10 tips on how to remove unpleasant odors from the refrigerator and freezer: folk and professional remedies

Tip #1. We fight the causes, not the consequences. What causes an unpleasant odor?

The very first thing you need to understand is where and why the smell comes from, in order to know what and how to eliminate the smell. If something goes wrong, no questions arise, but in other cases, sometimes you have to rack your brains. There are several main reasons.

Improper food storage

Due to improper storage, the product may not have spoiled yet, but has already endowed the entire refrigerator with its aroma. Most often this concerns sausages, meat and fish lying in open packaging or without it at all. Such products should be packaged very carefully, avoiding contact with oxygen, to prevent oxidation and spoilage. For example, the smell of rotten meat or herring is difficult to confuse with something else.

New technology

Some people like the smell of new things, but most often it begins to irritate, and sometimes even causes headaches. There is good news: this “aroma” will disappear in about two days, even if you do nothing. The reason for its occurrence lies in the plastic dust that remains from the factory. You can wipe the refrigerator with a regular rag and soapy water and the smell will disappear.

Breakdown or other reasons for defrosting

Due to the increase in refrigerator temperature, food began to deteriorate and the number of microbes increased - hence the unpleasant smell. An increase in temperature can happen for various reasons:

• breakdown of equipment;
• power outage;
• a trivial unlocked refrigerator door.

These are the most common causes of an unpleasant odor in the refrigerator.

Causes of odor

In a confined space, foreign odors appear quickly and penetrate deeply into plastic and rubber parts. There can be several reasons for the occurrence of an unpleasant odor:

• Improper food storage. The “smell” of raw fish, garlic or fried meat is well absorbed and difficult to remove.
• Presence of spoiled product with a rotten odor.
• Clogged drain hole inside the chamber. A drainage tube with a clog inside does not remove moisture, and therefore reduces the efficiency of the equipment.
• A compressor breakdown that does not operate at full capacity and spoils the food in the freezer.
• Poor fit of the seals to the refrigerator door, making the temperature in it higher than expected.
• Accumulated condensation, increasing the risk of mold.
• A malfunction that can only be identified and repaired by a specialist. One of the most common problems is a failed fan.

Check out our selection of handy tools to make cleaning easier.

Tip #2. We are processing a new refrigerator.

In addition to plastic dust from the factory, the refrigerator could have accumulated a lot of dirt or odors during transportation or storage in a warehouse. For example:

• technical smell;
• pollution during production - oil for lubricating hinges;
• dust and dirt from other goods during storage or transportation - sawdust from a truck or just sticky foam.

If the equipment is not put in order before the first use, these odors can remain for a long time and be absorbed into the stored products. Even the instructions themselves most often recommend at least wiping down the refrigerator before turning it on for the first time.

It is possible to use special household chemicals or improvised products from folk recipes. If we talk about special chemistry, the procedure is usually as follows:

1. The detergent is diluted with water and applied to all surfaces of the refrigerator. The inner walls and doors of the equipment should be wiped especially thoroughly.
2. After treatment, all surfaces are washed with plain water. It is important to wash off all the chemical so that it, in turn, does not give off a strong odor and harm the products.
3. All surfaces are dried with a dry towel - cloth or paper.
4. The door is left open for several hours (preferably overnight) for more thorough drying and ventilation.

It is not advisable to use powder, as this will lead to micro-scratches in which bacteria and microbes will feel too comfortable.

You can resort to folk wisdom and use ordinary baking soda, which is found in every home. This method is good because it does not use aggressive chemicals where the products will soon be stored. Baking soda will do a great job of removing the new smell. The action steps are as follows:

1. Dissolve 3-5 tablespoons of baking soda in one liter of warm water.
2. Soak a sponge or rag in the resulting solution and treat all surfaces with it.
3. Rinse with plain clean water.
4. Wipe dry and leave to ventilate for several hours.

Don't forget about the freezer, as it can also be a source of unpleasant odors, and pre-cleaning will help prevent annoying odors.

Home Remedies

Home remedies will help you clean and give a pleasant aroma of freshness to your refrigerator after defrosting.

