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» How to get rid of an unpleasant smell in the refrigerator. How to remove the persistent smell of food from the refrigerator The refrigerator smells bad what to do

How to get rid of an unpleasant smell in the refrigerator. How to remove the persistent smell of food from the refrigerator The refrigerator smells bad what to do

The refrigerator can prevent food from rotting for a long time. But if obviously spoiled food or a faulty ventilation system gets into it, then the aromas mix. And when you open the door, you no longer feel the fragrant freshness of fruits, vegetables or ready-made dishes; on the contrary, everything seems unappetizing. How to remove an unpleasant smell from the refrigerator?

Causes of odor

As a rule, an unpleasant odor appears when storing spoiled products and improper care behind the refrigerator. Also caused by a faulty ventilation system, the formation of mold on the walls of the refrigerator, breakdown of its internal parts and clogging of the drain hole.

Rules of care

A new refrigerator, like other new household appliances, has a specific smell. To prevent food from absorbing it, wash the refrigerator inside and out before first use. For this you can use warm solution baking soda or liquid detergent. Finally, wipe all surfaces dry and leave the refrigerator open for several hours.

A refrigerator equipped with a No Frost system must be thoroughly washed 2-3 times a year. At drip system defrosting, manufacturers recommend washing the refrigerator once a month.

How to remove odor

If there is an unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, you can try to remove it with folk remedies:

  • Wipe all surfaces with a vinegar or lemon solution. Dilute vinegar with water in equal parts. If you are preparing a lemon solution, dilute 3-4 drops of lemon juice in 200 ml of water.
  • Treat the refrigerator with a soda solution (3 tablespoons per glass of warm water). If the smell is strong, you can increase the concentration of soda to 5-6 tablespoons and rub the resulting paste onto the surfaces of the refrigerator.
  • Treat the washed walls of the refrigerator with ammonia and leave the appliance open all day.
  • Grind the activated carbon and place it in an open container in the refrigerator for a day.

How to deal with mold

To get rid of it once and for all mold fungus, it is necessary to find out the reasons for its appearance. Most often, mold appears in the refrigerator due to excessive accumulation of condensation in the unit and, as a result, high humidity. Another reason - long-term storage mold-contaminated product.

Bleach, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide will help remove the fungus. ammonia, laundry soap. Use the following algorithm of actions. First, treat and thoroughly wash areas with black mold with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. Then disinfect the surfaces with a soap solution (it is better to use laundry soap). Wipe the refrigerator compartment accessories (trays, lids) with a weak vinegar solution. Leave the refrigerator open for 10-12 hours to allow all surfaces to dry thoroughly.

Food absorbents

To prevent the appearance unpleasant odor in the refrigerator, use products that absorb strong aromas well. For these purposes, pieces of rye bread, rice grains, sliced ​​onions, apples or raw potatoes are suitable.

Aromatic herbs absorb odor well. If you simply store turmeric, cloves, basil, celery, cinnamon, and thyme in the refrigerator, then an unpleasant smell will not appear in it.

Citrus fruits are also good as an absorbent. Instead of a freshener, use orange peels or lemon slices. Regular salt and sugar absorb odors perfectly. Pour a little salt or sugar into a saucer, put it in the refrigerator and very soon the smell will disappear.

Refrigerator fresheners

Ready-made refrigerator freshener can be purchased at the store. It will not only remove odor, but also eliminate excessive dampness. Using this product, you can get rid of the aromas that are emitted by the most pungently smelling foods: garlic, onions, fish.

There are several types of odor absorbers:

  • Balloons with helium sachets. Sold several pieces in one package. For small refrigerator One package lasts for 10-12 months. One ball is placed in refrigerator, and the rest should be stored in airtight containers.
  • Absorber with coal granules. Absorbs odors, moisture, and also ethylene, a gas emitted by vegetables and fruits. Thanks to the absorber, fruits and vegetables stay fresh longer in the refrigerator.
  • The product is in the form of a mineral salt crystal. Removes moisture and odors well, very comfortable and durable. The crystal needs to be washed 1-2 times a month to remove the spent top layer.
  • Cleaner-ionizer. Eliminates odor and has a detrimental effect on microorganisms. It runs on batteries and has a special indicator that shows the charge level.

