QUESTION: I have a white refrigerator at the Atlantic Shore and it’s rusting on the outside around the handles. Is there a paint or something I can use to cover up the rust? The refrigerator is only 8 years old.ANSWER: The Shore is a little moist year-round and it takes a toll on any painted surface, even a fridge.Because I do not know the extent of the rusted area, I’m not sure that appliance touch-up paint would cover it. You’d have to prepare the surface properly before painting, obviously, sanding the area lightly with fine-grit paper and trying not to stray outside of it.Use a rag dampened with paint thinner to clean up. Try the appliance paint but in several thin layers. If you know the manufacturer, you can probably seek advice from its website or help line.——A reader recently asked about painting bathroom tiles. It brought this response from someone identifying himself as Len D.:“This is a possible solution to the painting of ceramic bathroom tiles.“We moved into our condo almost seven years ago. It had 1950s green wall and floor tiles.“My wife spoke to someone who lived in our building and was told about Perma Ceram, a refinishing method for ceramic bathtubs, and, as it turned out, walls and shower stalls.“We contacted an authorized dealer, and its representative came to our condo in a day or two, saw what we wanted and also provided someone to retile the floor.“The whole job was a three-step process.“They clean and acid-etch the glaze on all the tiles to be coated.“Using a spray applicator, they then applied the coating of the Perma Ceram.“The tile man then was able to retile the floor. This is now my bathroom and is used almost every day.”