Toothpaste

Microscopic abrasives are not capable of harming tooth enamel; they will also gently remove dirt in the refrigerator. A small amount of paste is applied to a sponge or brush and the chambers are processed. Then rinse off with clean water and wipe with a dry cloth.

Lemon juice

Citric acid can cope with a variety of contaminants - from limescale to a dense layer of fat.

The cleaning solution recipe is simple - 1 tablespoon of citric acid (2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed juice) and half a liter of warm water.

This product is best used if there is a lot of darkening and an unpleasant odor in the refrigerator.

Important: the home remedy is quite aggressive. It should not be applied to rubber seals.

Laundry soap

An alkaline solution is prepared from a bar of dark soap (about 100 g). It will need to be grated for better dissolution in an aqueous environment.

The water should be as hot as your hands can handle. After thoroughly dissolving the soap, the surfaces of the refrigerator are treated with an alkaline solution.

After application, all surfaces will have to be rinsed with clean water. Soap can be applied to rubber seals.

Tip: in order not to grate the block, you can choose a liquid version of laundry soap in the store.

Tip #3. We properly store fish, meat and other products.

To prevent unpleasant odors from suddenly appearing in a clean refrigerator, you should think about proper storage of food. In addition to preventing odor, this will help the products last longer.

Laws of compatibility

Let's start with what not to do. You should not store nearby:

• cheeses and vegetables, fruits, smoked meats;
• sausage and vegetables, fruits;
• fruits and potatoes, beets, cabbage, carrots;
• bananas and tomatoes, citrus fruits;
• fish and bread, grapes, salad;
• raw with cooked.

This way, the products will stay fresh longer, and at the same time they will not absorb extraneous aromas.

Strictly on the shelves

If you have fish or meat on hand, but you don’t plan to cook them in the near future, then the freezer will be the best storage place. To do this, the product is wrapped in plastic wrap or packaged in a bag, and then put in the freezer.

If you plan to cook fish or meat, then keep them in the refrigerator in an enamel bowl, covered with gauze or a towel.

The ideal shelf for storage would be the zero shelf, that is, the one closest to the freezer - there is the lowest temperature. But it is better to move the dishes away from the door, since the air next to it, on the contrary, is warm.

Bread, pastries and eggs are perfectly preserved on this same “floor.” But in a special container in the door, the latter will remain fresh for only a week.

The middle shelves will perfectly accommodate dairy and other products that should be stored at temperatures from zero to ten degrees.

It is best to keep all foods in separate containers made of plastic or glass. Now on sale you can find special stylized containers for cheese, sausage, onions, bananas and many other products. You can put stickers on them with the expiration date or the date the package was opened.

Natural flavors

Seasonings, herbs, citrus peels, and essential oils are used as aromatic components. Due to the fact that the aroma can be transferred to the products, choose a neutral one or one that the whole family prefers.

Citrus

Oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are good helpers in removing amber. They even get rid of strong odors, providing an antibacterial effect.

Fragrant slices

To fill your refrigerator with a pleasant, rich aroma, place citrus slices on the shelves and leave them there for 3 days.

Citrus fresh

It is also possible to prepare fruit juice for spraying. Prepare fresh juice, strain it and mix with water. The richer the mixture, the brighter the aroma and the stronger the disinfecting properties.

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray finely inside. Or moisten a clean rag and wipe the mixture into accessible areas of the refrigerator compartment.

This is what an amazed vacationer looks like

Citrus with cloves

A wonderful aromatic combination is lemon or orange with cloves. To do this, stick a clove into the peel of the fruit and place the fruit on the door.

This beautiful, natural fragrance is an excellent replacement for expensive or synthetic oils.

Lemon juice with vodka

Add to 1 tbsp. l. 10 tablespoons of vodka juice and let it brew for 1 hour in a closed jar. Then open and place in the refrigerator for several hours. The cleansing and antiseptic effect is guaranteed.

If alcohol or vodka is not at hand, add juice to water. Ratio 5:10.

Advice from Chistyuli. Vinegar and lemon juice can also be used to deodorize your freezer (as long as you empty the drawers).

Onion garlic

If you are not afraid of the specific smell of products, feel free to use them to neutralize bad odors.

