how do you get the smell out of an old refridgerator?

Question

My friend was remolding his home and he gave me his old refridgerator, but it has been siting in his garage for a couple of months, and it smells. I've cleaned it VERY thoroughly with pinesol AND clorox clean-up, but I still cant get rid of the smell.

Does anybody know how to get the smell out of a previously used or old refridgerator? Any suggestions would be great, thanks.

Answer 1

Good first choices. Wearing gloves and old clothes you might have to wipe it down with straight bleach.

Another possibility is that the drain is plugged and that is where the smell is coming from. There's got to be a drain hole somewhere at the bottom, possibly under the crisper drawers if yours is laid out conventionally. Make sure the drip pan is empty and pour salding hot water down it - about a pint should do. Check the drip pan. If wet, add some of your bleach and follow with more water.

If nothing drained, you can get a wire from the hardware store to unplug these. Once clear, flush as mentioned above.

Initially you may not get it completely odorless. Empty a box of baking soda into a bowl and put it on a shelf in there. Only store sealed items in the fridge at first. In a couple weeks the old smell should have faded.

Answer 2

A couple of tricks I learned from my mom --

cover the shelves loosely (or pack it loosely) with newspaper -- not old paper but recently delivered. Don't use any of the shiny ads -- just the paper.

you can also get a bag of charcoal (for the bbq) WITHOUT lighter fluid -- cut it open and place it in the bottom of the fridge. the charcoal will abosrb the odors.

the use of bleach and pine sole may have been a mistake -- both leave a lingering odor which is harsh.

try using the paper/charcoal trick -- routinely change out the paper.

Another thing to use is to get several boxes of arm and hammer baking soda -- like the paper and charcoal it will absorb the smells.

A final note -- if the fridge is really old, is it worth keeping? The cost alone to run it could put you in the poor house.

Answer 3

stop the Clorox and pine sol.......Try this, I did and it worked, I bought a few large boxes of baking soda....made a paste ,not too thick and i washed the whole thing again ,including the racks....I did that several times.....Then after rinsing out the fridge I opened up a few more boxes and left the baking soda exposed to the inside of the fridge........I also bought some activated charcoal at a pet store,(by the fish tanks) and left that in another bowl alongside the exposed baking soda.....i left the concoction there over the weekend, (no food inside please) and guess what ! It worked ! i discovered that the chemicals were masking the odors not removing them from the inside......
Hope this works ,it's cheaper to try this before buying a new fridge..........

Answer 4

Your best bet is to dilute regular bleach in some hot water and add some baking soda to a seperate bucket of cool water and wipe the whole thing down with bleach water and rinse with baking soda water and leave the doors open so it can dry very good (run a small fan on it to help dry) and vacuum under neath and behind it if it self defrosts there is a pan under the fridge that you need to clean with bleach water also! When all done, put a fresh box of baking soda in the fridge (opened) and shut the doors. You could also rinse with a vinegar solution!

Answer 5

since you have already done the first step of cleaning plug it up get 2 boxes of baking soda pour each box out on a plate and put one in the freezer and on in the fridge let it sit a couple of days it will work also see if the refridgerater has a drain pan under it if it does clean it good too.

Answer 6

A thick mixture of two parts baking soda and one part vinegar should do the trick. It might be very thick, so just slather it on. it will also foam at first so don't be alarmed. Leave on for a few minutes then rinse with water. If this doesn't work I'd consider dumping it.

Answer 7

This really works!!! wash down fridge with vinegar & water.... leave door open and let air dry..... vinegar smell will dissipate.

I had a freezer full of food spoil after a power outage..... nothing worked on the smell except vinegar and water.

Be Blessed!

Answer 8

Some dry baking soda in a small bowl usually woks but also try some vannilla essecence in a small container undiluted closed for maybe a day and see if that works.

Answer 9

baking soda, charcoal (kingsford kind/grill charcoal) sometimes works, just place cubes in a old shopping paper bag, or old dish and place in fridge. leave in for a day or few hours. might try plugging it in and doing it too. charcoal should absorb some of the smell, has worked for me before.
dont forget to clean good after this.

Answer 10

An open box of baking soda set inside and leave the door ajar, but not wide open. The baking soda will absorb the odors then you toss it away.