Why is there an unpleasant smell in the freezer?
A putrid smell in the freezer occurs for the following reasons.
- food that is not previously packaged in a plastic bag or an airtight container with a lid spreads its smell throughout the freezer. Over time, it eats into the plastic walls, so it remains even after the product is taken out;
- Frozen foods, especially meat and semi-finished meat products, have a certain shelf life. The result of untimely inspection of the freezer can be a strong stench;
- power outage for a long time. If food has defrosted during a lack of electricity, harmful microorganisms begin to accumulate and multiply in them, as a result of which unpleasant odors may appear;
- malfunction of the camera, or the door does not fit tightly to it. If the freezer malfunctions, it cannot maintain a temperature sufficient for freezing and leads to food spoilage;
- A putrid smell in the freezer can appear due to mold under the rubber door. This problem mainly occurs if the freezer has not been dried out enough and has been left closed for a long time.
Important! Getting rid of the smell without eliminating the cause of its occurrence leads to a repeat problem.
technical issues
An unpleasant odor may appear due to spoilage of food due to an increase in temperature in the refrigerator. This does not always happen due to a breakdown.
Sometimes the cause is an unclosed freezer door. It is also impossible to exclude a power outage that occurred unnoticed by the apartment owner, for example, when he was at work or on vacation.
In other cases, the freezer ceases to cope with its main function due to technical faults.
What to check first:
- Thermostat position. It may have been accidentally set to the minimum level, causing the chamber to thaw and the food in it to spoil.
- Sealing tightness. If it is damaged or something interferes with it, the camera will not reach the desired temperature.
If these reasons are excluded, then some part has failed, for example, a compressor, thermostat, air sensor, etc. To fix the breakdown, you must contact a specialist.
How to remove rotten smell from freezer
Before you get rid of the smell in the freezer using special cleaning products, you need to take priority measures.
- Disconnect the refrigeration unit from the network and inspect its contents.
- Spoiled products that have expired are thrown into the trash. You will also have to get rid of food into which the putrid smell has managed to be absorbed.
- The freezer is freed from drawers, shelves, and all removable parts.
- Containers are washed under running water with dishwashing detergent.
- The walls of the freezer compartment and the rubber door are wiped with a sponge and soapy water.
- The freezer is dried open for several hours, and during this time it is advisable to take the drawers and shelves out onto the balcony.
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Special preparations
You can remove the smell from the freezer using special products. Top 3 effective compositions:
Luxus Professional
Liquid for cleaning refrigerators and freezers:
- removes unpleasant odors,
- leaves behind a subtle aroma,
- has antibacterial properties,
- does not harm surfaces,
- safe for health.
There are liquids with a smell on sale:
- mint,
- grapefruit,
- lime
The price of a 500 ml bottle is 220 rubles.
Sano Refrigerator Cleaner
The spray from an Israeli manufacturer is available in plastic bottles with a spray nozzle , the product:
- economically used,
- has antibacterial properties,
- effectively copes with various contaminants,
- does not require rinsing.
After using it, a pleasant aroma remains. One bottle lasts a long time. The price of a 750 ml package is 445 rubles.
Okazaki
It is produced in Japan and is suitable for freezers with a capacity of up to 100 liters . The use of an absorber prevents the mixing of odors of products stored in the chamber, preventing them from spreading and being absorbed into the plastic. Validity period – 1 year.
Using the device is very simple: you just need to remove the film from it and place it in the freezer. Price – 260 rubles.
Using detergents, it will be possible to influence the cause of the odor, that is, destroy bacteria and wash away contaminants. Absorbers only absorb odors, but do not affect the microbes that cause them.
How to clean a freezer to prevent odor
The plastic walls of the freezer are made of capricious material. An aggressive product can cause yellowing of the walls in the freezer. To avoid negative consequences, you should study the composition and recommendations on its label.
Note! The use of chlorine-containing products is not recommended for cleaning the freezer. Plastic absorbs their smell well and transfers it to frozen products. Cleaning powders are also not suitable for washing freezers - they are difficult to remove from hard-to-reach places, which subsequently disrupts the operation of the equipment.
Household chemicals for eliminating odors in the freezer are available in the following versions.
- detergents – disinfect the surface, kill unwanted odors;
- sprays - sprayed over the chamber space cleared of products, leaving a pleasant aroma.
How to remove odor from the freezer
Both special and industrial products will help remove unpleasant odors. Excellent results can be achieved with the help of folk recipes.
What special remedies are there to eliminate
Special products - reagents, which are available in the form of granules, tablets, or powder - absorb and eliminate smelly odors well. Most often, they use activated carbon and bamboo chips. The expiration date for the substance can be found on its packaging. It is recommended to combine reagents with the use of special wet wipes, which are used to wipe the inner walls of the chamber.
An excellent tool is an ozonizer, which is installed inside the freezer. It saturates the air with oxygen and kills harmful bacteria, therefore it is used both to eliminate “odor” and to prevent it.
Traditional methods and remedies for eliminating bad odor
Folk remedies are not inferior in effectiveness to industrial ones. Their advantages are availability and low cost.
DIY absorber
Of course, it’s easier and faster to buy an absorber in a store, but its filling has an expiration date, and after 2–3 months it will stop absorbing odors. By learning how to make such a device yourself, you can eliminate the possibility of a nasty smell appearing in the freezer.
Having disassembled a store-bought absorber, you can find a paper bag filled with crushed charcoal. A homemade device is made in a similar way. To make it you will need two tablespoons of dry rice, two packs of activated carbon (20 tablets) and a small piece of cotton fabric.
First, you need to sew a rectangular bag of fabric measuring 5 * 10 cm. Activated carbon tablets are removed from the packaging, crushed with a mortar into a fine powder, or broken into quarters.