To do this, peel a few cloves of garlic or cut the onion in half. Distribute on shelves and do not remove until the vegetable has completely withered.

If the smell of onions or garlic bothers you, but you are attracted by their antibacterial properties, leave the onions or garlic for only 1-2 hours. In such a short period of time, the chamber will not begin to smell of these spices, and you will not have to remove the new smell.

Coffee Tea

How to remove unpleasant odor in the refrigerator using coffee or tea? Lightly roast the coffee beans and place in a small jar or canvas bag. Keep in the refrigerator until the smell disappears.

A tea bag or loose leaf black tea will also work.

If you are an avid coffee drinker and spend every morning with your favorite drink, use ready-made coffee or grounds, slightly cooling them. The drink can easily cope with food and industrial smells and fill the chamber with an invigorating coffee scent.

Tip No. 4. We use folk remedies.

If the bad smell from the refrigerator could not be avoided, then it is better to start the fight with folk remedies. The most common and popular option is baking soda; we discussed cleaning the refrigerator with it earlier.

Soda is a unique product with which you can replace half of the household chemicals for your home.

Now we will look at other popular life hacks of folk wisdom that will help if the refrigerator smells of acetone, ammonia, old musty meat, rotten meat or other unpleasant aromas. The advantage is that the remedies listed below are easy to find at home.

Ammonia

Ammonia itself already has a clearly recognizable aroma, so you need to work with it very carefully - preferably wearing a mask. To treat the refrigerator, you first need to prepare one liter of warm water and add a teaspoon of ammonia to it. We treat the refrigerator and freezer with the resulting solution. Afterwards, rinse with clean water and wipe dry with a towel.

Vinegar

Another liquid with a recognizable aroma. The logic is the same as with ammonia, only the concentration is different: vinegar is diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio. After this, the refrigerator is wiped, washed and dried.

For better effect, the same solution can be left in a glass on the refrigerator shelf for several hours.

Coffee

On forums, housewives advise using coffee beans to prevent unpleasant odors. But in this case, coffee only works as a flavoring agent, that is, it does not neutralize the stench, but only covers it. This method can be used as a preventive measure or to give the refrigerator a pleasant aroma, but for more serious problems it is better to use more powerful products.

Activated carbon

Charcoal (activated or even charcoal) absorbs odors well, so it is often used if the refrigerator begins to stink. Necessary:

1. Take about 30 tablets.
2. Place them in a saucer.
3. Leave in the refrigerator for a night or even two.

After this time the smell will disappear. For a better and faster effect, the tablets can be crushed into powder.

Products

Some food products also have the ability to absorb aromas. The most famous representative of this group is bread. There is often a dispute among housewives about which bread is better to use - black or white. The answer is simple: whatever it is, that’s how it’s used.

You need to cut the bread into slices, like for sandwiches, and then simply arrange them on the shelves in 1-2 pieces.

It is undesirable to eat this bread later, and it will not be tasty after it has absorbed the unpleasant aroma. The main thing is not to forget to get rid of the bread so that the refrigerator does not smell of mold from it.

The next product is lemon. It doesn't completely absorb odor, but it still fights it. You can squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a glass of water and run this solution over the surface of the refrigerator. Then rinse and dry as usual. There is an option for the lazy:

• cut the lemon into slices
• put on saucers
• place on refrigerator shelves.

To add extra flavor, you can stick a few cloves into the lemon.

Bulk foods such as sugar, salt and rice will also remove the stink from your refrigerator. They need to be laid out on a saucer and placed on the shelves in the same way.

But! Of course, bread, lemon and rice can get rid of a slight unpleasant odor, but it is best to initially wash the refrigerator with soap or soda, and only then put in the mentioned products.

Life hack - how to remove the smell in the refrigerator using improvised means

Special gel odor absorbers are not always at hand, but something needs to be done urgently.

Regular black bread will help. It needs to be cut into pieces and placed on the shelves of the unit. The same method will also remove the smell of plastic in a new refrigerator.

It is recommended to close the doors. In addition to bread, the following is used for these purposes:

• tea bags (bags should not be used);
• small pocket bags filled with rice or sugar;
• a small plate filled with soda.

