How do you get the smell out of a freezer that has had a power failure? It smells like something died!?

Question

I have a large deep freeze that got unplugged for several days and no one knew about it. It had meat and ice cream and other food go bad inside it and the smell is unbearable. I've cleaned it with tons of water, Pine-Sol and Nature's Miracle. I've left it running with two bags of charcoal and baking soda in it. It still reeks. I'm in serious need of advice!

Answer 1

try bleach. If Bleach doesn't do it then you may never get it out. You have to kill the bacteria. Clorox or Borax will kill the bacteria. It may take quite a bit. You can't dilute it too much.

Answer 2

First use Odo Ban to clean, here's an inexpensive and fragrance free product that is the perfect solution . - I know so many other people that use it. It is a natural fragrance free carbon product called FRIDGE IT odor absorbers -little purple cube with an incredible activated carbon filter inside that is really, really, great and eliminates odors for a long time. NOT ALL CHARCOAL WORKS and this product proves it. It also works so much better than baking soda all those sprays, and fragrances that just cover up smells and doesn't get rid of them. Just place a couple in fridge and freezer. . No spills or chemicals or powder to worry about. Each only costs a couple of dollars. I use this product everywhere including car(smoke and pet smells), storage, closets, my fridge and 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 linens and things. I also think camping world sells it. I know you can buy direct [e-mail]...
Definitely worth trying

Answer 3

I believe it is more likely the defrost heater has shorted to ground, most likely the evaporator. Unfortunately if it has, it usually burns a hole in the evaporator and you lose all the refrigerant. But it may have shorted to a different metal piece in the freezer and your evaporator is okay. I have seen this many times. It may be a shorted relay on the compressor but the newer solid state relays don't really burn out with that much fanfare. You should be able to locate the source of the odor by concentrating your sense of smell to both areas (in the freezer compartment and behind the refrigerator where the compressor is located). Good luck.

Answer 4

I know this will sound weird but it really works.Sprinkle fresh coffee in the freezer and close the lid,leave for a few days and then vacuum out the grounds.We had to do this to a reefer at the poultry plant where I worked and it did so well the USDA recommended it to others with the same problem.

Answer 5

Dress up in rubber, and use a bleach solution.
Prop it open to dry between scrubs, but secure it [ we used a board, and taped the door shut with duct tape.
Our son unplugged the freezer in the garage when he was one. We didn't discover it for several days either.
We had to dump all the meat [ the crabs in the canal were happy ], scrub the heck out of the freezer, several times, and spray TONS of room deodorizer in all our air vents

Answer 6

Bleach and then cut a lemon in half and rub it over all surfaces this must be done while it is switched off and the door left open. It also helps to leave a few sliced lemons inside. It works to absorb the smell.
even after you have switched the freezer back on you can leave open sliced lemons inside just in case.

Answer 7

wipe it out with a bleach solution (bleach and water 50/50) TO KILL THE BACTERIA, then put a good amount of the coffee grounds on some paper and close the lid as suggested this will neutralize the smell

Answer 8

I just saw this on tv the other day, they laid some paper towel down and the poured some instant coffee granules on it then closed the door.

Answer 9

besides cleaning it also consider putting in a box (or two) of baking soda, as it helps control food smells

Answer 10

a paste of baking soda and water