Follow the recommendations for use household appliances from the manufacturer and properly care for your refrigerator. Choose any product that is convenient for you that will help remove the unpleasant odor and prevent its occurrence in the future. This way you will solve the problem of foreign odors and save yourself from unnecessary hassle.

An unpleasant odor can appear in the refrigerator for several reasons: food that has not been thrown out on time, spoiled food, storing foods with a strong aroma without packaging, or a clogged drain hole. How can you remove the smell from the refrigerator? What products – natural and store-bought – can I use?

If you discover such a problem, you should immediately begin cleaning the refrigerator, otherwise the stench will only intensify, and it will be much more difficult to remove the ingrained repulsive odor.

First, the device is disconnected from the network and freed from products. The removed contents are inspected, condition and expiration dates are checked. Spoiled food is thrown away, products emitting strong aromas are placed in sealed containers.

The next step is cleaning the refrigerator. You can use store supplies– they are simple and easy to use, but experienced and economical housewives prefer traditional methods- it's safer and cheaper.

Folk remedies

If it stinks new refrigerator, then the cause may be plastic dust deposited on the walls. Over time, the unpleasant odor goes away on its own, but it’s quite easy to remove it yourself. To do this, wipe the walls with a sponge soaked in soapy water or soda solution, then wipe dry and leave to air for a couple of hours.

The most popular and inexpensive way to remove unpleasant odors.

Vinegar is mixed with water in equal proportions, the resulting liquid is moistened with a clean kitchen sponge, and all internal surfaces are thoroughly wiped with it: shelves, walls, seal, drain hole.

To enhance the effect after cleaning, you can place a glass with undiluted vinegar poured into it in an empty refrigerator and leave for an hour or two. After the specified period, the chambers are well ventilated.

Using this fruit, an effective detergent is prepared: 1 part lemon juice is mixed with 10 parts vodka or 5 parts water.

Treat all surfaces with a sponge soaked in this solution.

To consolidate the results and prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor, you can place lemon or orange peels on the grocery shelf for several days.

Prepare an aqueous solution: dissolve a tablespoon of ammonia in 1 liter of water. Stir thoroughly and wipe all surfaces with a rag soaked in the resulting liquid. Wash off any remaining product with clean damp cloth. Ventilate.

Soda

Add a tablespoon of soda to 1 liter of water and stir. Moisten a clean sponge or rag in the solution and wipe all shelves, corners, walls, and rubber seals with it. After treatment, wipe the refrigerator dry and leave to ventilate for 2 hours.

Odor absorbers

Absorbers are products that are used in conjunction with cleaning the refrigerator, if even after thorough cleaning and washing there is a smell in the chamber.

You need to understand that such things only absorb all odors, but do not eliminate main reason their appearance - microbes and bacteria. Therefore, before using absorbers, you should still wash the refrigerator.

Soda

Baking soda poured into any suitable container and placed on a shelf will absorb all unpleasant or overly intense odors. Instead of soda, you can use other products with similar properties: salt, dry rice, sugar.

20-30 tablets of coal are crushed into powder, placed in a small container (saucer), and placed on a shelf in the refrigerator.

It can be stored like this for several weeks, during which it will absorb all the harsh and repulsive aromas. After this period, it is enough to calcine the powder in the oven for 10 minutes, after which it will be suitable for use again.

Brown bread, potatoes, apple

Half the loaf is cut into pieces and placed on each shelf. Instead of bread, you can spread it over a cut potato or apple tuber.

This method helps to combat the stench that is not too strong.

Coffee

You can also remove the smell using beans or a small handful of ground coffee. In this case, the smell itself will not be eliminated, but the bright coffee aroma will mask it.