Tip: natural sorbents take longer to act than artificial ones. They need to be left in the refrigerator for 8-10 hours and then thrown away.

Tip #5. We destroy odors with the help of heavy artillery. Let's go to the store.

But what to do if the refrigerator is washed, but the smell remains? Go shopping! There are two types of household chemicals you should pay attention to in the store:

• detergents;
• odor absorbers (other names: anti-odor, odor neutralizer).

Using detergents, as the name implies, you need to treat the refrigerator. The process looks exactly the same as with soda. They usually resort to household chemicals if folk remedies do not help. Popular and effective brands include:

• Unicum;
• Korting;
• Electrolux;
• Mellerud;
• Ludwik;
• Odorgone.

Odorgon is considered the strongest and most effective due to its composition. It is used only in very difficult cases.

Odor absorbers are considered a separate type of household chemicals. They come in a wide variety.

Lifehack! How to make a charcoal-based aroma absorber with your own hands? To do this, you will need the container in which the toys are in Kinder Surprise, and the coal itself.

Coal must be turned into powder, and several holes must be made on the top of the toy’s “house”.

This can be done with an awl, a knitting needle or a needle well heated over a lighter. Next, you just need to assemble this structure. It will store well in the egg container on the refrigerator door.

Ways to eliminate odor

To remove the smell in the refrigerator, you need to thoroughly wash it. They do a general wash every six months. But it’s possible earlier if there’s a smell coming from the door.

Washing

Rinse the refrigerator chamber to remove all contaminants. At this time, the condition of the products stored in the unit is monitored.

Preparation

You should set a special day to clean out your refrigerator. It is better when there are fewer products left in it. You need to prepare containers with clean water, rags and products that will be used to rinse the refrigerator. The hostess should wear an apron or robe and rubber gloves on her hands.

Liberation

All products stored there are removed from the disconnected unit. It is better to put them in containers and cover them with thick cloth or a woolen blanket. It is better to place the contents from the freezer on the floor, first laying down foil. It is better to surround the food with bottles of frozen water.

Defrosting

The refrigerator will defrost faster if you unplug it. The doors must be opened wide. A stream of air from a table fan will speed up defrosting. You can place a pot of hot water in the freezer. Then the ice will thaw faster. You cannot separate the ice with a knife, as this can damage the resistors.

How to wash

As soon as the entire unit is completely free of ice, it is necessary to drain the water from the trays, remove the shelves and grates. All parts of the refrigerator are soaked in warm water and the chamber is washed.

Processing the drain gutter

The drain hole can be cleaned carefully with cotton swabs. If it is clogged, you need to insert a syringe with hot water into the hole in the hose and use a stream to break through the blockage.

Then you need to wash everything with soapy water or warm water and vinegar, removing particles of dirt.

Cleaning the interior

Wash the inside with water with the addition of acetic acid or lemon juice. Painted surfaces should be cleaned with a mixture of baking soda and then rinsed with clean water. Finally, rub a piece of suede over the surfaces.

Cleaning the door

Doors and rubber gaskets must be clean. First, wash the doors, removing the side drawers. Then clean the door gaskets. Don't forget to wipe everything dry.

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Washing the body

To acquire the original shine, it is better to wipe the surface of the refrigerator with clean white paper moistened with a mixture of tooth powder and ammonia. You should take 20-25 grams of ammonia solution per 50 grams of powder.

Cleaning the No Frost chamber

Modern refrigerators with dry freezing are washed in the same way as with a drip system. But if the drain hole is clogged, it is better not to clean it yourself. The walls and doors are washed with warm water, soap or powder. Ammonia is good at removing grease from the walls. The inside of the refrigerator should be wiped dry.

Choice of product

Folk remedies are suitable for washing the unit if it is not very dirty. They easily eliminate odors accumulated inside the chamber.

Soap emulsion

It is believed that you can clean the refrigerator compartment with water and soap. Add shavings of laundry soap to warm water. Mix thoroughly, then pour a teaspoon of soda into it. Wash with a sponge or soft cloth. Then you need to rinse the surfaces with clean water and wipe dry.

