NEED HELP cleaning out FRIDGE Just moved in w/Senior Dad full of spoiled food smells bad?

Question

We have guests coming tomorrow and I am taking it upon myself to do the tasks my father left out. The fridge is full of spoiled food (milk, veggies, OLD leftovers etc) and it smells rank. Where do I start? How do I clean the fridge so it smells good and keeps the fresh new food from getting infected with germs/bacteria? I've never had to do this, I've always kept my fridge fresh and clean. Please help I must do this before bed tonight. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

First, I would get a couple of large trash bags and start throwing stuff out. Then, hopefully, you can find some Lysol, Pine Sol or other liquid cleaner in the house. I would mix that with very hot water and baking soda, get a sponge and start scrubbing. I wouldn't use any abrasive powders (Ajax, Comet, etc.) because they may scratch the surface. I had to do the very same thing you are doing some time ago, and it was quite a task, so I definitely feel your pain; but it was beautiful and well worth it when finished. Good luck!

Answer 2

I would empty the whole fridge, toss all the food, and start over with new groceries. Even if something isn't spoiled, first would you risk it with so many other things? and second, it probably absorbed the smells and flavors of spoiled food nearby in the fridge. So I would chuck the whole inventory and replace with new.

Second, rinse food containers, run them through a dishwasher, or through a soapy bleach water solution to sanitize, then rinse with vinegar water to eliminate the bleach smell.

Third, scrub out all the crusty bits in the fridge, don't forget the floor after working top to bottom. Then remove anything you can for a vinegar water soak in the sink. Drawers, shelves, caddies. Then wash out the interior of the fridge with vinegar water.

Fourth, clean out the freezer. Smells from one leech into the other.

Fifth, leave a cut lemon, a box of baking soda, or a sachet of coffee grounds in the back of the fridge to keep working.

I don't know your dad's ability levels, why you are there, etc. but from now on you will need due diligence to keep the fridge cleared out. If you constantly have leftovers that don't get used up, consider making less food for each meal. If you do use leftovers, consider clear containers so you can see contents. Don't pack them so tight as to obscure the view of your selection. And...develop and use a labelling system. There are little blister pack timers that you can purchase, it is like a post-it flag with a bubble on top. When you put it on a container, you pop it, and it starts a color-strip guage that tells you how long the food has been in storage. A post-it label, or a list on the door of the fridge might work too.

Answer 3

I would start by emptying the fridge. Double bag a large trash bag and throw all spoiled items. Then rinse everything that is not spoiled under running warm water, use soap on items that are canned/sealed. Use white vinegar if you don't feel comfortable using soap. DRY everything thouroughly. Then disinfect the fridge. A mixture of warm water, white vinegar and bleach. The white vinegar will neutralize the smells and the bleach will kill the germs/bacteria - disinfecting the fridge.
You can add 1-3 boxes of Arm and Hammer baking soda to keep the moisture and smells to a minimum on a quarterly basis. Once the fridge is dry and clean you can restock it.

Answer 4

Odor ban to clean fridge then - I found the perfect product for this that I've used for years and know dozens of other people that use it. It is a natural carbon product called FRIDGE IT carbon odor absorbers. It is a little purple cube with an incredible activated carbon filter inside that is really, really, great and eliminates the odors and for a long time. It works so much better than baking soda all those sprays, and fragrances that just cover up smells and doesn't get rid of them. Also, alot of sprays have warning statements about being eye irritant. and gels and oils that say keep away from fabric, pets,etc. and just don't eliminate odors. Just place one or two in fridge and freezer and that's it. Each only costs a couple of dollars. I use this product everywhere including car(smoke and pet smells), storage, closets, my fridge and also under sinks, near trash and have friends that use it on cat litter box and also diaper pails - it's that good. I really recommend it. You can buy it in kitchen gadget sections in stores like walmart and linens and things. I also think camping world sells it and internet. Definitely worth trying

Answer 5

First throw away all spoiled food items, then wash the entire interior of the fridge with hot soapy water and dry well before reassembling the parts.

To sweeten the fridge you can either put a couple of tablespoons of vanilla extract into a cup and allow the cup to sit uncovered in the fridge over night or you can add an open box of baking soda

Answer 6

There will be lots of help for the fridge but what's with your dad? I used to visit my dad on the weekends pretty regularly after my mom died. One time I looked in the fridge and there were frozen dinners in the bottom and the top was stuffed full of pork sauage so much that it couldn't stay frozen. That was the first big hint that my dad was really having problems living on his own and that alzheimers was taking its toll. Take a good look at your dad. How are his clothes? Are they neat and clean? Do they fit? Is he remembering to eat? Keep a close eye on him and remember he is getting older. Is he having problems? For the fridge, throw out the bad stuff, wash it with soapy water, and put in a box of baking soda-open-if you have it. Odoban is good for germs and bad smelling situations. You can get it by the gallon at Sam's Club. Good for pet odors too. The answer above me is good advice.

Answer 7

I've been able to remedy similar problems with a few charcoal briquettes. Place a few inside the fridge (freezer too) and it will actually absorb the bad smells. Fresh ground coffee is a good mask, especially if you like the smell of coffee. But it is just a mask and will not help to get rid of the odor. A good thorough cleaning is the best place to start. Removing contents of fridge, washing shelves, door, drawers, etc with a mixture of baking soda and warm water. Hope that smell goes away soon.

Answer 8

ok, toss it all (trust me double or triple bag it!!) and then wash what you can in hot, soapy water. The rest wipe down with vinegar. Place an opened box of baking soda in it or get one of those neat new gadgets from arm & hammer that attaches by suction cup to the side of the fridge.... Any leftover stink can be gotten rid of by putting a bowl with water and vanilla in it in the bottom of the fridge overnight... Good luck!!!

Answer 9

Throw out all spoiled food. Then wipe the entire inside of frig with HOT soapy water. Add a tablespoon of bleach to the HOT soapy water, that will kill the germs/bacteria. (I have had to do this for my folks as well!) By the way, thanks for helping your DAD out.

Answer 10

a diluted bleach solution with soapy water should kill all bacteria. I like the sounds of the vanilla trick