12 ways to get rid of smell in your refrigerator

An unpleasant odor in the refrigerator can appear for various reasons. Most often - due to spoiled food or very flavorful food.

A closed space means that any aroma can linger for a long time. If you do nothing, the smell will become persistent and will be more difficult to eliminate.

We will tell you in this article how to remove smell from the refrigerator using folk remedies.

General washing

The first and main way to start is to thoroughly wash the refrigerator. Without it, even the best odor absorbers will only get rid of the consequences, and not the problem itself. Unplug the refrigerator, put out and at the same time review the products, put them in a cooler bag or on the balcony.

Use a soft sponge to wash all the walls, remove and wash the shelves with the tray, clean the joints and seals with a brush. You can use regular soap solution or special detergents (delicate and without abrasives). Dry everything thoroughly and wipe with dry towels so that no water remains anywhere in the corners.

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Ways to eliminate odor

Before looking for how to remove odor from your refrigerator at home, clean it. This is the first and most important thing that any housewife should do to destroy amber. Even with the help of special items that absorb stench, you will not be able to get rid of bad odors unless you clean the unit itself. We eliminate the causes of odor in the following sequence:

1. Unplug the device from the outlet.
2. Free him from food.
3. Wash the refrigerator cabinet. For this, arm yourself with ordinary soap or special chemicals, or wipe the equipment with vinegar.
4. Dry everything.

If after this it still smells, then you should wash the unit again, but with special products. For example, this can be done using vinegar and water. Or use special detergents for such cases.

Cleaning the refrigeration unit

Decide how to fix your particular problem based on what caused it. Next we will tell you about the best recipes that will help eliminate unpleasant odors.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies should be used first when you are looking for a way to remove an unpleasant odor from the refrigerator. They are suitable if the pollution is not advanced. This is an excellent alternative to chemicals, the use of which should be used only in the most difficult cases. Among the best folk remedies:

1. Vinegar. The strong aroma can be removed with vinegar. Dilute it half and half with water and completely wipe all shelves and walls. Then leave the doors open until the aroma dissipates.
2. Vodka and lemon juice . Mix the ingredients 10 to 1. Or dilute a little lemon juice in a liter of water. Citrus fruits will help consolidate the results. Take a few pieces of the peel of any fruit and put it in the refrigerator.
3. Ammonia . Mix a spoonful of ammonia in a liter of water and wash the refrigerator with the resulting solution. This is a rather aromatic mixture, so then you need to rinse it with warm water.
4. Potassium permanganate . It will be a wonderful solution if the stench is caused by meat or eggs.
5. Baking soda . Dissolve 2 tablespoons in one liter of water. And wash all the walls well. And just dry soda in a plate can absorb bad odors. Calcined water works just as effectively. You need a mixture of clean water and soda ash. In addition to the smell, it will help deal with dirt and rust.
6. Soap emulsion . Grate the laundry soap, dissolve it in warm water and treat the refrigerator well. Then rinse everything with plain water.

These solutions will help get rid of the unpleasant odor. Toothpaste, which should be applied to the walls and then washed off, will remove the odor well. In the same way, you can use a solution of ammonia and tooth powder. If you wash the refrigerator with hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap, you can kill germs, and the smell afterward will not be too strong.

Traditional methods

For those severely affected by an unpleasant aroma, onions will help. They need to rub the walls, and after 12 hours, wash the refrigerator.

And to prevent its occurrence, you can secure the refrigerator, for example, with coal. Crush a little coal on a plate and place it on one of the shelves or a little on everything. Prevention of unpleasant odors can also be done with a cup of coffee or coffee grounds, black bread, rice, essential oil, chopped raw potatoes or apples, pomegranate peels, tea bags, a cup of tea, fragrant plants, as well as dry aromatic spices: turmeric, basil, cloves or cinnamon.

