How to get rid of the smell in the refrigerator at home

The unpleasant smell exuded by the refrigerator is able to spoil the mood not only to the owners of the house, but also to the guests. Sometimes it is so strong or specific that it is able to penetrate even into neighboring rooms. What to do in such cases? Is it possible to eliminate an unpleasant odor from the refrigerator, or is the only way out is to buy a new unit?

Causes of bad smell

The dubious “aroma” in the refrigerator does not appear on its own. Therefore, before choosing a way to eliminate it, you need to identify the causes of its occurrence.

Most often, the source of an unpleasant smell is:

1. Particles of plastic on the inner surface of the refrigerator: usually this smell is characteristic of a new technique. To eliminate it does not require any special means. It is enough to wipe the refrigerator inside and out with a damp cloth and leave it with the door open for 1-2 days.
2. The results of the vital activity of microorganisms, most often molds or microbes. In such a situation, getting rid of the smell is more difficult, just washing it will not be enough. To solve the problem, you will have to use folk methods or household cleaning products.

It would seem, how are microorganisms able to hang microorganisms in a refrigerator, if this device is designed to protect products from them? The reason for their appearance may be one of the following circumstances:

• malfunction of the refrigerator, leading to defrosting of the freezer;
• a power outage that caused food spoilage;
• improper storage of products (unpacked, outside containers or bags);
• storage of expired products: the temperature maintained in the refrigerator is not low enough to interfere with the activity of microbes and stop the processes of decay.

Household chemicals and odor absorbers for refrigerators

Usually resorted to household chemicals in cases where it is not possible to remove the smell using folk methods. Most often this happens when meat spoils in the refrigerator, fish is stored improperly, etc. The smell in such cases can spread to the entire kitchen, or even to neighboring rooms.

The most popular product is OdorGone, a water-based odor removing agent. Under this name, several types of absorbers and odor neutralizers are produced: for rooms, furniture, appliances, bins and even animals. The product is considered safe for health and environmentally friendly, it is approved for use in children's rooms.

The Top House kit, including a spray and a special napkin, will also be a good helper. The product not only effectively cleans dirt and dust, but also fights microbes and also absorbs odors.

Clean Home Gel is an effective and safe detergent for refrigerators that does not require rinsing. It is based on hydrogen peroxide, so that the gel effectively cleans surfaces without damaging them.

Cleaning agent ZOOL ZL-377 will not only help to clean or refresh the refrigerator, but also prevent mold. It has disinfecting properties, effective and non-toxic.

The following types of fresheners and odor absorbers are very popular:

• balls filled with silica gel, which not only absorbs odors, but also excess moisture;
• egg-shaped odor absorbers;
• charcoal filter absorbers;
• gel odor absorbers;
• absorbers with ionization function, which not only eliminate odors, but also inhibit the activity of various microorganisms.

Removing odors from the refrigerator using folk methods

Not only household chemicals can cope with the unpleasant odor from the refrigerator. This task is within the power and familiar to us food products.

1. Soda. This inexpensive product has excellent absorbent properties and absorbs almost any odor. In order to refresh the refrigerator, just pour soda in 2-3 saucers and put them on the shelves. Such an air freshener will work for 4-5 weeks, after which the soda will need to be replaced. It should be remembered that soda can not affect microbes, so the refrigerator should be washed first.
2. Vinegar, diluted in equal proportions with water, is often used by experienced housewives as a cleaning agent for the refrigerator. To consolidate the result, you can put an open container with such a solution on the shelf of the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
3. Coffee beans, although they do not absorb odors, will help to refresh a clean refrigerator or mask the smell of a new unit.
4. Brown bread will help to cope with a recent smell. It is enough to cut into half a loaf and put it into shelves. Keeping bread in the refrigerator for longer than 10-12 hours is not recommended, as otherwise, the product may begin to deteriorate, which will add to the existing odors a couple more not the most pleasant shades.
5. Lemon juice mixed with vodka (1 part lemon to 10 parts vodka) will turn into an excellent detergent with a refreshing effect. To consolidate the effect in the refrigerator, you can keep a slice of citrus.
6. Activated carbon. From crushed tablets of activated carbon, you get a wonderful freshener for the refrigerator. To do this, just crush them, put on a saucer and leave in the refrigerator at least for the night. Charcoal has the same property, but finding it is not so simple.
7. A teaspoon of ammonia diluted in a liter of water will help to clean the refrigerator from both pollution and odors.

Before refrigerating a product that can absorb odors, be sure to wash and dry the unit first. Otherwise, you will “idle” fight with the investigation without eliminating the cause.

How to get rid of the smell of meat in the refrigerator

Not much can be compared in stamina and disgust with the smell of missing meat. Its source is the result of the activity of anaerobic bacteria, so first get rid of their source of nutrition. For health reasons, it will be wise to dispose of other products, especially those that were stored open or in tightly closed containers.

Due to the fact that the refrigerator will have to be thoroughly cleaned (this smell is very corrosive and literally soaks into all surfaces), it must first be turned off and then all the contents, including not only products, but also shelves, drawers and other removable parts, including the door.

Initial cleaning is best done using household chemicals. Then you need to wipe the entire inner surface of the refrigerator with a detergent prepared according to a folk recipe:

• a solution or powder of soda;
• water with ammonia dissolved in it;
• lemon juice with water;
• table vinegar with water.