Special household chemicals

Chemical concentrates make it easier to clean contaminated areas in the refrigerator. The fragrances contained in the products add freshness to the air inside the device and eliminate mustiness. It is important not to use powders with aggressive properties that contain abrasive substances.

Regular balms and dishwashing detergents

It is best to wash the inside of the refrigerator with water and dishwashing liquid. The solution breaks down fat well and removes yellow spots on the walls. The products have a positive effect on the skin of the hands.

Special impregnated wipes

It is recommended to wash the refrigerator with special wipes during cleaning. They are effective in action, they scrub away old grease stains and mold well. After washing, the smell of freshness inside the unit remains for a long time.

Edelweiss

Non-woven cloths soaked in detergents can easily remove dirt, grease, musty smells and mold. They wipe the walls and doors for 10 minutes, after which you don’t have to rinse the surfaces.

Tortilla Eco

Eco-friendly wipes are used to keep the inside of the refrigerator sparkling. They are impregnated with liquids that not only effectively clean, but also fight the development of pathogenic microorganisms.

Top House

It is recommended to wash the internal and external surfaces of the unit with napkins. The impregnation components have a cleansing, refreshing and bactericidal effect. Therefore, after cleaning the device looks perfect.

Refrigerator Cleaner

Easily clean your refrigerator with these wipes without using water. They thoroughly wipe everything inside and out. After using the wipes, your refrigerator will be sparkling clean.

"EFSTO"

The products of this brand have gained popularity among housewives for their high quality. After use, you must wait until the surfaces dry. No rinsing is required, making cleanup quick and easy.

Vinegar

Acid is most often used to wash away old dirt and remove odors. It is necessary to prepare a solution by pouring vinegar into water in a 1:1 ratio. Use a cloth soaked in the mixture to wipe the surfaces inside the refrigerator after it has been washed.

If the smell cannot be removed, you can leave a rag soaked in acid inside for a while.

Lemon juice and vodka

A well-known folk method for cleaning a refrigerator is water acidified with lemon juice. The solution brightens the walls well and removes yellowish stains. If you need to eliminate the smell, add a little alcohol-containing liquid to the water.

Ammonia

Ammonia can perfectly bring the white surfaces of the refrigerator to perfect condition. You need to take only 30 ml of ammonia per 300 ml of water. It is worth rinsing everything to completely clean the unit and make it brand new. The pungent smell of ammonia will go away if you leave the refrigerator doors open after washing.

Soda

A safe product used to clean household appliances. It cannot be used only for aluminum parts. Add a tablespoon of powder per liter of water. It's a good idea to clean the door gaskets with baking soda. You should then rinse with clean water and wipe dry.

Beer

Housewives believe that the persistent smell of fish from the refrigerator can be eliminated by washing the inside with beer. Wet the sponge and wipe the shelves and walls of the unit. Let it dry naturally; to do this, simply leave the doors open for a day. Removing the stench from the cell in this way is easy and affordable.

Potassium permangantsovka

Rotten meat or fish not only spreads stench, but also germs. They can be combated with a pinkish solution of potassium permanganate. Surfaces should be washed after thorough washing with soapy water.

Toothpaste

It is better to wash and rub the white parts of the refrigerator with toothpaste. It gives shine, cleanliness and freshness to the device. Use a sponge or soft brush for washing.

Tip No. 6. Defrost the refrigerator and freezer correctly.

If the refrigerator is cleaned, but the smell has not gone away, perhaps the problem is in the freezer: either the food has been stored longer than it should be, or it has had time to heat up and the food has spoiled. In this case, you will have to defrost the freezer and wash it.

Many instructions for the freezer state that equipment, even with the No Frost mode, must be defrosted once every six months and washed. But improper defrosting can damage the refrigerator even more than not defrosting at all.

The correct sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Set the temperature to 0 degrees, then disconnect the equipment from the power supply and open the door wide open.
2. Remove all food items.
3. If the refrigerator is old, then you need to prepare - lay newspapers and rags nearby, put a tray inside to collect liquid. Modern equipment most often has a special compartment for collecting melt water.
4. The thawing process itself. Can last from 3 to 10 hours. The best and traditional way is to leave the refrigerator to defrost overnight.