You may also find it useful:

• Ground coffee in a bowl is an excellent absorbent. It should also be placed on one of the refrigerator shelves.
• A paste of ground cinnamon and vinegar in a special container with a lid that has holes in it can fight odors for a long time.
• Pour 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract into a plate and throw in a few cotton balls.
• For the same purposes, you can use cat litter or shoe bags with silica gel. Five bags are enough for a small household refrigerator. After six months they should be replaced with new ones.
• You can eliminate extraneous aroma using salt and sugar. They should be left overnight in a cleaned refrigerator. It's not very effective, but it's accessible.
• Place a piece of crumpled construction paper in the lower vegetable storage tray. It will help keep it fresh.
• Try to remove the smell with antibacterial wipes, which every lady has in her purse.

Natural odor neutralizers

Natural neutralizers will become indispensable in eliminating stench; at the same time, they do not contain chemicals and, accordingly, are not harmful to health. But thanks to them, you are guaranteed a pleasant aroma from the refrigerator. These, as mentioned above, include coffee, bread, essential oils, potatoes, citrus peels, tea and spices.

Choose an odor neutralizer based on the scent you like best. If you are delighted with cinnamon, be sure to try making a paste from it and leave it in the refrigerator.

The use of odor neutralizers will help prevent the appearance of stench. Thanks to them, this problem will arise less often or disappear altogether. But do not forget that the neutralizer you choose must be changed regularly. Otherwise, it will erode and stop working.

Natural neutralizers

Try removing the smell in the refrigerator using different neutralizers. Over time, you will choose the one that you like the most and decide which one is the most effective. Even those remedies that may seem strange are worth trying. Perhaps they are the ones who will best cope with your problem.

However, if the smell is too strong or has been present in your refrigerator for a long time, then getting rid of it will not be so easy. And you just need to use specialized detergents. They, of course, are not so safe, but they will very effectively eliminate even stubborn odors. And don't forget that it's not just food that can cause stink. If the neutralizers do not work, check that everything is working properly on your unit.

Store-bought detergents and aroma absorbers

Do folk remedies not give the desired result and do not help eliminate the smell? Specially developed commercial detergents will come to the rescue. They are non-toxic and there are plenty of them already available. For example, to eliminate odor, try using OdorGone, an environmentally friendly water-based detergent. In half a day, it will deal with all harmful bacteria and utilize the most persistent odors.

A good product is Indesit for refrigerators. It is sprayed inside and immediately washed off with clean water.

The Top House spray and wipe set is universal for combating dirt and germs. It perfectly absorbs foul odors.

Clean Home Gel is one of the safest products. It consists mainly of peroxide. You don't even need to rinse it off after use.

Safe Clean Home

Various aroma absorbers also work effectively. They just need to be put on shelves, and the problem will disappear. The most popular absorbers include:

1. Silica gel balls. In addition to fighting odor, they also absorb excess moisture.
2. Egg-shaped absorbers. They are able to absorb the most persistent odors.
3. Device with carbon filters. They need to be changed every few months.
4. Gel. It absorbs and eliminates odors twice as fast as other products.
5. Ionizer. This item has a high price. But it was invented not only to eliminate the stench, but also to disinfect the air and stop rotting. It is effective provided that it is placed in the refrigerator for a few minutes every day.

Vinegar

Dilute vinegar and half-and-half water and wipe all surfaces after washing them with soap. To protect your hands from the aggressive solution, wear household gloves. After treatment, open the windows in the kitchen and dry the refrigerator with the door open so that the characteristic sharp vinegar smell goes away.

Photo: holodilki.com

How to clean a new refrigerator

A big purchase like a new refrigerator always fills the house with pleasant excitement. In the heat of joy, do not forget that you need to gradually and competently adapt a new family member to life in an apartment and continuous work.

There are several stages in preparing this equipment for work:

• Newly delivered equipment must stand for at least 3 hours without being connected to the network.
• During this time, you need to wash its internal contents using special cleaning products that are not too aggressive. Ordinary soda can do a good job for this purpose.
• After washing, you need to ventilate the refrigerator for 2 hours, and only then connect it to electricity.

It should be noted that taking care of the refrigerator is very important, because it is responsible for maintaining food in an edible state. That is why it is so important to promptly clean it from any contaminants, wash it and ventilate it. If you follow these simple recommendations, you will never notice the unpleasant odor emanating from it.

