How to get rid of the smell in the refrigerator: popular ways to get rid of the stench

A refrigeration unit often becomes a breeding ground for unpleasant odors, so sooner or later any housewife has to think about how to get rid of the smell in the refrigerator.

First of all, you have to understand the reasons for its occurrence, and then select the optimal solution among a variety of options, starting with folk remedies and ending with the use of household chemicals. What could be the reasons and how to properly deal with the unpleasant odor that appears? We will discuss all questions in detail in this publication.

Causes of unpleasant odors

Refrigerator stench can be caused by various factors. It often appears when storing products without containers or packaging.

Food that has a characteristic odor, such as fish, quickly spreads it, which is why the entire compartment will soon smell fragrant.

Storing food for a long period of time poses a danger.It must be remembered that low temperature slows down the decay process, but cannot radically stop it.

The rules and temperatures for storing popular products are discussed in next article.

If food and semi-finished products with a specific aroma are stored openly in the refrigerator, very quickly the closed refrigerator compartment will be filled with its not always pleasant smell

Food spoilage can occur if refrigeration equipment does not maintain the required temperature due to breakdown or incorrect settings.

An extremely unpleasant factor is a malfunction of the refrigeration unit or a power outage. This can lead to damage to the contents of the main and freezer chambers, which will cause rapid development of microorganisms and a persistent “cadaverous” smell.

Sometimes the cause of stench can be irregular or poor cleaning of the refrigerator. If it is rarely cleaned or not thoroughly cleaned, colonies of bacteria or fungi may appear on the work surface, in the drainage system or on the rubber door seals. Detailed refrigerator care instructions will help avoid such a problem.

The appearance of odors also contributes to the disorderly loading of shelves. In this case, it is difficult to control the state of stocks, while even a small moldy piece of bread or rotten fish can emit a disgusting aroma.

The cause of an unpleasant odor from the freezer can be a large amount of food stored in it, which prevents free air circulation

Newly purchased household appliances have a specific plastic smell.This is especially true for inexpensive units, for the manufacture of which low-quality polymers are used.

However, many consumers also complain about the industrial aroma, which can be felt even near elite models of reputable brands.

Folk ways to combat “odors”

There are many available tools that can effectively freshen the air in a confined space.

To flavor the interior of the refrigerator, it is good to put a slice of lemon or other citrus fruit in a closed chamber overnight.

Option #1 - cleaning and disinfecting compounds

Well-known substances widely used in the household will help neutralize odors.

An effective way to disinfect, clean and absorb stench is to wipe down shelves and walls with a solution of 6% vinegar, taken in equal proportions with water.

To enhance the effect, it is also recommended to put a container with this composition or a piece of cotton wool soaked in it in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

It is not advisable to use a strong vinegar solution if an antibacterial coating is applied to the working surfaces of the refrigerator. It is also advisable to make sure that vinegar is safe to use on the surface of household appliances by applying a small amount of the product to an inconspicuous area

Lemon juice is no less effective. To clean, it is recommended to mix one part squeezed citrus and two parts water. A mixture consisting of 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed juice with 10 tbsp has a pronounced disinfecting effect. l. vodka.

A teaspoon of ammonia per liter H₂O (water) will effectively remove dirt and bacteria from the surface of the refrigerator, thanks to which you can get rid of even severe stench. After processing, you should ventilate the chamber well, leaving the door open for several hours.

Option #2 - absorbents from improvised means

This category includes substances that can effectively absorb foreign odors. Their list is quite large. It is considered a proven drug charcoal: its pieces in a saucer are placed inside the chamber. An alternative is 8-10 tablets of crushed activated carbon.

An effective absorbent that collects and neutralizes negative odors is charcoal, which can be placed on a saucer or loaded into a hanging container.

Good stench absorber - common dry rice. Two handfuls of cereal are poured into a bowl or other container, which should be changed every two days.

Can act as an adsorbent Rye bread, cut into thin pieces and placed in the corners of the refrigerator. They can play the same role raw potato slices or half an apple.