You can also use other natural fragrant agents: cinnamon, tarragon, turmeric, cloves, basil, thyme. A bunch of herbs or spices poured into a saucer will clear the stench from your refrigerator.

Store products

Their undeniable advantages are efficiency and ease of use.

If desired, you can use special compositions for washing refrigerators, which are sold in the department household chemicals.

To eliminate unpleasant odors, manufacturers offer several options:

  1. Odor absorbers. They are used to prevent the appearance of new unpleasant odors; they cannot be used to remove existing ones. Such devices are placed on walls or shelves, in the egg compartment. Most often, coal is used as the main absorbent substance. Is it worth overpaying?
  2. Special mini air fresheners. These small battery-powered devices, according to customer reviews, are quite effective.


Preventive measures

To prevent the unpleasant smell from settling again, it is important to follow 2 simple rules:

  1. Any food in the refrigerator should be placed in packaged form (in a container, wrapped in cling film, placed in a jar with a lid, etc.).
  2. All spilled liquids, drops from sauce or melted meat must be wiped up thoroughly and immediately.

Any refrigerator should be unplugged at least 2 times a year, washed and treated with antifungal agents. You should not wait for mold or an unpleasant odor to appear; it is better and easier to maintain cleanliness in the place where food is stored.

Greetings, dear blog readers! I think every housewife knows that in any closed room, sooner or later a specific smell appears. The refrigerator is no exception.

But before you start rubbing the unit with all available detergents, you need to figure out what is the source of the “aroma”. This will make it much easier to deal with the problem, and it will also save you from some troubles. Therefore, I propose today to talk about what to do if there is a smell in the refrigerator and how to get rid of it quickly.

So, let's imagine that you just bought new equipment. As soon as you take your purchase out of the box and install all the shelves and drawers, you will definitely smell the plastic. This is normal, because before this all the plastic parts were closed and did not have access to air. To eliminate this problem, you need to thoroughly rinse the new unit.

Attention! You need to wash it before turning it on. And after you finish, leave the doors open for a couple of hours to ventilate the technical insides as best as possible.

How to clean a new refrigerator? You can do this either with regular dishwashing detergent, or use soda diluted with water or a weak solution of ammonia (a few drops per liter). It is advisable to use both products to ensure that you get rid of odors, germs, and stains. Because the technique is not dirty, it will be quite simple and quick to do.

After you have treated all the walls, fixtures, containers and shelves, rinse off the cleaning solutions clean water and wipe with a dry cloth, then leave to air for several hours.

BUT! If you have been using the refrigerator for some time and suddenly notice that there is a distinct chemical smell in it, then immediately remove the food and call a specialist!

It is possible that some kind of breakdown occurred that led to penetration chemical substances into your device. This is very dangerous and can have an extremely negative impact on your health!

How to deal with food odors

Even if the refrigerator is regularly washed and defrosted, an unpleasant odor may still appear in it. The fact is that some products themselves have a strong odor. For example, garlic, fish or strong marinades. How to remove them, especially if the flavors are mixed? There are several folk remedies:

  • Vinegar. Make a solution of 9% vinegar (a tablespoon per glass of water), wet a clean cloth and wipe all the insides of your device.
  • Lemon. Squeeze the juice of one lemon and wipe everything inside (especially the shelves). Then, cut the whole lemon into 3-4 parts and leave it in the refrigerator for several days.
  • Rye bread. After washing the device, place pieces of rye bread in the corners (on a saucer or napkin). This method will absorb all unpleasant odors! Also, raw potatoes and rice do an excellent job with this task. Just leave them inside for a few days.
  • Activated carbon. This method also allows you to collect all the “flavors” from the air. To do this, you need to crush 40 charcoal tablets (4 packs) and leave it on one of the shelves.

