HELP! I was cleaning on top of the cabinets in the kitchen, using a wand tool with an attachment. Apparently I didn't attach it properly, and now the little plastic brush has fallen behind the fridge.
Of course this is one of those built-in fridges that are standard here in Switzerland, so not quite the easy fix as it would be back in the States. I cannot reach behind the fridge. As it is I have to stand on the tips of my toes while standing on the counter just to see the top of the cabinets.
1. Is this going to be a huge problem? I know that the condenser coils often get warm and I do not need melting plastic on them.
2. Is there any way possible for me to get the fridge out (with help of course) and get the brush myself? Or am I going to have to pay several hundred chuffs to get a professional out here?
Gawd I feel stupid. I double-checked the attachment and it seemed secure!!
empty fridge. Unscrew a few screws. Slide fridge out. Retrieve object. Push back in. Screw in screws. Refill fridge.
don't do it alone.
Exactly. That's how the guy who delivered my new fridge 2 years ago did it.
But it's very heavy, and you need a good grip to get it out of the place, so I don't think you'll manage it alone.
It sure looks complicated. I'd have to detach the fridge door from the cabinet door and maybe even remove the cabinet door. I'm pretty handy around the house but this one certainly is a doozie. How heavy do you suppose, could two strong women do it?
is the door of the fridge attached to the fridge or the kitchen unit? You may have to remove the door too.....be careful not to undo the wrong screw if that's necessary as it will change the way the door closes and that's a pain......
you could also speak to your caretaker if you have one.
I wouldn't bother. How much is the brush worth? Ein Paar Chuffs? It's not going to melt or play havoc with your fridge's electrics. If you do decide to pull the fridge out, you may be surprised by the mountain of other stuff that's accumulated down there, some of which may be more of a hazard than your brush.
By the way, can't you use your wand to magic the brush out of there?
This^^^^
I've done it alone before now ( was helped by an 8 year old so not strictly speaking alone) but I would strongly recommend that you wait until your husband is home to help you.
It's not easy trying to balance the fridge ( which is freaking heavy) and retrieve the object at the same time. The little one was useful for that bit, I guess that's why they used to send them up chimneys.
You'll probably be a bit grossed out by all the cr*p that has also accumulated at the back of the fridge too.
@Sean - I would talk to the caretaker, except she's smaller than I am and my German is not up to snuff for something like this. The door of the fridge is attached both to the fridge, and to the cabinet door.
@22y - Yeah, the piece is worth 2 CHFs at most. I am not worried about the piece itself, but more about whether it's going to get melty and ugly. In the U.S. I'd say don't leave it but I am not sure how hot the coils here get.
@Belgianmum - Hubby is away on a work trip, naturally my timing is fantastic.
Some pics to help:
1. Bog-standard built-in kitchen.
2. Brackets at top and bottom where fridge door attaches to cabinet.
3. Three of these side brackets toward the opening side of the door/cabinet.
4. Two of these screw-bracket setups on top of the door. You can see the hinge to the left as well.
You can remove the door with the hinges in picture 2.
Looks like you'd have to unscrew the hinges and then the retaining screws at the top of the fridge. If you do do this, make some pencil marks to ensure you line up everything properly afterwards.
All we need now is a picture of what you lost behind there. If it made it to the ground, I would not care about it.....can you see down the gap in the back?
We'll keep you busy today, don't you worry....!
You want to get one of those two-pronged, trigger and sprung false hands that rubbish pickers, vertically challenged, elderly and handicapped people use.
Saves a lot of hassle and dismantling.
I picked one up from Migros once, from their occasional cheap'n'cheerful 2 Fr bins.
Try places like Landi, and hardware stores.
......... but, it is still 1/4
Fridges aren't very heavy.
You're just weak.
Tom
It depends on the model of course but most modern fridges are not that heavy but they are awkward to manoeuvre due to their size and the limited space you're working in.
I managed to do it and I'm pretty weedy.
Riiiight. You know those handy telescoping rods for cleaning your gutters and they have little brush attachments at the end? Super handy for cleaning the tops of your cabinets if you're short...that is until you lose the attachment.
I am wondering if it fell all the way down, in which case maybe I should first start by removing the drawer under the fridge and checking that out...before taking the whole thing apart.
Photos promised if we do surgery.
If you smell burning/melting plastic, turn off fridge and do the above steps. If not, just get on with your life.
It would bug me, tbh.
Don't you have a friend who can give you a hand?
Shame we live so far away, I'm quite handy with a screwdriver
Thanks, J.Marple. It's really only today that help is an issue, so for now I'm taking Adrian's tack and hoping nothing catches fire while I'm out running errands.
I did remove the bottom drawer, btw. As expected, the cabinet is solid at the back so you can't fetch anything that dropped behind the fridge.
If you google your fridge model then you can probably find the weight?
if this remains an issue for you and you want a hand to move the fridge, im in the Bern area daily, and could lend a hand.
let me know.
Fill your fridge with beer and everytime you think of your little brush, grab a bottle and enjoy.
Ok, I am confused. If you were vacuuming on top of the cabinet and dropped part of the vacuum behind the cabinet that contains the fridge, shouldn't you first ascertain if there is a back to the cabinet?
In other words, is the cabinet that contains the fridge backless or not? If it has a back, then the vacuum apparatus is nowhere near the back of the refrigerator coils and poses no risk except as a future bug condo.
If the cabinet is backless, then just do as above and unmount the fridge from the cabinet and pull it out. Be careful and don't scratch the sides of the fridge!