Adsorbent products are placed for 10-12 hours, otherwise they themselves will become sources of infection and the spread of odor.

To achieve an effective result, before using any method, you must thoroughly rinse the refrigeration unit and dry it

An effective means of absorbing “odors” is baking soda. The powder is filled into saucers that are placed on one or more refrigerator shelves.

Salt has the same effect, but it is better to give preference to its coarse-crystalline modification.

Option #3 - homemade odor elimination products

Here are two home recipes for effective preparations that have absorbent and refreshing properties.

Recipe #1 - baking soda + lemon

A small lemon or lime is cut into two halves and the pulp is removed. Soda is poured into the resulting “cups”, which can be replaced with crushed charcoal or activated carbon.

The filled peels in suitable stands are placed on the shelves of the refrigerator, where they are kept for a week.

To prepare a simple remedy that neutralizes unpleasant aroma in the refrigerator, you will need baking soda and lemon - inexpensive ingredients that are always available for sale.

Recipe #2 - Epsom salts + baking soda

A glass of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) is mixed with the same amount of baking soda. The mixture is irrigated with a tablespoon of water and 5 drops of citrus or tea tree essential oil. The resulting composition is laid out in open jars and placed inside the unit.

The presented aromatic mixtures are easy to prepare and use. With their help, you can effectively resolve the issue of how to quickly and efficiently remove unpleasant odors from refrigerators of different brands.

Option #4 - natural flavors to mask the odor

This type of product includes substances that have a strong, pleasant aroma. They do not eliminate odors, much less destroy the causes of their occurrence, but they mask them quite well.

Will help overcome foreign “aroma” dry spices And fragrant herbs. Cinnamon tubes, cloves, turmeric, dried basil or thyme are well suited for this purpose.The selected spice or mixture of spices is poured into a salt shaker, which is placed open in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, after which its contents are replaced with new ones.

Coffee in the form of beans or ground powder is often used to freshen the air in the refrigerator. You can also put a cup of freshly brewed drink on the shelf, after turning off the equipment

Popular homemade flavorings are dried lemon or orange peels, coffee, and pomegranate peel.

Some authors of home advice suggest using onion or garlic. These vegetables certainly have a pronounced aroma, as well as phytoncidal properties that help destroy bacteria. At the same time, their aroma can hardly be called pleasant, so care must be taken when using them.

Review of household chemicals to combat stench

To freshen the air in the refrigerator, there are a large number of ready-made preparations produced by domestic and foreign manufacturers.

Factory-made products and preparations are fully prepared for use, easy to use, and effective in action.

Preparations for cleaning and disinfection

Products produced by the chemical industry include special wet wipes, cleaning sprays and gels, as well as fragrances and absorbents.

Examples include such popular means as:

• OdorGone;
• Top House;
• Oro Fix 02012;
• Clean Home;
• ZOOL ZL-377.

Next, we will consider these drugs in more detail.

Remedy #1 - Top House

The famous German manufacturer Top House offers high-quality products for the care of household appliances.

In addition to individual products, the Top House manufacturer’s assortment includes a convenient and functional set of three popular products: napkins, cleaning spray and air freshener

Among them are napkins made from environmentally friendly materials. When dry, they are used to remove static stress, and when wet, they are used to get rid of complex stains, including grease stains.

An effective product is a freshener that does not require rinsing. With its help, you can not only thoroughly clean all corners of the unit, including rubber parts, but also eliminate unpleasant odors.

Tool #2 – OdorGone

OdorGone water-based odor neutralizers allow you to quickly get rid of stench. Produced in a wide range of products, they are used not only for household purposes, but also for aromatizing the air in airplanes, administrative premises, and public places.

The OdorGone universal odor neutralizer is suitable not only for removing irritating odors in the refrigerator, but also for eliminating a wide range of various negative odors that sometimes appear in the home

The certified products of this company, which undergo strict control, are impeccably environmentally friendly. They are completely safe for health and are recommended for use even in children's institutions.