What to do to avoid smelling like a pharmacy

Many housewives store medicines in the refrigerator. And even if all the packages are closed and are in a strictly designated place, then all the same, both the equipment itself and the food stored there one day begins to smell strongly of all this pharmacology. What to do?

  • Place an open pack of baking soda in the refrigerator to help absorb medication odors.
  • Place some filler in one of the shelves. cat litter.
  • Take advantage purchased product– in hardware stores there are quite strong and safe absorbents intended specifically for this equipment.

This was the situation with my grandmother's refrigerator. Various bottles of medicine were stored on the side of the flap, and although they were closed, over time an unpleasant odor appeared. Thoroughly cleaning the refrigerator did not help for long, the technician came several times, they thought there was some kind of leak. In the end, he recommended removing all medications, and after some time the smell completely went away!

What if the smell is very strong?

Sometimes the refrigerator can develop not just an unpleasant smell, but a real stench. For example, you left for several days, and at that moment your electricity was cut off and all your food spoiled. Or you accidentally left a large piece of blue cheese uncovered.

Sometimes the smell is so unbearable (especially from rotting fish or meat) that simple remedies, which we use at home, will not save us. We will delete it like this:

  1. Rinse the refrigerator several times with dishwashing detergent. It is advisable to take it with a refreshing effect.
  2. We wash it as thoroughly as possible, without missing a single shelf, container or fastener.
  3. Afterwards, we rinse our device with clean water and dry it with a dry cloth.
  4. We wipe everything inside lemon juice.
  5. We ventilate for a day, or maybe two.
  6. Thoroughly wash all dishes that were near the source of the “aroma.”
  7. We place the odor absorber described above on one of the shelves.
  8. After a few days, you can replace it with a natural flavor (coffee, orange peel, gauze swab soaked in aromatic oil, etc.).

Prevention

I think you will agree that it is better to prevent a problem than to deal with its consequences. How should you store food?

  • When putting food in the refrigerator, make sure all lids are tightly closed.
  • Try to pack food in foil or bags.
  • By the way, foil perfectly replaces the lid (if suddenly there is none).
  • Defrost and clean your refrigerator regularly (even if you have the No Frost function).
  • Don't forget to wash the rubber bands and drain.
  • If the product begins to deteriorate, it is better to get rid of it immediately.
  • Try to leave free place in the freezer so that the air has the opportunity to circulate quietly.
  • When planning a trip, it is better not to leave food in the freezer. Try to use them as much as possible, and it’s better to give away the rest.

As you have seen, there are many ways to get rid of unpleasant odors in the refrigerator. The main thing is not to forget to regularly care for your equipment, and it will serve you for a long time and reliably. Do you know any other methods to solve this problem? I'm waiting for you in the comments!

Until we meet again,

Anastasia Smolinets

Sometimes, even with careful care of the refrigerator, an unpleasant odor may appear in it. It can be caused by mold, fish, or even a forgotten piece of meat. You have to think about how to quickly remove the smell, how to clean the refrigerator, and what to put in there to destroy the nasty “aroma.”

To help you, we have found all the secrets and methods by which you can get rid of the smell in the refrigerator - this and folk remedies, and completely new solutions.

1. Baking soda

Baking soda is one of the most affordable and effective means of combating dirt and odors, including in the refrigerator. When washing the inside surface of the refrigerator: shelves, walls, doors, freezer, rubber seals, can be added to water as a detergent and disinfectant a small amount of soda After treatment, all surfaces must be rinsed with clean water and wiped with a dry cloth.

Baking soda has the property of absorbing odors, so you can put a small jar of baking soda on the shelf. Baking soda can be mixed with a little water to form a thick, paste-like mixture. It needs to be changed once every 2-3 months.

2. Baking soda and essential oil

Baking soda in tandem with essential oil is another great way to get rid of odor.

Take half a pack of baking soda, add a few drops of any essential oil. Use a small amount of the resulting mixture as a detergent, adding it to warm water. Wash thoroughly using a sponge inner surface refrigerator. After this, you need to rinse everything with clean water and wipe with a dry cloth.