After this, the chambers should be thoroughly rinsed, dried with a towel and reloaded with food.

Manufacturers' recommendations

How to remove unpleasant odor from a refrigerator at home using ready-made products? In addition to thoroughly treating the chambers with cleaning agents, manufacturers recommend industrial chemicals. These include:

• Topper absorbers (“Lemon”, “Lime”, “Blue Ice”). Effective for 1-1.5 months. Gel balls are made on the basis of natural absorbents and oils. Safe for children.
• Breesal fresh flavor . Completely natural composition. Contains soda and charcoal. Suitable for refrigerators and freezers. The product lasts for a month of intensive use.
• Odor absorber Selena . Helps in eliminating ingrained odors of cheese, fish, meat, garlic, and onions.
• Market fresh odor and moisture absorber . Filtration regulator with activated carbon. It is harmless to children and does not give off an unpleasant aroma.

Repair experts also recommend using wood shavings. It is desirable if it comes from fruit trees. They smell pleasant and exude light woody-fruity notes. You can purchase it in the department with smoking products.

Attention: the article was written for the website Chistyulya.info. Publishing on other sites is theft of content. Read this and other similarly useful articles in the original source!

Tip No. 8. Removing mold - find it and neutralize it!

If the smell from the refrigerator is strong and pungent, then one of the likely causes is mold. Mold is very dangerous for humans, and even more so in the refrigerator next to food, but it is not easy to remove. Fungal spores easily enter the body and cause illness, so mold must be dealt with as quickly as possible.

As a rule, there are only two causes of mold in the refrigerator: high humidity (in the presence of condensation, especially on the back wall); deposits of spoiled food.

It is very important to find the cause of the problem before solving it. Otherwise, the fungus will appear again.

Condensation and high humidity are a malfunction of the refrigerator that must be corrected by a specialist. After this, it is necessary to carry out a complete cleaning of the equipment.

Products that have expired serve as an excellent haven for germs and fungi. They easily travel on the surface of the refrigerator and even on other products. That is why it is advisable to store everything in separate bags or containers.

You can also use folk remedies against mold, for example, soda or vinegar from the examples above. But will they really remove all the mold without leaving any spores behind? Among the folk ways to get rid of this scourge, we can recommend hydrogen peroxide - it has a disinfectant and antifungal effect. But it is only suitable for white refrigerators due to its whitening effect.

It is better to use special antifungal agents from the store. But they should be washed off very carefully so that aggressive chemicals do not come into contact with food.

Under no circumstances should you use copper sulfate, no matter how many positive reviews there are for it online!

Yes, this product will help whiten mold, but for humans it is poison, which has no place in the refrigerator.

Table. Odor absorbers for refrigerator

Tip No. 9. Check for technical faults.

With technical malfunctions, it is better to immediately contact a specialist, but knowing what kind of breakdowns happen is also very important, because some can be overcome on your own.

Clogged drainage system

The drainage system is exactly the hole where water flows when defrosting the refrigerator. It happens that the electricity is turned off, the refrigerator defrosts, food spoils, and a smell appears. Of course, we get rid of all the food at once and clean out the refrigerator. But this does not always solve the problem. The reason is precisely the drainage hole, or rather its blockage - something got in there and rotted, hence the smell.

The best option is to find and neutralize the drainage hole, namely, try to penetrate there mechanically: with a rag wound on a wire.

This should be done as carefully as possible so as not to damage the hose. Afterwards, boiling water is poured into the hole, which should neutralize everything.

In case of such a blockage, it is necessary to find the container itself to collect water. You'll be lucky if it's removable - in that case, you need to take it out, rinse and dry it. If this is not possible, it is better to contact a specialist.

Ventilation

It also happens that the smell comes from the ventilation holes of the refrigerator. Most often this applies to modern No Frost models. In fact, ventilation only spreads the smell, which most often comes from the condensate collection container described above. In this case, you should also defrost the refrigerator, disassemble it and wash it.

Smell of burning

The smell of burning is probably the most terrible thing for the owner of any equipment. There are several reasons why it can form. Treatment depends on the cause.