Tool #3 – ZOOL ZL-377

ZOOL ZL-377 cleaning product is packaged in a convenient bottle equipped with a sprayer with a child lock. The fragrance-free spray neutralizes even complex odors and allows you to easily remove a variety of stains.

ZOOL ZL-377 perfectly disinfects surfaces: it not only eliminates microorganisms and fungi, but also prevents the development of mold. The product is non-toxic and does not leave streaks on the walls after use.

ZOOL ZL-377 is suitable for caring for refrigerators and freezers, as well as the external surface of refrigeration equipment

Remedy #4 – Oro Fix 02012

Oro Fix 02012 is a cleaning product intended for treating internal and external surfaces. Thanks to the conveniently shaped bottle, the product can be easily applied to a separate area of ​​the refrigeration unit, including rubber gaskets.

The spray penetrates deeply into contaminants and dissolves them without damaging the coating at all. At the same time as removing stains and disinfecting the compartment, it allows you to neutralize even stubborn odors. An important advantage is the budget cost.

Remedy #5 – Clean Home

The gel-like product for refrigerator care from the Clean Home product line has an expanded composition, including hydrogen peroxide, as well as active oxygen ions. This helps to effectively eliminate germs and also makes the surface white, removing even old stains.

To care for your refrigerator and eliminate negative odors, you can use various dishwashing and oven cleaning products. It is important that they do not contain abrasive particles that can damage the surface

The no-rinse formula not only makes cleaning easier, but also helps eliminate odors, adding a touch of freshness to the air in the cooking space.

Absorbents and flavors

In addition to cleaning products, manufacturers offer a wide selection of adsorbents and flavors that are placed on the shelves of units or glued to the walls of the compartment.

In stores and departments of household chemicals you can find a huge range of air fresheners with different colors and designs.

The active substance of odor-absorbing devices - adsorbents - is usually a filler that is impregnated with a composition that includes tiny particles of charcoal or activated carbon.

The main categories of such drugs include:

1. Air fresheners with dispenser. The kit for such a device includes replaceable filters, which allows you to change the original unit as soon as the carbon stops absorbing the unpleasant odors that have settled in the refrigerator. There are two packages available, each lasting 2 months.
2. Freshener balls. Budget devices with silicone gel inside. As a rule, a set of three spheres is enough for a whole year.
3. Egg-shaped absorbers. Convenient devices that can be used both as an adsorbent and an indicator. If the temperature inside the compartment increases excessively, the color of the device changes from blue to white.
4. Gel adsorbents. The composition of such products includes lemon extract and algae extract, and in some modifications additional silver ions are introduced, which gives the mixture a disinfecting effect. The gel is poured into transparent containers, allowing you to monitor its consumption, and placed in the working chamber to quickly absorb odors.

All kinds of industrial air fresheners with a rich smell have also become very popular.

Ionizers and ozonizers for odor control

It is also worth mentioning ionizers and ozonizers. Such devices have excellent disinfecting properties and effectively combat the emerging “incense”.

It is not advisable to open the refrigerator during the operation of ozonizers or ionizers. By letting in fresh air, you can reduce the effectiveness of these devices, which destroy germs and unpleasant odors.

Some modern refrigerator models are initially equipped with ozone air treatment functions. If such an option is not available, a high-tech device can be purchased separately and then attached to the internal space.

Eliminating odor from a new unit

To get rid of the plastic “smell” characteristic of new household appliances, it is enough to carry out a set of simple measures.

First of all, you need to thoroughly rinse the product with warm water, adding soda or detergent. This helps eliminate odors and allows you to disinfect work surfaces.

A new refrigerator requires special attention. Before connecting to the network, it must be thoroughly washed inside and out, and then dried well.

It is recommended to leave the prepared refrigerator with the door ajar for 1-2 days for complete ventilation, and only then turn on the appliance to the power supply. For additional disinfection, the camera can be treated with alcohol or vodka.

