you’ll have to clamp the surfaces together. Another downside to this product is the low tension resistance.
Once fully dry, the bond can only sustain weights of up to 4.4 pounds.
This product isn’t clear. It remains white, so it’s best to use it on similar-colored materials or hidden surfaces, such as the drawer’s or handle’s inner side.
Sugru Moldable Glue is a great option if you want to glue plastic to wood.
2. J-B Weld 50133 Plastic Bonder
Pros
- Can fix broken freezer drawer
- Can fix broken fridge door
- Great for refrigerator shelf repair
Cons
- Has a long curing time
- Is a bit messy
J-B Weld 50133 Plastic Bonder is a heavy-duty, highly versatile, two-part epoxy adhesive. It works on all surfaces and most plastic materials.
You can safely use it to bond PVC, thermoplastics, thermoset and carbon fiber composites, coated metals, aluminum, fiberglass, carbon, concrete, ceramic, and more.
The product comes in a compact syringe for an easy 1:1 dosage. The product design also includes a re-sealable cap to prevent leakage and drying.
As a result, this glue is both easy to measure and mix as well as easy to store for prolonged use.
You can use this multipurpose adhesive for bonding, as well as gap-filling. The glue takes 15 minutes to set and an additional 30 hours to cure fully.
You get a relatively short working time, but you also have some leeway for correcting errors.
When fully cured, the final bond is strong and long-lasting. This adhesive has an incredible tensile strength of 3770 PSI, and it resists moisture and extreme temperatures well, making it a great option for fridge repairs.
Remember that this glue cures in a tan color, so it’s not the best-looking option for transparent plastic repairs.
J-B Weld 50133 Plastic Bonder is a great option to glue PVC pipes together.
3. Professional Grade Cyanoacrylate
Pros
- Works on hard plastic
- Is a food safe glue
- Works on PVC fridge seals
Cons
- Not resistant to high temperature
- Not great for gap filling
Glue Masters is a well-respected brand with some of the best professional-grade cyanoacrylate glues on the market.
You can find great industrial-strength super glues in their line, each with a different viscosity to suit all repair needs.
You can choose between thin, medium, and even thick viscosity adhesives that go up to 1500 CPS.
You’ll get an even, controlled, and precise application depending on the viscosity you choose, combined with the thin applicator tip and bottle design.
Glue Masters cyanoacrylate adhesives have all the usual benefits of other super glues.
You’ll get a near-instant, quick-curing bond and high adherence to most materials.
Not only can you rely on this glue to bond various fridge plastics, but you can also use it on other materials such as rubber, glass, metal, wood, leather, and many more.
And because of the bottle’s protective cap and long shelf-life, you can always store the glue for other future uses.
This product is the perfect choice for small, lightweight repairs. It forms a near-instant bond and cures in as little as 45 seconds, with no clamping time required.
Professional Grade Cyanoacrylate is a good option for gluing plastic eyeglass frames.
When you’re short on time, you can rely on a good cyanoacrylate glue to get the job done before you can say knife.
This glue is also clear and 100% waterproof. However, it’s less efficient than a structural adhesive regarding gap-filling.
It’s also not very resistant to extreme temperatures and solvents.
4. Silicone RTV 4500 Silicone Sealant
Pros
- Works with most materials
- Is a food safe glue
- Highly resistant
Cons
- Not good for heavy duty work
The Silicone RTV 4500 Silicone Sealant is a USDA-approved, food contact safe, high-strength silicone-based adhesive.
This is the product for you if you need a powerful, flexible, highly-resistant bond.
This adhesive is perfect for bonding and sealing small fissures and cracks or creating gaskets. It also has an excellent 2-year shelf-life.
The product bonds to most surfaces, including plastics. It’s clear and non-yellowing, creating seamless results even on transparent materials.
It has a long curing time, but on the plus side, this silicone sealant is self-curing, 100% waterproof, non-shrinking, impervious to all weather conditions, and resistant to temperatures as low as -62°F.
Silicone RTV 4500 is an optimal choice if you are looking for heat-resistant glue.
This sealant is best suited for fixing small cracks and gasket work. For large, heavy-weight applications, this might not be the best choice.
The narrow tip applicator also makes this product better suited for high-detail work.
5. Epoxy Putty Stick
Pros
- Creates no mess
- Perfect for any repair job
- High temperature resistance
Cons
- Takes a long time to cure
XUDOAI has a high-strength two-part moldable glue to suit all your repair needs.
You can use this steel-reinforced epoxy adhesive for virtually any material, including plastic, glass, metal, fiberglass, ceramic, wood, stone, and more!
Besides being suitable for all surfaces and materials, this epoxy is a multi-purpose tool. You can use it to bond materials, fill cracks, seal leaks, and repair small tears.
When cured, this adhesive is 100% waterproof and has a super high tensile strength of 3000 PSI. The cured adhesive can also be sanded, drilled, and tapped.
This product is extremely easy to use and won’t create a tacky mess like other adhesives. All you have to do is cut the quantity you need.
Mix the two components in a 1:1 ratio until the putty turns a uniform light grey. Apply the product and let it dry.
Mixing the epoxy parts takes around 3-5 minutes, and the adhesive should cure completely in 24 hours.
Epoxy Putty Stick can be used as glue for plastic toys and glue for legos as well.
This is a quick fix, at least when compared to super glue. But you also get more leeway, and you get to reposition materials if any error occurs.
Tips for Using Fridge Plastic Glue
If you’re still unsure which type of glue to pick for your specific problem, consider the following tips.
For the best results, you should consider the application’s size, weight, and nature.
Whether you need to fix a broken shelf or a drawer, this information should come in handy.
To fix a broken shelf, moldable glue would be the best candidate for the job. The process itself is simple enough.
All you have to put the pieces together like you would a puzzle. You’ll rebuild the original shelf on a flat surface.
Then, after working the moldable glue in your hands, press it on the cracked surface while pressing everything together.
You’ll have to let the shelf clamp before it fully cures. It takes some time, but it’s well worth it.
Opt for a silicone sealant or moldable glue if you need to fix a cracked fridge drawer.
Superglue doesn’t have great capillary action because it dries too quickly to reach deep within narrow cracks and crevices.
For superficial cracks, silicone sealant can work well to reinforce the material. Just pour a suitable quantity of the silicone adhesive and let it sink into the fissure.
For an even application, add the sealant from both edges of the crack and work your way towards the middle.
You can use any of the three types of glue for chipped-off pieces. For bigger parts, opt for moldable glue. For small pieces, super glue should do as well.
Wrap-up
You can choose many products, depending on your fixing needs. The glues listed in this article have different formulations, specifications, and applications.
Whether you need a fast acting-glue for minor damage repairs, or a more powerful, durable glue for wide surface applications, you’ll find it all here.
Of course, these are just some recommendations. You can check the products on the list, or any other silicone sealant, cyanoacrylate, or moldable glue available to you.
Hopefully, this article has helped you find the best glue for fridge plastic applications.