Ammonia

Ammonia destroys bacteria, removes odors and washes away remaining stains. To make a solution, pour a spoonful of ammonia into a liter of water and mix. Soak a sponge in the liquid, wipe the entire contents of the refrigerator and ventilate.

Photo: tehnopomosh.com

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How to get rid of unpleasant odor in the freezer

How to clean the inside of a refrigerator freezer to eliminate the smell? The temperatures here are always below freezing, so the stench is nonsense.

Complete defrosting and hygienic cleaning will be required. It is necessary to thoroughly go over with a good antiseptic, such as ammonia, and then with an acid solution.

It is also recommended to inspect the freezer for mold and the quality of meat and fish packaging. If it is broken, the top layer may thaw and subsequently deteriorate.

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Lemon acid

Citric acid is a more pleasant cleaning and antibacterial agent without such a strong odor as vinegar or ammonia. Dilute a spoonful of powder or a few tablespoons of lemon juice per liter of water. You can add a little regular alcohol.

Dip a sponge in the solution and wipe all surfaces of the refrigerator, and to consolidate the result, you can go over it with fresh zest. Or use a spray bottle to spray.

Photo: girldaily.com

Special means

If homemade recipes do not help kill the hydrogen sulfide odor, the refrigerator is treated with purchased drugs. A brief overview of effective products includes sprays and gels that are used to treat the external and internal surfaces of chambers.

Top house

Does not contain aggressive ingredients. Removes traces of dirt and grease. Copes with dried blood stains. Does not require rinsing, leaves a light grapefruit aroma. It is economically consumed: a 0.75 liter package lasts for 1.5 – 2 years. Kills bacteria. Cleans the seal.

OdorGone

Neutralizes odors of fish, rotten food, mustiness. At the molecular level, it destroys fungal spores and bacteria that cause stench. The liquid contains essential oils and plant extracts, therefore it is safe.

Sprays are convenient and economical to use for cleaning

SmellOff

Contains enzymes and plant extracts. Destroys germs even in hard-to-reach places. It does not mask, but eliminates strong ingrained odors. Spray or apply with a sponge. After application, leave until dry. Does not damage materials.

Zool zl 377

Liquid for disinfection of parts of freezers and refrigerators. Prevents mold re-formation. Neutralizes foreign odors. Removes stains from plastic and rubber seals. Without smell. The sprinkler is equipped with a child lock.

Read, it’s interesting to know: - How you can increase the shelf life of boiled eggs in shell and without, under different conditions.

Selena

Spray with antibacterial effect. Contains hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol. Easily dissolves greasy stains and dried food traces. Prevents the formation of fungus. After the procedure, a slight “chemical” smell remains, which quickly disappears.

Oro fix 02012

Disinfects surfaces. Easily applied to fasteners and folds of rubber gaskets. Cleans walls outside and inside. Dissolves greasy blots and old stains. Removes the stench.

Special products will help disinfect the refrigerator inside and out.

Clean home

The gel contains glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, active oxygen, and surfactants. The jelly-like substance begins to foam strongly when rubbed. Doesn't smell. Easily cleans even old units from stagnant stench, dried greasy blots, blood stains, and yellowness. Does not leave streaks on dark glossy panels. Does not damage the material.

Light House Refrigerator Cleaner

Foam is sprayed on the walls and shelves. Cleans hard-to-reach areas. After scrubbing, it does not need to be rinsed off. Dried stains have to be moistened twice.

Reference! To clean the refrigerator, buy preparations that do not contain highly concentrated acids, alkalis, solvents, or chlorine.

Dirt is a source of strong stench

Salt

Place a cup of kitchen salt in the far corner of the refrigerator for several weeks. You can pour half a spoon of lemon juice on top or add a couple of drops of essential oils. For example, citrus or tea tree (an excellent natural antiseptic).

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No Frost started to smell.