If the smell in the refrigerator was strong, then for a better effect you can sprinkle the remaining baking soda with essential oil on the shelves. Leave the product for 30 - 40 minutes, then carefully remove with a cloth. Next, rinse the surface with clean water and wipe dry.

You can also make a homemade sachet using baking soda and essential oil. To do this, sew from cotton fabric small bag, fill it with a mixture of soda and essential oil, tie it and put it in the vegetable compartment. After a month, the contents of the sachet need to be changed.

3. Ammonia

Ammonia is also an effective and affordable remedy.

Carry out a “general” cleaning of the unit.

  1. Take a glass container and place 2 tablespoons warm water and 1 tablespoon of ammonia.
  2. Wear rubber gloves.
  3. Wet a cotton pad with the mixture and place it on the shelf of the refrigerator door. The unpleasant smell will disappear.

If the smell in the refrigerator is persistent, you can wipe the entire internal surface with the resulting solution. Ammonia can destroy even very persistent odors, such as fish, rotten meat, and mold.

4. Activated carbon

Activated carbon is known to have remarkable absorbent properties. To get rid of unpleasant odors, you will need 2-3 tablets of activated carbon. The tablets must be crushed into powder and poured into a small glass jar. Place an open can of coal on any shelf of the refrigerator. The charcoal will absorb odors. If there is a persistent unpleasant odor in the refrigerator, then it is recommended to change the carbon 1-2 times a day. For prevention, the coal is changed 1-2 times a month.

For convenience, activated carbon can be placed in a plastic container from a Kinder Surprise. Just remember to make a few small holes in the container. It is recommended to heat the charcoal for the container in the microwave. Once a month, the “filling” of the plastic box will need to be changed.

Instead of activated carbon, you can use regular carbon charcoal– it has the same properties.

5. Black bread

It turns out that black bread can also solve the problem.

Take three clean plates, lay napkins on them, and place pieces of black bread on the plates. Place the plates on different shelves of the refrigerator. After a while there will be no smell. Only this procedure must be performed in a clean refrigerator.

6. Rice

Rice is also a good absorbent. With it you can eliminate all unpleasant odors.

Take two or three small containers. Fill them with dry rice and place them on the refrigerator shelves. After a week, change the contents of the jars.

You can use undercooked rice instead of dry rice. It absorbs odors better than dry ones. You just don’t need to keep it in the refrigerator for a long time, as it will begin to deteriorate and itself will be a source of an unpleasant odor.

7. Fragrant plants

Various types of air fresheners can be used fragrant plants: dill, thyme, mint, oregano and others. It is enough to place them on the shelves of household appliances, and the unpleasant odor will disappear. Just before placing the fragrant plant on the shelves, do not forget to thoroughly clean the refrigerator.

You should also know that fragrant plants are capable of transferring their smell to products. Therefore, products must be placed in sealed containers, bags or wrapped in cling film.

8. Citrus

Citrus fruits have a pleasant aroma and can be a good flavor for the refrigerator. Dry peels of orange, tangerine, grapefruit, and lemon can be placed on the shelves. In this case, they will not only freshen the air, but will also act as a kind of absorbent.

You can also use fresh slices or pieces of citrus fruits. Place them on saucers and place in the refrigerator. After 1-2 days, they will need to be thrown away and, if necessary, the next portion should be added.

9. Lemon juice

Freshly squeezed lemon juice is also great for removing stains and odors. It is enough to wipe the internal surfaces of the unit with a cloth soaked in lemon juice. After this, you need to wait 30 minutes and rinse all washed surfaces with clean water. Don't forget to wipe the walls and shelves of the refrigerator with a dry cloth.

10. Ground coffee

Coffee has absorbent properties and a pleasant aroma. Therefore, to get rid of the smell of fish or stale food from the refrigerator, you can use coffee.

