Unpleasant odor in the refrigerator - easy and simple to eliminate

Reasons for the smell

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

• Incorrect storage of food... The "smell" of raw fish, garlic or fried meat is well absorbed and difficult to remove.
• Availability spoiled product with a rotten smell.
• Clogged drain hole inside the chamber. The drainage tube, inside of which there is a blockage, does not drain moisture, and therefore reduces the efficiency of the technique.
• Compressor breakdownthat does not operate at full capacity and spoils the food in the freezer.
• Poor seals to the refrigerator door, making the temperature in it higher than it should be.
• Accumulated condensatewhich increases the risk of mold.
• Malfunctionwhich can only be identified and eliminated by a specialist. One of the most common problems is a broken fan.

Take a look a selection of handy tools to facilitate cleaning.

How to remove the smell?

To get rid of the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, you should use any of the above methods. Both modern cleaning compositions and folk remedies will help. Which ones are more effective and safe - it's up to you, because most synthetic air fresheners include both natural and chemical additives that can settle on food and dishes.

Take a look a selection of cleaning gadgets.

Store funds

On the shelves of hardware stores today, you can find many devices that mask an unpleasant odor: this various sprays, ionizers, gel beads and plastic indicators.

It is necessary to use modern odor absorbers in accordance with the instructions:

• The spray is sprayed on the surface, kept for several minutes and wiped off with a cloth.
• The ionizing purifier destroys bacteria and enriches the internal environment with oxygen, reducing the likelihood of food spoilage.
• The egg-shaped container acts as an absorbent and needs to be replaced after 3 months.

The listed products can remove the smell from the refrigerator, but without cleaning they will not be able to cope with its source. The fastest and most effective way is to thoroughly wipe the outside and inside of the refrigerator and clean the drain pipe.

Baking soda

If you decide to do with traditional methods, regular baking soda will do when fighting the smell in the refrigerator. In one liter of warm water, you need to dilute 2 tablespoons of the substance and wipe the shelves and walls.

Soda can also be wash off fat and carbon deposits in the oven.

In order for the soda to absorb unwanted aromas, pour it into a wide container and refrigerate. You need to change your homemade odor absorber about once a month..

Activated carbon

Another method tested by housewives is 20 tablets of activated carbon. They should be crushed to a powder and poured into a cup. The container should be placed on the refrigerator shelf and changed at least once a month.

By the way, the purchased absorber is 95% composed of activated carbon granules, so its effect is no different from crushed tablets.

Vinegar

Vinegar solution is a less gentle method for getting rid of odors, as too concentrated acid can damage the surface of household appliances. It is enough to dilute vinegar with water in a 1: 1 ratio and wipe down an empty and clean refrigerator.

We recommend leaving the doors open for a couple of hours after the procedure.

Ammonia

It has the same effect as vinegar: it removes the smell in the refrigerator well and requires ventilation. In addition, ammonia destroys germs, mold and mildew, leaves no residue.

To obtain a solution, it is necessary to dilute a few drops of alcohol per liter of water, and then wipe the freezer, shelves, seals, walls and drawers.

Coffee

Fragrant coffee beans, grounds or a glass of instant drink also successfully absorb unpleasant odors. The grains can be lightly fried, poured into a small container and put on the shelf overnight. After a few hours, the smell will go away.

We do not recommend placing hot food in the refrigerator, as temperature drops have a negative effect on the equipment.

To eliminate persistent odor, repeat the procedure several times.

Tea bags

Used tea bags also absorb unwanted "odor". All you need is to put them on the shelves and leave them for several hours. The only drawback is that the bags do not look very aesthetically pleasing.

Onion, apple, potato and rye bread

These foods, when cut in half, also have the ability to absorb odors. But such a solution is only suitable as a temporary measure - you will have to throw out natural fresheners every few days. Black bread will also help - you just need to cut the loaf into small slices and put them on the shelves of the refrigerator.

To prevent crumbs from falling off, we recommend using saucers or napkins.

Rice, salt and sugar

Raw rice grains, as well as salt or sugar, can be found in every home. They will not only help to eliminate the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, but also prevent the appearance of a new one. Cereals, salt or sugar must be placed on a plate and soon there will be no trace of an unpleasant aroma.

If you want to use this method, add food to a container and refrigerate for 2-3 weeks.

Citrus

Mild odors can be eliminated with orange or grapefruit peels. Lemon slices laid out on plates and placed on the shelves will help to freshen the refrigerator more effectively. A cloth soaked in lemon juice is also suitable: it needs to be wiped off the insides of the device.

Prophylaxis

To keep the refrigerator smelling fresh and clean, it is important to store smelling food in plastic bags, tightly sealed containers or dishes wrapped in cling film. You can replace plastic products with environmentally friendly glass containers. Any spoiled food must be disposed of immediately.

To prevent the appearance of odors, it is important to defrost the refrigerator in a timely manner, clean the special drain hole (the panel on the back wall will have to be removed) and change the rubber seals.

There are unforeseen situations when electricity is cut off for a long time in the whole house or traffic jams are knocked out during a long absence of the owners. In this case, all removable parts of the refrigerator must be disassembled, washed thoroughly with soap or other more effective cleaning agents and, putting any of the above absorbents inside, leave the doors open for several days.

Wash the refrigerator, if it has just been purchased and has an unpleasant odor, with a baking soda solution. Then wipe the inside and outside surfaces with clean water. Dry with a dry cloth and air thoroughly for 3 hours.

And if you decide to general cleaning in the kitchen, then it is better to first familiarize yourself with our advice.

Removing the smell from the refrigerator is easy enough if you arm yourself with the knowledge and take the time to combat unwanted odors.