Then the rice is mixed with crushed coal, and the resulting mixture is filled into a bag. Its reverse side can be sewn up, then, after use, you can get rid of it, or tighten it with a cord, then it can be used several times, changing the filling as necessary.
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Household chemicals against persistent odors
If, after using traditional methods, the freezer continues to smell unpleasant, it is recommended to use industrial products. Manufacturers provide a wide selection of ready-made formulations:
- Special balls with a refreshing effect. The easy-to-use product lasts for four months. Used balls are thrown away.
- Absorbing jelly. Available in containers with protective foil under the lid. When used, the foil will need to be removed from the substance. A decrease in the amount of product indicates the need for replacement.
- Granular adsorbent. Activated carbon granules are placed in an egg-shaped container. Such eggs are good at collecting excess odors from the freezer.
- Battery ionizers. Batteries are used to power the devices. Ions not only remove odors, but also help get rid of bacteria and other pathogens.
- Special devices equipped with a dispenser. The electronic device is responsible for timely replacement of the absorbent agent.
- Moistened wipes. They are impregnated with a special composition that removes dirt and eliminates unpleasant odors.
Industrial products
Food processing plants that store food in large freezers use industrial reagents. They can also be used at home. After the walls and drawers of the freezer are washed with soapy water and well dried, the product is sprayed over the entire internal surface, including hard-to-reach corners and places under the rubber bands. After the substance has completely dried, the chamber is checked for the presence of foreign odors. If necessary, the procedure is repeated.
Salt, soda
A solution of soda and salt cleanses the internal walls well and removes ingrained odors.
You can prepare it in two ways.
- 3 tablespoons of salt are mixed with 2 tablespoons of soda. A small amount of water is added to the dry mixture. The solution should be stirred until the components are completely dissolved, and the walls and bottom of the freezer should be cleaned with a sponge. After treatment, the surface is washed with a clean cloth.
- A little baking soda and salt are poured and evenly distributed along the bottom of the freezer and each drawer, and left there for several hours . Bulk elements act as an absorber and can even be used for preventive purposes.
Note! Due to the violent reaction of soda to vinegar, you can use it in the following way. Dip a damp cloth in baking soda, rub the freezer area with it, and spray vinegar on top of it using a spray bottle. The composition is left for 10 - 15 minutes and then washed off with water.
Ammonia solution
Ammonia only helps with mild odors. To prepare its solution you will need 1/5 teaspoon of ammonia and ½ glass of water. The resulting liquid is applied to the walls and drawers and does not require rinsing - after drying, its odor will not be felt.
Activated carbon
Diluted activated carbon tablets can perfectly remove odors. 15 powdered activated carbon tablets are diluted in one glass of water. The liquid is distributed over the inner surface and left for several hours, after which the walls are washed.
Note! To eliminate the stench in the freezer, you should put a piece of charcoal in each of the drawers, intended for lighting fires in barbecues.
Ammonia
The odorous liquid kills mold fungi and harmful microorganisms, and, as a result, removes odor. The product is applied to a cotton pad, which is used to wipe the surfaces of the camera. After processing, the freezer should be washed with a damp cloth and left open for several hours.
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Citrus fruit
The pleasant aroma of citrus fruits will relieve the freezer of stench. Lemons, oranges or grapefruits are suitable for use. Their juice is stored in a container and distributed throughout the freezer. It’s even more convenient to rub the walls with half of the sour treat. The disadvantage of this method is divorce. The juice, diluted in a 1:1 ratio, does not require rinsing and leaves no traces. The peel of the fruit used is a natural flavoring. It is laid out in camera drawers.
Onion
Onions are suitable for removing faint odors from the freezer. But, unlike lemon, it should be used with caution. If you rub onion on the inside of the unit, it will stink even more. It is recommended to cut the vegetable into thick rings and place 1 - 2 pieces in each box.
Coffee
The invigorating coffee aroma is a worthy assistant in the fight against rotten odors. An instant drink is not suitable for this method. The gauze fabric is folded into several layers, after which 2 - 3 tablespoons of natural dry coffee are rolled into it. One such bag is placed in each box, which is left there for several hours.
Preventive measures
To avoid the appearance of unwanted odors in the freezer, certain preventive measures should be followed.
- A refrigerator equipped with a no-frost system does not mean a complete lack of care for it. It requires scheduled cleaning and washing once or twice a year, when unplugged. A unit that requires defrosting must be regularly freed from ice by unplugging it;
- if the freezing unit has been disconnected from electricity for a long period of time, before connecting it, you should wash the walls, doors and folds with rubber bands;
- products must be hermetically packaged in a plastic bag or plastic container ;
- When removing cut meat, fish, or self-prepared semi-finished products , it is worth sticking on their packaging the date when the product becomes unusable. Raw meat is unfit for consumption after 8 months, fish after 12 months, and vegetables after 10 months. They can not only smell, but also negatively affect your health;
- when going on a long trip, you should remove food from the freezer, unplug it , and leave the door open;
- To prevent unwanted odors, you need to use store-bought or self-made absorbers.
If you fail to avoid the occurrence of an unpleasant odor, you should find the source of the occurrence. Among the variety of methods for removing it, you can easily choose the most suitable and effective one for yourself.
Prevention of odors
Having eliminated the unpleasant aroma, care is taken to ensure that this does not happen in the future. Troubles can be avoided if you follow the principles of food storage: place meat and fish on separate shelves, in thick wrappers or closed containers and pans. Vegetables, fruits in boxes, dairy products and cheeses in separate compartments.
Monitor the shelf life of food. Periodically defrost the refrigerator and clean its elements, including the drain hole. In case of breakdowns, immediately call a specialist. If a refrigerator has reached the end of its service life, it is disposed of. By following these simple tips, you will be able to avoid problems.
