How to Easily and Simply Get Rid of Unpleasant Odors in the Refrigerator

Causes of odor

In a confined space, foreign odors appear quickly and penetrate deeply into plastic and rubber parts. There may be several reasons for the unpleasant odor:

• Improper storage of food. The “odor” of raw fish, garlic or fried meat is well absorbed and difficult to remove.
• The presence of spoiled food with a rotten smell.
• A clogged drain hole inside the chamber. A drain pipe with a blockage inside does not drain moisture, and therefore reduces the efficiency of the equipment.
• A broken compressor that does not work at full capacity and spoils the food in the freezer.
• Poor sealing of the refrigerator door seals, making the temperature in it higher than it should be.
• Accumulated condensation, increasing the risk of mold.
• A malfunction that can only be identified and eliminated by a specialist. One of the most common problems is a broken fan.

How to remove the smell?

To get rid of the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, you should use any of the listed methods. Both modern cleaning compounds and folk remedies will help. Which ones are more effective and safe is up to you to decide, because most synthetic air fresheners contain both natural and chemical additives that can settle on food and dishes.

Check out our selection of cleaning gadgets.

Store-bought products

Today, you can find many devices on the shelves of hardware stores that will mask unpleasant odors: various sprays, ionizers, gel granules, and plastic indicators.

Modern odor absorbers must be used in accordance with the instructions:

• The spray is sprayed on the surface, left for several minutes, and wiped with a cloth.
• The ionizer cleaner destroys bacteria and enriches the internal environment with oxygen, reducing the likelihood of food spoilage.
• The egg-shaped container acts as an absorbent and requires replacement after 3 months.

The listed products can remove odor from refrigerator, but without cleaning they will not be able to cope with its source. The fastest and most effective way is to thoroughly wipe the outer and inner surfaces of the refrigerator and clean the drain pipe.

Baking soda

If you decide to use folk methods, ordinary baking soda will do when dealing with the smell in the refrigerator. In one liter of warm water, you need to dilute 2 tablespoons of the substance and wipe the shelves and walls.

You can also wash away grease and carbon deposits in the oven with soda.

To make the soda absorb unwanted odors, you should pour it into a wide container and put it in the refrigerator. You need to change the homemade odor absorber about once a month.

Activated carbon

Another method proven by housewives is 20 tablets of activated carbon. They should be crushed to a powder state and poured into a cup. The container should be placed on the refrigerator shelf and changed at least once a month.

By the way, the purchased absorber is 95% granulated activated carbon, so its effect is no different from crushed tablets.

Vinegar

A vinegar solution is a less gentle method for getting rid of odors, since an overly concentrated acid can damage the surface of household appliances. It is enough to dilute vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio and wipe an empty and clean refrigerator.

After the procedure, we recommend leaving the doors open for a couple of hours.

Ammonia

Has the same effect as vinegar: it gets rid of the smell in the refrigerator well and requires airing. In addition, ammonia destroys germs, mold and fungus, leaving no traces.

To obtain a solution, dilute a few drops of alcohol in a liter of water, and then wipe the freezer, shelves, seals, walls and drawers.

Coffee

Aromatic coffee beans, grounds or a glass of instant drink also successfully absorb unpleasant odors. The beans can be lightly roasted, poured into a small container and placed on a shelf overnight. The smell will go away in a few hours.

We do not recommend placing hot products in the refrigerator, as temperature changes have a negative effect on the equipment.

To eliminate a persistent smell, repeat the procedure several times.

Tea bags

Used tea bags also absorb unwanted “odor”. All you need to do is place them on the shelves and leave for a few hours. The only downside is that the tea bags don’t look very aesthetically pleasing.

Onion, apple, potato and rye bread

These products, cut in half, also have the ability to absorb odors. But this solution is only good as a temporary measure – you will have to throw out natural air fresheners every few days. Black bread will also help – you just need to cut the loaf into small slices and put them on the shelves of the refrigerator.

To prevent crumbs from falling, we recommend using saucers or napkins.

Rice, salt and sugar

Raw rice grains, as well as salt or sugar, can be found in every home. They will not only help eliminate the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, but also prevent the appearance of a new one. Cereals, salt or sugar should be placed on a plate and soon there will be no trace of the unpleasant aroma.

If you want to use this method, pour the products into a container and leave them in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.

Citrus

Mild odors can be eliminated with orange or grapefruit peels. Lemon slices placed on plates and shelves will help to freshen up the refrigerator more effectively. A cloth napkin soaked in lemon juice will also do: wipe the insides of the device with it.

Prevention

To keep your refrigerator smelling fresh and clean, it is important to store smelly products in plastic bags, tightly closed containers, or dishes wrapped in cling film. Plastic products can be replaced with environmentally friendly glass containers. All spoiled food must be disposed of immediately.

To prevent the smell from appearing, it is important to defrost the refrigerator compartment in a timely manner, clean the special drain hole (the panel on the back wall will have to be removed) and change the rubber seals.

Unforeseen situations happen when the electricity is cut off for a long time in the whole house or the fuses are blown during the long absence of the owners. In this case, all removable parts of the refrigerator must be disassembled, thoroughly washed with soap or other more effective cleaning agents and, having put any of the listed absorbents inside, leave the doors open for several days.

Wash the refrigerator, if it has just been purchased and has an unpleasant smell, with a soda solution. Then wipe the internal and external surfaces with clean water. Wipe with a dry cloth and air out thoroughly for 3 hours.

And if you decide to do a general cleaning of the kitchen, it is better to first read our tips.

Removing the smell from the refrigerator is quite simple if you arm yourself with knowledge and spend time fighting unwanted aromas.