Take 2-3 small jars. Fill them with freshly ground coffee and place them on the refrigerator shelves. The contents of the jars must be changed after a week. Instead of ground coffee, you can use coffee beans.

11. Cup of coffee

The second method using coffee is also very simple. Place the mug of unfinished, cooled coffee in the refrigerator. The unpleasant smell will disappear. Hot coffee can also be used, but in this case the refrigerator must, of course, be turned off.

12. Coffee grounds

The third method is using coffee grounds. It is recommended that you do not throw away the remaining coffee grounds, but pour them into a small jar and place them in the refrigerator. The aroma of coffee will refresh the air.

13. Getting rid of “technical” smell using detergents

If the refrigerator is new, then it may have a “technical” smell or a plastic smell.

Before placing food in such a refrigerator for storage, you need to wash it thoroughly. This can be done using detergents or soda. After washing, rinse everything with clean water and wipe dry with a cloth. After this, you need to ventilate the refrigerator, leaving it open for several hours, or best of all, overnight.

14. Vinegar

Vinegar - very effective remedy in the fight against various odors, although it itself has a sharp and not very pleasant aroma. If there is a moldy smell in the refrigerator, you can easily deal with it using vinegar.

  1. Turn off the unit, empty it of all products, and treat the internal surfaces with detergents.
  2. Take a container, pour a glass of water into it, add 2-3 tablespoons of 70% vinegar, stir.
  3. Wear rubber gloves to avoid irritation of your hands.
  4. Dampen a napkin or rag in the resulting solution and thoroughly wipe the entire inner surface. Try not to touch metal parts of household appliances so that the acid does not damage them.
  5. If after this procedure the smell of mold remains, then you can leave a napkin soaked in a vinegar solution in a drawer or on the refrigerator shelf for 7-8 hours.

Using vinegar, you can also fight other “bad” odors from the refrigerator: fish, meat, “technical” odors.

15. Vodka and lemon juice

Many people know that vodka can be used not only as an alcoholic drink, but also as a detergent and cleaning agent. It can destroy bacteria and get rid of various unpleasant odors, including in household appliances.

If there is an unpleasant odor in the refrigerator, you can try to remove it using this product. You will need some vodka and lemon.

Squeeze the juice out of the lemon. Prepare a solution of vodka and lemon juice - for 10 tablespoons of vodka, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Mix everything.

After cleaning the refrigerator, use this solution. Dampen the sponge and thoroughly wipe all shelves, doors, walls and drawers of household appliances. After this, check the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

16. Vodka and eucalyptus essential oil

Another simple way is using vodka.

To make the product you will need eucalyptus essential oil, vodka and water. Pour half a glass of water, add 4 tablespoons of vodka and 20 drops of essential oil. The resulting product can be used to treat all internal surfaces of the refrigerator.

You can pour the product into a small jar and leave it in the refrigerator for a while.

17. Apple

You can freshen the smell in the refrigerator after “spring cleaning” with the help of an apple.

It is best to take a green apple. Cut it in half and remove the core. Place the apple halves on saucers. Place the saucers on the refrigerator shelves. You should not keep apple slices in the refrigerator for a long time, otherwise they will spoil on their own. After 2 days, remove the plates with apples. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated with a fresh apple.

18. Soda Ash

Everyone knows about the existence of regular baking soda. But besides baking soda, there is also soda ash. It is also called linen, sodium carbonate, sodium carbonate. In production, soda ash is used to make household chemicals, as it is a strong alkali. You only need to work with it wearing rubber gloves.

By using soda ash you can get rid of rotten smell in a refrigerator. To do this you need to prepare the paste.

  1. Take 200 g of soda and mix it with a little water.
  2. The resulting paste should be applied to the internal plastic surfaces of the refrigerator and left for about an hour. The refrigerator, of course, must first be turned off and washed.
  3. After treating with soda ash paste, all surfaces should be thoroughly washed and wiped.

