Refrigerator Smells. Help!

Just a thought....

I'm sure you are sure that the thing is spotless, but I would pull everything removable (shelves and door racks) and run them through the longest, hottest cycle your dishwasher offers.

Pull everything out and air dry them, rather than allowing them to go through the drying cycle. That way if it doesn't help, it won't bake in the smell even more, and you won't run the risk of warping the plastic parts. After all, they're not designed for heat.

If it seems to help, it may give you some ideas on further cleaning of the inside of the refrigerator.

Then go at it with any of the various chemical treatments offered here.

Take baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and mix together. It will foam like crazy so you gotta work fast. Apply to all surfaces and work in well. After the foaming stops, wipe clean.

The mixing causes oxygen atoms to be released. The oxygen is short an electron in it's valence shell and will bond to the stink odor sources on the fridge surface. This will change the molecular structure of the stink source, essentially 'rusting' it with the oxygen and the new molecule won't have an odor.

At least, that's the theory.

skipro3 wrote:
Take baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and mix together. It will foam like crazy so you gotta work fast. Apply to all surfaces and work in well. After the foaming stops, wipe clean.

The mixing causes oxygen atoms to be released. The oxygen is short an electron in it's valence shell and will bond to the stink odor sources on the fridge surface. This will change the molecular structure of the stink source, essentially 'rusting' it with the oxygen and the new molecule won't have an odor.

At least, that's the theory.

We use this combo plus a bit of Dawn dish soap to get skunk smell out of clothing. I would have to think that if could get rid of that odor, the smell in a freezer would be a snap.

Yes, the Dawn breaks down the skunk oil, emulsifies it so it can be washed away. If the fridge stink has oils in it, then Dawn will facilitate. Or, as they say, can't hurt! Ha!

BTW, don't store the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide in the same area. If they mix, oxygen forms and that is very flammable.

Sam Spade wrote:

retiredtraveler wrote:
Soak the heck out of it in vinegar first.

Actually I would try chlorine bleach full strength first.....with rubber gloves, old clothes and glasses.

Wash it out good, leave it a little damp and then close it for 24 hours and then rinse good.

That should replace your moldy food smell with a chlorine smell.....which should dissipate over time.

For less drastic things I have been using a cleaner with bleach in it. It works good for lots of stuff.....including dumping a bit into the tanks for cleaning.

DO NOT MIX CHLORINE BLEACH WITH VINEGAR OR ANYTHING ELSE. That can result in releasing deadly chlorine gas.

It's chlorine + ammonia that is dangerous. The gas released is not chlorine, but a category of compounds called chloramines, which are almost as dangerous as chlorine.

Bleach + acid (as in vinegar) produces water and salt. Harmless, but with no cleaning power.

But I would not advise anyone to randomly mix cleaning products.

Take out everything removable and wash it by hand in hot water, dish soap, and a dash of bleach. The dishwasher heat will likely warp it. Air dry.

For the refrigerator, I would use vinegar, thoroughly rinse it out, then the charcoal trick. Break up the briquettes and spread them out in some flat pans, for maximum surface area. Leave the door propped open slightly so it can dry out thoroughly.

charcoal gets rid of odors, good to have in a fridge with food in it. I've kept a few briquettes in the veggie bin for years. Charcoal does not get rid of the source of odors. If your fridge smells, then there is a source for the smell you need to eliminate.

I have found that OxyClean is the best for getting smells out. Put it in really hot water and sponge down the entire refrigerator. Let the solution set on the surfaces before wiping it off.