These are not the only, but the most common causes of a burning smell from the refrigerator. Obviously, simply washing the surfaces is not enough - it is better not to hesitate and immediately contact a specialist, and only after that clean it using one of the methods listed above.

It is worth noting that freon, despite popular opinion, does not smell of anything, so it is impossible to smell it. You can only hear the gas coming out.

Special air absorbers

There are special devices that can be successfully used to remove stench from the refrigerator. Inside the absorbers there is a substance that has adsorption properties.

Silica gel balls

Spheres with balls made of silicone gel are most accessible to the general consumer. The set includes 3 spheres, which are enough for a year to absorb odors in a household appliance.

Activated carbon absorber

The device contains black activated carbon powder. Change containers with coal every month. Then odors are constantly removed from the chamber.

Gel

You can quickly kill the smell using a special absorber, inside of which there is a gel with lemon and algae extract. The substance is poured into transparent containers. In this case, you can track the consumption of the gel.

Mineral salt

Mineral salt crystals are in a special transparent container. They absorb odors inside the refrigerator compartment. Over time, it is necessary to wash off the top contaminated layer from the device.

Absorber-ozonator

Small devices are installed or placed inside the refrigerator. In this case, it is necessary to open the door of the unit less, otherwise the operation of the device will be incomplete. Thanks to the devices, the unpleasant odor disappears.

Devices with replaceable carbon filters

The convenience of this device is that the filters can be changed every 2 months. They effectively eliminate excess moisture and prevent rotting of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Ionizer devices

Electronic appliances help circulate air inside the refrigerator compartment. This allows unpleasant odors to not stagnate. It is necessary to keep the devices in the refrigerator for several minutes.

Egg-shaped

The advantage of this device is that it controls the temperature inside the refrigerator. As soon as the temperature rises, the egg begins to change its glow from white to another.

Black tea

Fresh tea leaves are poured into a dry and clean jar and placed at the bottom. Over time, the musty smell will go away, and the pleasant aroma of tea leaves will remain inside.

Rice

Absorbs mustiness and moisture from rice well. You can keep it constantly, changing the grains for new ones.

Oriental spices

You can combat “foreign” aromas with spices. Their strong smell overpowers other bad smells that arise due to improper storage of food in the refrigerator. You can choose turmeric powder, cinnamon powder, clove seeds, dried basil herbs, and thyme as absorbents.

Citrus

Dried lemon peels and oranges are popular for changing flavors in the refrigerator. Pomegranate peels are also used.

Charcoal

In addition to activated carbon, you can use charcoal. It is crushed and the pieces are placed on the chamber shelf.

Cat litter

It is known that cat litters are prepared using odor-absorbing substances. This property can be used to add freshness to the refrigerator. Place the box below, changing the filling 1-2 times a week.

Apple

An apple cut in half can make the inside of the device smell nice. But after using the fruit, you cannot eat it.

Tea bags

The tea bag absorbs odors effectively. The bags can be placed on a saucer, changing them periodically.

Onion

Halves of onions will cleanse the insides of the smell of fish and meat. They need to be changed 2-3 times a week, throwing away the used heads.

Salt and sugar

You can remove odors from the refrigerator with salt and sugar. Bulk products on saucers or in jars are placed on shelves. Change as needed.

Chlorhexidine bigluconate

Disinfectant can be used in cleaning the refrigerator. It is better to wash the walls and shelves of the refrigerator with a sponge soaked in a solution. To improve the air, leave the bottle inside with the cap open.

Tip No. 10. Better yet, prevent it. We are taking preventative measures.

Prevention is much easier than treatment. And this applies not only to the human body, but also to technology. There are several rules that, if followed, will help avoid the appearance of an unpleasant odor in the refrigerator:

• periodic ventilation - the refrigerator turns off and the door opens for two hours. Can be performed once every 2–4 weeks;
• wipe all surfaces dry, for example, when washing or accidentally spilling liquids;
• defrosting should be done every six months, do not forget about additional compartments, for example, the drain hole - it also requires washing;
• regular inspection of products in order to get rid of spoiled food;
• store food in containers;
• use adsorbents (available ones - coal, rice, coffee, or store-bought ones).