19. Tea

Tea can also solve the problem. The method is simple and accessible. You just need to do this when the refrigerator has already been cleaned.

Brew a tea bag in a mug and put it in the refrigerator. In this case, the unit, of course, should not be turned on. It is better to use tea that contains mint or lemon, as this tea is more aromatic.

For the same purpose, you can brew fragrant plants: currants, mint, thyme, oregano. After the drink has cooled, the household appliances can be turned on.

20. Tea bags

Unused tea bags can be an excellent absorbent and can rid your refrigerator of odors. You can use any tea bags. But it’s better if they have aromatic additives. You just need to take and place the bags on the shelves and doors of the refrigerator.

The advantage of this method is that the bags take up very little space and can be kept in the refrigerator for a long time. If necessary, they can be changed after two weeks.

21. Bow

Everyone knows that onions have a persistent, specific smell. The essence of the method is that one smell can displace another. If there is a rotten aroma coming from the refrigerator, the smell of onions can easily displace it. Of course, the method is suitable for those who are calm about the smell of onions.

Take a large onion, peel it, cut it in half, place it on a plate and place it on the refrigerator shelf. There is no need to keep this “flavor” in household appliances for a long time; after a day, remove the plate with onions. Instead of onions, you can also use garlic.

22. Ventilation

If after an “inspection” of the contents and “general cleaning” of the refrigerator the smell has not disappeared, then it is quite possible that it has been absorbed into the refrigerator. plastic surface the inside of the refrigerator.

To get rid of the smell, you need to ventilate the unit very well after washing, leaving it open for 1-2 days.

To consolidate the result, after long-term ventilation, place a special odor absorber inside the refrigerator, which can be purchased in special departments of stores or use homemade products.

23. Elimination of technical reasons

Odor can often be caused by technical factors. Simply put, the refrigerator is faulty. For example, a poorly functioning unit may not reach the power stated in the passport. This leads to spontaneous defrosting of the freezer, and the temperature in the refrigerator compartment will not be as low as it should be. All this leads to spoilage of stored products.

  • Sometimes the cause of a disgusting odor is clogged drain. The water stagnates in it, bacteria begin to actively multiply, and a stench appears.
  • It happens that it is required replace door seals, since because of them the doors of the unit may not close tightly, and this leads to an increase in the temperature inside.
  • Sometimes the root cause of mold smell in household appliances is high humidity inside. This is also a technical reason.
  • Even power outages may be an indirect cause of the smell from the refrigerator.

Of course, you can clean the drain in the refrigerator and replace the seals on the doors yourself. If the technical reasons are much more serious, then you need to contact refrigerator repair specialists.

24. General cleaning

Sometimes, to remove the smell from the refrigerator, it is enough to carry out the usual “ general cleaning" The cleaning procedure is as follows:

  1. Turn off the refrigerator.
  2. Empty household appliances of food and throw away anything that shows signs of spoilage.
  3. Remove all dismountable parts from the refrigerator.
  4. Thoroughly wash all internal surfaces using detergents. Treat hard-to-reach areas especially carefully.
  5. Wash the removable parts of the refrigerator.
  6. Thoroughly rinse the interior and removable parts of the refrigerator with clean water.
  7. Wipe all surfaces dry.
  8. Ventilate the unit by leaving it open for several hours.
  9. Place a special odor absorber in the refrigerator.

If the “general cleaning” is done efficiently, the annoying smell will disappear.

25. Isolation of products from each other

It often happens that the refrigerator is working properly, and there are no spoiled foods in it, and the shelves and drawers are clean, but still an unpleasant odor emanates from the household appliances. Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that the smells of different products are mixed. Some products, even if they are very fresh, can saturate the material of the refrigerator and transfer the smell to other products.

The solution is to not store food in open form. Prepared meals should be stored in sealed containers or containers with a lid. To store other products, use plastic bags or cling film. If you “isolate” products from each other, then the smells will not mix.

26. Raw potatoes

Regular potatoes can also get rid of unpleasant odors.