Especially carefully you need to process all the details from plastic, because they differ in their ability to absorb any odors. They must be removed, washed thoroughly with detergent and wiped with a solution prepared by yourself.

After washing, do not rush to install the doors and shelves in place and turn on the unit. The refrigerator needs to be ventilated, so it is better to take out all the removable parts of the refrigerator on the balcony, and in the room where the equipment is standing, open the windows more often.To achieve the result, it may take 5-30 days to periodically wash and ventilate, it all depends on how long the spoiled product lay in the refrigerator.

If your actions were successful, the refrigerator can be assembled and turned on. At the same time, do not forget to place inside the saucer with products or substances that absorb odors: soda, lemon, activated or charcoal, etc. You can use purchased fresheners.

In cases where, after all such measures have been taken, the smell has not left the refrigerator, we can conclude that the microorganisms managed to penetrate into its internal parts and components. To process them, you will need to disassemble the refrigerator almost completely, and without the help of a specialist you can not cope with this matter. As a result, some owners of odor-spoiled appliances decide that it’s easier to buy a new unit than to try to do something with the old one.

The room in which the refrigerator is located needs thorough cleaning. You need to wash the walls and floors, wipe all the furniture and often keep the windows open.

How to remove the smell of fish from the refrigerator

Fish is not only healthy and tasty, but also has a specific smell even when cooked. In raw form, this product smells much stronger, the smell itself is easily absorbed into any objects and it is quite difficult to remove it.

To rid the fridge of fishy “aroma”, it must first be thawed and then washed with a detergent, wiped clean with a damp cloth and completely dried.

After that, you can use one of the popular methods for the final removal of odor (wipe the walls with soda, spread saucers with coal in the refrigerator, etc.), but rubbing lemon juice on all the walls of the refrigerator will give the best effect. After three hours after processing, the juice will need to be washed off and left to ventilate the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

After the refrigerator is cleaned and completely dried, it can be connected to the network. At the same time, do not forget to put on the shelves of the unit products or products that absorb odors.

What to do if the refrigerator smells of mold

Mold, without exaggeration, is the most unpleasant guest. Most often, it settles inside those refrigerators that are used periodically, for example, in the country. In addition to the unpleasant odor, mold also forms visible unaesthetic spots. You can get rid of both the fungus and its smell. In stores, a large number of appropriate funds are sold. But, most likely, the refrigerator will have to be processed several times.

Ways to combat mold
Today in stores you can find mold remedies of various manufacturers and in any form: spray, powder, emulsion. They should be used strictly adhering to the instructions, which most often boils down to the following: the product must be applied or sprayed onto the surface, left to act for several minutes and then thoroughly rinse off its residues at the end of processing.

Do not clean the refrigerator with a solution of copper sulfate, no matter how much you praise this remedy. Of course, it can destroy a mold colony, but it also poses a danger to humans. It is impossible to handle food storage places with vitriol, it is poison.

You can supplement household chemicals with such home remedies as baking soda and vinegar. Processing a refrigerator with soda is easy. To do this, pour a little soda powder on a regular sponge, moisten it slightly and wipe the refrigerator. Then complete the treatment using a solution of vinegar. Particular attention when cleaning the refrigerator from mold should be given to the rubber on the doors, the condensation drain hole, shelves, drawers. Everything that is removed must be removed and carefully processed.
After cleaning, the refrigerator and its removable parts must be dried well, preferably with a stream of warm air, as molds do not like high temperatures and air movement.You can use a heat fan or UV lamp to dry the refrigerator.

If there are no more traces of mold, but the smell does not go away, put in a refrigerator a saucer with soda, slices of rye bread or slices of lemon - these products perfectly absorb different smells.

Mildew Prevention
In the future, so that the mold does not appear again in the refrigerator, try to observe the following recommendations;

1. Get rid of stale foods on time. If one of them becomes moldy, then there is a risk of the fungal spores getting on other products and on the walls of the refrigerator;
2. Store food in bags or containers;
3. Maintain cleanliness in the refrigerator, wash it more often with a solution of soda and ventilate;
4. Control the humidity level inside the refrigerator. Silica gel bags, which we see in boxes with new shoes, are well suited for this. Just put them on the shelves of the refrigerator.

How to avoid odors

Have you previously encountered the problem of bad smell from the refrigerator or not, it doesn’t matter. In any case, follow the simple recommendations that will allow you to avoid this situation:

1. Check the expiration dates of products and do not store food in the clear, use bags, containers, utensils, etc. accessories;
2. Wipe off dirt immediately (spilled milk, drops of jam, etc.);
3. Use fresheners for the refrigerator. These can be purchased odor absorbers, as well as products that have the same properties: a saucer with soda or ground activated carbon, half a lemon,
4. Wash the refrigerator thoroughly twice a year, taking apart all the shelves both in the chamber itself and on the door;
5. When planning a trip for a long period, make purchases so that by the time you leave, leave the refrigerator empty: no one is safe from a sudden power outage or breakdown of the refrigerator. Or ask family members or neighbors to periodically visit your apartment.

Bad smell from the refrigerator can seriously complicate life. It is not always easy to get rid of it: sometimes it requires repeated washing and ventilation of the unit. Therefore, do not forget to check the expiration dates of the products and follow the recommendations for their storage. Wash the refrigerator regularly and refresh it using folk remedies or special appliances.

Video: effective methods for removing odor from the refrigerator