These simple tips, put into practice, will help prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor in the refrigerator or make it so that it no longer smells.

Tips before starting the refrigerator for the first time

Small tricks will help you quickly prepare your refrigerator for first use:

• Before spraying, go over surfaces with a dry microfiber cloth. This will help collect microscopic dust and make cleaning easier;
• Lemon slices are a natural disinfectant and flavoring agent;
• Another product that will help disinfect the refrigerator before loading food for the first time is pharmaceutical chlorhexidine. For 1 liter, two tablespoons of disinfectant are enough.

After purchasing a new refrigerator, you will have to prepare it for further use. Before connecting the device to the network, it must be thoroughly inspected and washed.

How to clean a new refrigerator? There are a lot of remedies - homemade ones or chemical compounds. Their use will allow you to get rid of plastic or metal dust and disinfect surfaces that have been touched by the hands of sellers, movers or buyers.

Aggressive chemicals or abrasives are not suitable for processing. The refrigerator needs constant care, only in this case it will last a long time and unpleasant odors, mold and bacteria will not appear in it.

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

Ionizers and ozonizers are also worth mentioning separately. 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.

Getting rid of the sharp “technical” smell with detergents

New refrigerator designs emit an unpleasant odor immediately after purchase. Surely many buyers have noticed the pungent smell of plastic. How to wash a refrigerator to eliminate the smell inside? You can get rid of it by cleaning with detergents. Add a couple of drops of dishwashing detergent to a container of warm water. Foam the resulting composition. Using a sponge, wash the shelf area, walls and food storage drawers.

Remaining foam must be removed with clean water. After this, wipe the inside of the refrigerator box dry. This procedure must be repeated twice a week until the foreign aroma is completely eliminated.

If a toxic odor continues to be emitted from the refrigerator cavity, then most likely low-grade raw materials were used for its production. It is not recommended to use this device in the future.

Important Takeaways

Knowing how to remove odors from the refrigerator at home using folk remedies or special devices, you can no longer worry about unpleasant odors and how to deal with them. These methods are effective when the refrigerator is in working condition and without defrosting.

To prevent unpleasant occurrences, we recommend cleaning the chamber more often and not allowing food to accumulate. This way you will keep the aroma of the refrigerator appetizing and the chamber clean.

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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, thoroughly cleaning its surface.

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.

Useful tips

In order not to think about how to remove the unpleasant smell of the refrigerator, it is better to avoid this problem before it occurs. To do this, you need to use the preventive measures discussed above.

Clean up spilled liquids or accidentally spilled foods as soon as you see them. You can even wipe this area with a baking soda solution.

Do not store food in plastic bags. Store them only in containers with lids or plates covered with cling film.

Products should not be stored in plastic bags

Smoked meats and spices have a sharp and specific smell . It accumulates and starts to stink. Therefore, it is best for them to have a closed container. But if you still have this problem, then we’ll tell you what to do if the refrigerator smells like fish. Beer will help remove the smell. Just soak a sponge in it and wipe the area where it was lying. If you don't like the beer method, you can wipe the shelves with lemon juice and let it sit for three hours. Then everything must be washed with clean water.

Cover juices and compotes with lids. If they are open, an icy coating will appear on the walls of the refrigerator compartment.

It is necessary to constantly monitor the humidity level. When it rises, mold forms on the shelves. Silica gel balls help regulate humidity. If there is a fungus in the refrigerator, then bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, ammonia, soda and laundry soap will come to your aid. Just wipe the camera well with these solutions and mold will not bother you anymore. A bactericidal lamp will also perfectly eliminate fungus.

If the meat in the refrigerator starts to smell, you should throw it away immediately. When figuring out how to eliminate the smell of spoiled meat, pay attention to soap, soda, vinegar and ammonia solutions. The recipes for their preparation are described above. Treat the camera with a cloth soaked in one of the solutions. Particular attention should be paid to shelves and drawers made of plastic. Everything that can be removed and pulled out must be ventilated outside. Let the refrigerator stand for several days with the door open.

Throw away spoiled meat immediately

Thanks to these tips, you will never have problems with how to clean your refrigerator from odors.