Over time, it's not uncommon for a refrigerator to start to smell bad. Although a little disgusting, the smell will not spoil the food. If you want to get rid of stubborn odors before they permanently stick to the inside of the refrigerator, remove the spoiled food first. You can also place an odor-neutralizing agent or two such as ground coffee or activated charcoal on the top shelf. To prevent odors in the first place, remove food that has begun to rot and always store food in airtight containers.
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Method 1 of 3: Throw Out Rotten Foods and Eliminate Odors
Step 1. Turn off the refrigerator before you start the cleaning process
Note the path of the power cord from the back of the refrigerator to the wall outlet, then unplug it. If the refrigerator is left on while you do the cleaning, your electricity bill will skyrocket!
Some newer refrigerator models have their own “off” button. If your refrigerator has a switch, you can use it to turn off the refrigerator without having to unplug it
Step 2. Remove all food from the refrigerator
Browse all areas of refrigerator storage, including shelves, drawers, and containers on doors. After that, remove all organic matter. Pay close attention to food ingredients and discard food that is rotten or emits an unpleasant odor. Usually, bad odors in the refrigerator are caused by spoiled food.
Try to be able to start and finish cleaning within 4 hours. The United States Department of Agriculture warns that food left out of the refrigerator for more than 4 hours can rot or be dangerous to eat
Step 3. Place the food you want to store in the cooler while you are cleaning
Food that has not gone stale can be left out of the refrigerator for a longer time, depending on the amount of food stored in the refrigerator and the cleaning time. To prevent the food from spoiling, store it in a cooler or cooler while you clean. As long as the box is tightly closed, frozen food will remain cold.
Put ice in the box if the food must be out of the refrigerator for more than 60 minutes. With ice, food can be preserved
Step 4. Scrub the walls and floor of the refrigerator with a mixture of baking soda and water
Dissolve 130 grams of baking soda with 4 liters of water. Dip a sponge in the mixture, wring it out, and use the sponge to brush the inside of the refrigerator. Clean the walls, ceiling, and bottom of the refrigerator. Make sure you also wet, brush, and remove any remaining food stains.
If the effectiveness of the mixture decreases or the container holding the mixture begins to fill with food debris, discard the mixture and make a new mixture
Step 5. Remove and clean all shelves, containers, and other removable components
Remove all components of the refrigerator that are not attached to the wall, including the vegetable drawer and shelves. Wash and rinse all components using the baking soda mixture before drying and reassembling.
Make sure you check the bottom of the vegetable container. Sometimes, food residue and water can collect at the bottom of the container and create an unpleasant odour
Step 6. Remove any leftover food from the drip holder under the refrigerator
This container is a thin plastic tray that is attached to the bottom of the refrigerator. Remove the container from under the door, carefully remove it, and discard the contents. After that, dip a sponge in the baking soda mixture and brush off any food residue that stuck before you put the container back in.
Not all refrigerators have a drip holder like this. If your refrigerator does not have this container, please skip this step. However, do not forget to brush the bottom or floor of the refrigerator
Method 2 of 3: Using Deodorizing Ingredients
Step 1. Keep a box of baking soda at the back of the shelf
Baking soda itself is odorless, but it can absorb and neutralize other odors. To get rid of odors in the refrigerator, open a box of baking soda and store it on the back of the top shelf. When an unpleasant odor starts to smell, remove the baking soda and replace it with a new box of baking soda.
If your refrigerator has a strong smell and you want to get rid of the smell all at once, pour a box of baking soda into a baking sheet and place it in the refrigerator overnight. After that, throw away the used baking soda
Step 2. Remove odors from the freezer with boiled apple cider vinegar
Mix apple cider vinegar and water in a 1:3 ratio. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and bring to a boil on the stove. When the mixture begins to boil, remove the pan from the heat and pour the mixture into a heatproof glass or metal bowl. Place the bowl in the freezer, close the cupboard door, and let it rest for 4-6 hours. The vinegar mixture will absorb unpleasant odors from the freezer.
- After 4-6 hours, remove the vinegar mixture and throw it through the drain hole in the sink.
- After boiling, apple cider vinegar can absorb unpleasant odors and replace them with a sweet, fruity aroma.
Step 3. Place ground coffee on 2-3 refrigerator shelves if you have time
Ground or ground coffee can absorb unpleasant odors effectively, but the process can take a long time. If you can live without the refrigerator for a few days, try this method. Pour and spread the fresh, dry ground coffee into 2-3 pans, then place each pan on a separate shelf of the refrigerator. The bad smell will disappear in 3-4 days.
- While waiting, store food in a second refrigerator or in a refrigerator filled with ice.
- After 3-4 days, discard the coffee, wash the baking sheet, and put the food back in the refrigerator.
Step 4. Place 2-3 pans of unscented cat litter on each shelf of the refrigerator
Ground or ground coffee can leave a slight coffee aroma in the refrigerator. If you want to absorb unpleasant odors without making the refrigerator smell of coffee, choose cat litter. Pour cat litter into 2-3 short-walled cake pans and place each pan on a separate refrigerator shelf. Empty the refrigerator and leave it on with only cat litter in it for 2-3 days to absorb stubborn odors.
Purchase unscented cat litter from a pet store or large supermarket. Some home supply stores also sell these products
Step 5. Use activated charcoal to absorb bad odors if other methods don't work
Fill 3-4 small clothing bags with 130 grams of separated activated charcoal. After that, place a clothing bag filled with activated charcoal on each shelf of the refrigerator. Turn the refrigerator on low and as much as possible, close the refrigerator door for a few days. Bad odors can usually be eradicated in 3-4 days.
- Activated charcoal can be purchased from pet stores or drug stores.
- Unlike the ground coffee method, you can use activated charcoal while the food is in the refrigerator.
Method 3 of 3: Prevent Bad Odors
Step 1. Discard expired food weekly to prevent bad odors from building up
To avoid bad odors in the future, schedule a weekly refrigerator inspection and discard expired food. This step can prevent the buildup of bad odors. Keep in mind that it will be easier for you to prevent bad odors in the refrigerator than to eradicate them.
Check the refrigerator before you take out the trash. By checking your refrigerator first, you can get stale or bad-smelling food out of your home as soon as possible
Step 2. Store fresh food in a clearly visible place so it doesn't go stale unnoticed
Fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables can easily go bad without realizing it when stored in a vegetable drawer that is rarely opened or on the back of the bottom shelf. To prevent this, store food in a place that is easily visible every day in the refrigerator. If it looks stale or rotten, throw it away immediately.
For example, store meat in the front of the top shelf, and fruits and vegetables on the bottom shelf for easy viewing
Step 3. Set the refrigerator temperature between 2-3°C
Within this temperature range, food can be stored without quickly spoiling or spoiling. Since bad odors only appear when food goes stale or rots, the refrigerator will keep smelling fresh and clean as long as the temperature is between these temperature ranges. If the refrigerator temperature exceeds 4°C, bacteria will develop and the food will start to smell bad.
If you set the refrigerator to 0°C or lower, it is certain that the stored food will freeze
Step 4. Store leftovers in an airtight container so they don't stink
If you leave it open in the refrigerator or just store it, the food you store (e.g. boxed rice or something like that) will spoil quickly. The faster food spoils, the faster bad odors build up in the refrigerator. By storing leftovers in airtight containers, food will last longer and bad odors can be prevented.
