How can we eliminate oder from a refrigerator/freezer?

Question

We lost power and our refrigerator and freezer items all melted :(...now a slight smell still remains. Any ideas? We already tried baking powder

Answer 1

Wash out the entire inside (including racks) with hot water with vinegar. Then put a couple of boxes of baking powder in overnight. This should do the trick.

Good luck

Answer 2

This is a good question!

You probably mean that you've tried baking SODA, not powder.

Before you try to eliminate the smell, you need to make sure you've eliminated all the sources. So spray all over the inside of your fridge and freezer with a 10% bleach solution. Let sit 10 minutes to kill any bacteria that may be hiding, and then wipe it clean.

Here are other options:

1. Vinegar. Set a bowl of vinegar in the fridge over night to absorb the smell. Yes, you will smell vinegar in the morning -- but it will dissipate.

2. Newspaper. Dampen newspaper and lay on the shelves overnight. (This is a good way to absorb cigarette smoke odors in rooms, too).

Your best bet is to combine these two methods -- dampen your newsprint with vinegar. Every couple hours, pull the newspaper out and put in some fresh.

3. Charcoal. This is the higher cost method. Use "activated charcoal" (not just some barbeque bricks!), which you can find in the fish aquarium section of the pet store. Put in a bowl overnight. (We had a similar fridge incident in our travel trailer, and I went around a campground collecting charcoal-y used firewood. It worked great.)

These things actually absorb the odor. If you just can't get the smell out, you can cover it up a few ways. One of the best ways is to use plain vanilla extract. Dab some cotton balls with the extract and place in the fridge. You'll be replacing one smell with another, but it will be more pleasant. In the long run, though, the best idea is to try to absorb the odor.

Answer 3

I saw once on the tv show "How clean is your house" they used a lemon cut in half, all the insides removed, and they put some baking soda inside.
The lemon and baking soda release a great smell and absorb odour at the same time.

Answer 4

You have to wipe everything down with bleach and water then leave a few boxes of baking powder open in the back of the fridge.

Answer 5

Odors coming from the bathtub whilst your bathing room is sparkling menas your drains are in all probability blocked. there are lots of inexpensive drain un-blockers avaliable at your food market - positioned money into some, and ensure you utilize an exceptionally deep cleansing bleach on your lavatory. To do away with a an scent in the air, or to freshen the room, use an antibacterial air freshener like Oust, which permits to do away with odors without merely attempting to cover them up. keep your window open on the same time as you spray it, as this could help the spray bypass and keep clean air in.

Answer 6

wipe it down good with a citrus based detergent and place not baking powder but baking soda in there but the baking soda takes a little while to absorb the odor

Answer 7

It can't be done. Most people after Katrina in New Orleans had to throw them away and get a new one. We did. No matter how much you wash it, it will still be there.

Answer 8

I know you don't want to hear it but sometimes it cant be done. The smell gets in the insulation surrounding the unit. Its impossible to get that out.

Answer 9

half an onion or potato placed at the back of the freezer

Answer 10

ARM & HAMMER BAKING SODA.. it's like 3$ att the store.