Removing stubborn stench

Polymers have the unpleasant property of quickly absorbing various odors, which can be removed with great difficulty. It is especially difficult to get rid of the stench absorbed from rotten meat and spoiled fish, which happens when there is a power outage during a long absence of the owners.

To correct the situation, first of all you need to turn off the refrigerator and get rid of the food. After this, it is necessary to thoroughly treat its internal and external surfaces with water and vinegar or detergent.

Particular attention should be paid to the following elements:

• the state of the wastewater system;
• containers for draining water;
• rubber parts.

It is also advisable to move the equipment away to thoroughly rinse the floor; in this case, it is better to use special preparations to neutralize odors.

In case of strong “fragrances”, it is recommended to repeat the procedure several times for at least 2-5 days, while it is better to leave the refrigerator door, as well as the window in the room, open.

If the stench does not disappear even after regular washing, it is necessary to disassemble the drainage mechanism. It is better to entrust this operation to the specialists by contacting the service center.

At least twice a year it is necessary to completely defrost the device. It is recommended to clean the main working chamber weekly

After processing, it is advisable to place a saucer with adsorbing agents and/or place flavorings on each shelf.

If the stench is pronounced, it is better to give preference to industrial preparations that have a more pronounced effect.

Getting rid of mold and its fragrance

Mold fungi, colonies of which can settle in the refrigerator, cause a lot of trouble. They are not only sources of unaesthetic stains and musty spirit, but can also cause allergies, diseases of the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract.

To get rid of mold yourself, you can use a combination of baking soda and vinegar.It is enough to wipe the surface with a soda solution and then apply a vinegar solution; It is advisable to wash off the mixture after a while. It is better to dry the treated shelves and walls using an ultraviolet lamp or a hair dryer with a stream of hot air.

Since the smell of mold quickly eats into plastic, even after removing it, it is worth using adsorbents and/or flavorings.

When treating surfaces, you should not use products based on toxic substances, such as copper sulfate. In this case, even thorough washing does not guarantee the safety of the products.

Prevention of unpleasant odors

To ensure that your refrigerator always smells fresh, it is enough to follow a number of basic rules. First of all, it is necessary to regularly process the main chamber, not forgetting the rubber gasket and working units.

Despite the No Frost system, you should periodically defrost the refrigerator, cleaning its surface well.

The freezer also requires attention. The surface of the compartment, as well as containers and trays, must be washed regularly with special preparations or water with the addition of vinegar.

It is important to store products on shelves in strict order. This will allow you to notice expiring supplies in time. To prevent odors, food should be placed closed: in containers, bags, cling film, foil.

Fruit and vegetable drawers should always be kept dry; fruits that are planned to be put in the refrigerator also need to be thoroughly wiped.

The humidity level in the refrigerator should be monitored. Condensation on the walls of the unit provokes the development of microorganisms and mold growth, which causes unpleasant odors.

Liquids spilled on the refrigerator shelves - milk, broth, jam syrup - must be immediately collected with a cloth.

Each product in the refrigerator should be stored in a specially designated place in a closed container or neatly packed bag.

Before long trips, it is advisable to completely empty the equipment chambers, especially if the apartment is left unattended.

In the absence of the owners, an accidental breakdown can have fatal consequences, leading to the spoilage of a large number of products and an ingrained stench that is difficult to remove. We talked about the causes of breakdowns and how to repair them in this material.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video below explains the most effective ways to eliminate unpleasant odors:

To prevent unpleasant odors that may appear in the refrigerator, it is important to pay special attention to preventive measures.

At the first sign of stench, it is necessary to find out the cause of its occurrence and take corrective measures. Then, without delay, you should treat the surface using one of the folk or industrial means and place an adsorbent or air freshener.

What methods do you use to get rid of odors in the refrigerator compartment? Share your secrets with other visitors to our site in the comments section.

If you can’t get rid of an annoying unpleasant smell, ask other refrigerator owners for advice. Ask your questions below the article, and our experts and site visitors who have successfully solved this problem will share their experience.