Even the most modern refrigerator model, its high cost, cannot guarantee one hundred percent that it will not contain unnecessary odors.
The age of the unit also does not matter. In the absence of proper care, the smell will appear very soon. Units equipped with No Frost are equipped with the latest ventilation systems, which, in essence, should reduce the problem of unpleasant odor to a minimum. However, owners of even such innovative models cannot boast of an absolute absence of unnecessary aromas. The most interesting thing is that it turns out to be more difficult to cope with than with conventional devices. And all this is due to the fact that the problem lies in the condensate tray, which is sometimes so securely hidden that not everyone can find it. It is usually located on the back wall. When you manage to find the tray, rinse it, then the problem of the unpleasant odor will be solved. Of course, every housewife has an arsenal of proven remedies that she learned from her mother or grandmother. There are a lot of them. The general advice is this: without waiting for the smell to appear, act “proactively”!

• Eliminate the presence of stale products.
• Invest in cute storage containers.
• Clean your refrigerator at least once a month.
• Once a year, the kitchen assistant needs to be given a “reboot” - defrost it completely.

Activated carbon

It also removes unpleasant odors in the refrigerator and ordinary activated carbon, which must first be crushed and calcined in the oven. You will need about 10-20 tablets, which you need to pour into a plate or on parchment. Place the powder in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and repeat the procedure every 3-4 weeks. There are ready-made store-bought coal absorbers in the form of balls or bags.

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What should you not use?

When cleaning the refrigerator and eliminating unpleasant odors, it is recommended to take into account the following prohibitions:

1. 
   Any cleaning agent should not be left to simply dry - it should be washed off, especially on the rubber seal.

2. Do not attempt to clean with abrasives that have a hard surface, as this may damage the surface of the refrigerator compartment.
3. The seal should not be rubbed vigorously to avoid damage.
4. Do not use aerosol air fresheners or other products inside the refrigerator that are not intended for use on kitchen appliances.
5. You should not wash a glass shelf that has just been taken out of the refrigerator with hot water; you should wait until it reaches room temperature. Otherwise, the glass may break.

Paper and newspapers

You can get rid of the smell in the lower trays of the refrigerator with crumpled newspaper balls. The main thing is to regularly throw them away and put in new ones at least once a week. This is a very simple and affordable way to remove the musty smell and at the same time forget about dampness!

Photo: everydaycheapskate.com

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Why might there be a stench?

There may be several reasons for the appearance of an unwanted odor.:

• low-quality plastic case, capable of absorbing absolutely all “flavors”;
• non-compliance with the rules and shelf life of products - spoiled food and dishes emit a musty, poorly weathered smell;
• periodic melting of ice and clogging of drain holes - this provokes the proliferation of mold, which emits its own specific smell;
• storage of too spicy and aromatic products - smoked meats, fish, spices;
• a recently purchased unit is normal; the smell should disappear on its own over time.

In general, the “odor” appears as a result of infrequent cleaning, when microorganisms and fungus rapidly spread inside the unit.

Important! Unwashed food storage containers - egg trays, containers for vegetables and fruits - can emit an unpleasant odor.

Little tricks

Modern freezers are high-tech and capricious devices that are exposed to various chemical elements.

For each refrigerator model, you need to select a sorbent individually, since the elements included in the product can cause damage to the unit. The freezer parts are made of food-grade plastic, which actively absorbs the aroma of hydrogen sulfide.

Note! If all the methods used to combat the unpleasant odor turned out to be ineffective and did not eliminate the problem, we can draw conclusions about the entry of microorganisms into the refrigerator. In such a situation, you should call a specialist who will replace the thermal insulation.

If a stench has spread throughout the kitchen, you need to follow the same algorithm as when cleaning the refrigerator, but on the scale of the entire room.

Any disinfectant is suitable for washing windows, walls and cabinets, and the floor must be washed with a chlorine solution or any sorbent purchased at a household goods store.

Be sure to read:

Where you can and cannot place a microwave oven in the kitchen, rules for installing a microwave oven

In order for the smell to completely disappear, it is recommended to place the freezer along with all sources of aroma on the balcony or take it outside.

To freshen the air after all stages of cleaning, it is advisable to resort to a little trick: turn on the burner on the gas stove for a certain period of time.

After its surface is hot, you need to cut off a piece of peel from a lemon or orange and put it on the burner.