INSIDE & OUT : Make Sure Vents Are Free to Keep Refrigerator Cool

Q. Most of the year, our 11-year-old refrigerator works fine. However, when holidays come up and it’s stuffed with food, things just don’t seem to get very cool. Is this because a refrigerator shouldn’t be kept too full? Is there an adjustment I can make on it when it’s full?

S.O., Huntington Beach

A. The problem may be occurring not because the refrigerator is too full, but there may be items in the back that are blocking the cool-air vents, says Kate Rahm of Appliance Parts Supply in Fullerton. The cooling in the refrigerator takes place in the freezer, and there’s a fan that blows cool air into the fresh-food compartment. If something is blocking the air flow, then that cool air isn’t getting where it needs to go. Identify where your vents are and make sure that, while you’re filling the refrigerator, nothing is blocking them.

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Q. I’m planning on putting up some simple wall shelves in my den. However, I want them in one of the corners and, while I originally planned to attach the brackets to the studs, it can’t work that way because the braces that hold the shelves wouldn’t be in the right position. Should I use anchoring mollies or would a toggle bolt work in that situation?

G.H., Huntington Beach

A. First, you’ll need to think about what you’ll put on the shelves, says Frank Eckert of Arrow Hardware in Orange. If you’re going with a lot of hardcover books and heavy items, by all means you’d probably need toggle bolts. You’ll need to drill larger holes to insert them, but they will provide greater protection in keeping your shelves in place, which is a big consideration in California because of the earthquake danger. If you’re planning to use smaller books or frames on the shelves, you can probably get away with using plastic wall anchors.

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Q. We recently had relatives with children stay at our house and, after they left, we found that one of the closets had all kinds of crayon art on its freshly painted walls. We haven’t touched it yet because we don’t want to do the wrong thing. What’s the step-by-step process of removing it so we don’t have to repaint?

D.W., Anaheim Hills

A. Unfortunately, you will have to repaint, says Charlie Kaczorowski of Tustin Paint Mart. However, first you’ll have to try and wipe off the markings with ammonia or alcohol, to get off as much of the wax as you can. You’ll then have to use a stain-killing primer, either oil- or water-based, before reapplying the top coat of paint.

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Q. I’ve become very annoyed with the static electricity shocks I get simply by touching something after walking through the house. I once touched an outlet and felt a static shock that was painful, so I can see that they can be dangerous. Short of ripping up all of the carpeting, is there anything I can treat the house with to prevent static shocks?

M.M., Santa Ana

A. Static electricity is a natural occurrence, and, unfortunately, no one’s figured out a way to get rid of it, says Mike McCoy of Current Supply in Westminster. You especially feel it on hot dry days, but it can occur any time you rub your feet along the carpeting and touch something or someone, letting it dissipate. There are anti-static sprays, which are used by people with sophisticated electronic and computer equipment to remove the static electricity from the air, but they’re not designed for home use. As for any dangers, it’s unlikely that the static shock you felt came from the outlet. Static electricity is more of an annoyance than a danger.

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Q. We received an oak table and some oak chairs from a relative who had recently refinished them with a urethane top coat. We were told that we should never put furniture polish on them, just clean them with a dry rag. I’ve never had a problem with polish on my other urethane-finished furniture. Why can’t I clean these the same way? Is it the oak?

J.O., Irvine

A. There aren’t any specific problems with using polish on urethane-finished furniture, says Jim Grant of Dutch Boy Home Decorating Center in Santa Ana. However, some polishes aren’t good for furniture you intend to keep for a long time. Beware of polishes that contain silicone oil, since this is an ingredient that is almost impossible to remove from the wood, even during refinishing.