How to glue a refrigerator with a self-adhesive film

Modern kitchens have long gone from boring shades and textures. At the same time, harmoniously incorporating into the design the same type of household appliances of standard colors is not always possible. If small appliances can be built into furniture or put in a cabinet, then a standard refrigerator is almost impossible to hide without significant loss of space. Design airbrushing or an individual order from the manufacturer are expensive. An appropriate compromise between price and personality is a self-adhesive film.

How to choose a film for the refrigerator

The choice of coverage is now quite large: from expensive high-quality Italian or German, to affordable made in China. The final decision will depend on the budget and the desired design. Nevertheless, when choosing a film, it is necessary to take into account the parameters important during gluing and subsequent use.

Required Properties

Moisture resistance. Even in the most spacious kitchen, humidity will be high. It is necessary that the appearance does not deteriorate from the effects of steam and condensate.
Abrasion resistance. The coating must withstand wet cleaning and cleaning from contamination without loss of brightness and damage to the picture.
Resistance to fading. So that the picture does not lose its color after the first sunlight in the window, it is better to choose a material with proven print quality.

Pattern Selection Options

Image size. If you choose individual printing on film, it is important that the image size matches the size of the surface to be glued. As a rule, the size of the image is indicated in pixels.
Aspect ratio. Consider the parameters of the refrigerator when choosing an image. For a standard one, with a height greater than the width, it is best to select drawings with a vertical orientation.
Type of drawing. For the design of the refrigerator, panoramic photos, high-quality macro, abstract patterns and ornaments, pictures of people, drawings with textures or collages are perfect. It is better to entrust the adaptation of the print pattern to a specialist in interior printing.
Print quality on film. The best picture is obtained with large format interior printing. It is distinguished by a larger number of pixels per centimeter, which makes the picture indistinguishable from a professional image for gloss.

Reference! One centimeter is about 38 pixels. It is easy to calculate that for pasting a standard refrigerator measuring 180 by 55 centimeters, the size should be 6800 by 2090 pixels minimum.

Preparation for work

Regardless of the type of film and the method of its application, it is necessary to carefully prepare the surface of the refrigerator for gluing and prepare the necessary materials and tools for work.

How to prepare a refrigerator for pasting

Disconnect the appliance from the mains, defrost and remove products from it.
Remove accessories, remove old stickers, if any.
Thoroughly wash, degrease and dust the surface.
It is better to remove the refrigerator doors, since working with horizontal surfaces is much more convenient.
Mark up.

What will be needed in the work

Self-adhesive film.
Sharp big scissors.
Spray gun.
Liquid detergent.
Alcohol or window cleaner.
Squeegee - spatula made of plastic or dense rubber.
Soft, lint-free cloth.

Methods for gluing a refrigerator with a film

There are two application options: on dry surfaces and on wet surfaces.

Dry gluing

It is necessary to degrease and dry the surface. Completely remove dust and debris that will turn into defects after sticking the film.
We try on the canvas, leave a sufficient margin for the hem, align the picture. It is better to fix the edges with tape, so that when applying the image does not move relative to the surface.
Sticking is best to start from the upper left corner. It must be slightly bent and the adhesive layer separated from the base
We invite the corner with a cloth, moving gradually from the center down and to the sides.
We are moving very slowly, separating the base. Smooth the film from the middle to the sides towards the edges. Do not rush to avoid wrinkles and bubbles. If they still work, they can be removed after pasting.

Attention! To remove the bubbles, you need to gently pierce them with a needle in the middle and smooth them tightly. You can try to remove the creases with hot air. Point the hair dryer at the lounge. Under the influence of temperature, the film will stretch and it will need to be properly straightened.

The edges on the doors will be under the rubber. We carefully remove the slices in the slots with a thin tool (knife or spatula). The remaining film is carefully cut.

Wet gluing

Pour water into the spray bottle and add a few drops of liquid soap or alcohol to it.
Spray a little on the surface. It’s important not to overdo it. The surface should be slightly damp, not wet.
Glue the film, starting from the upper left corner. The wet method is well suited for beginners, because it can easily be peeled off from the surface and applied again in case of an error.
We fill the edges, align the corners and joints, fasten the hardware back.

How to care for a refrigerator with taped film

After applying the self-adhesive film, the refrigerator is ready for use. The rules for surface care do not differ from the rules for the care of furniture and surfaces of other household appliances. Avoid exposure to aggressive detergents and high temperatures. The coating is easy to scratch, so it’s best not to use rough brushes or abrasive sponges to clean the surface.