  1. To do this, take two medium-sized tubers.
  2. Wash and cut each into four pieces. There is no need to peel the potatoes.
  3. Place the potato pieces on plates and place them on the refrigerator shelves.

Potatoes will absorb the unpleasant aroma found inside household appliances. Sliced ​​potatoes should be kept on shelves for no more than two days.

27. Paper

Everyone knows that paper can absorb odors. This property can be used to clean the refrigerator from unpleasant amber.

Take several sheets of construction paper and crumple them up. Place lumps of paper on the shelves located on the refrigerator doors, or place them in the compartments for vegetables and fruits. The paper will absorb odors. After a week, change these “absorbers”.

28. Cleaning the drainage tube

Often the indirect cause of odor in the refrigerator is a clogged drain tube. Perhaps someone does not even suspect the existence of such a part in the refrigerator. Then you need to take your passport and see where she is.

When a drain becomes clogged, it can give off an unpleasant odor. If condensation accumulates under the fruit and vegetable drawers, this is a sure sign of a clogged drain pipe. Small particles of food get into it, mucus, mold and water accumulate. To get rid of the problem, it is enough to clean this drain.

You can try to remove the drainage tube, wash it and put it back in place. If the tube cannot be removed, you can use a rubber bulb, hand pump or compressor to flush the tube. You need to flush the drain several times until clean water comes out of the hole.

If the problem cannot be solved by washing alone, then it is recommended to first use a piece of cable or not very stiff wire. Bend it improvised means in the form of a loop, you need to carefully clean the drainage tube from any accumulations. After this, rinse with water using a rubber bulb. It is recommended to do such cleaning once a year.

29. Inspection in the refrigerator

The smell of spoiled food is very persistent. And if the source was in the refrigerator for a long time, then both the internal surfaces of the refrigerator and other products will smell.

The solution to the problem is to more often “inspect” food in the refrigerator for suitability. You should not accumulate mountains of food supplies on the shelves - this way you can simply forget about some food products. All open jars and packages with signs of damage to the contents should be immediately thrown into the trash. Carefully check all expiration dates indicated on packages. Try to use the product before its expiration date, otherwise, forgotten on the shelf, it can become a source of unpleasant odor.

30. Dishwashing detergents

On specialized shelves retail outlets You can find many means that you can use to get rid of the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator.

Dirt and odor can be removed using any dishwashing detergent. Prepare a bowl of warm water, add a little dishwashing detergent and clean the inside of the unit.

31. Special products for cleaning refrigerators

There are also special chemicals for cleaning refrigerators. They are even easier to use. Most of them are produced in the form of sprayers, and this makes cleaning convenient. They can be sprayed onto all internal surfaces, and then simply wiped with a sponge.

32. Wipes and sprays

There are also special wipes and antibacterial sprays. With the help of napkins you can remove small dirt on the shelves of the refrigerator, and the spray will help cope with various bacteria that cause the odor.

33. Pebbles and essential oils

You can use essential oils to deodorize your refrigerator.

  1. Take a porous stone made of baked clay.
  2. Place 1 drop of lavender essential oil and 1 drop of lemon essential oil on the pebble.
  3. Place the stone on the shelf of the refrigerator door.

As the oil evaporates, you will need to add oil to the pebble. Instead of a stone, you can use a regular napkin or a piece of gauze. Only the essential oil from them will evaporate faster.

34. Dry aromatic spices

Dry aromatic spices and aromatic herbs can make the air in the refrigerator more pleasant. Can be used:

  • cloves,
  • turmeric,
  • cinnamon,
  • vanilla pods,
  • thyme,
  • basil.

2-3 spices need to be mixed, placed in small containers and placed on the refrigerator shelves. This homemade fragrance needs to be changed once a week.

35. Cat litter

The method is unusual, but effective. Silica gel is a dried gel that is made from solutions silicic acids. It absorbs moisture and odors well. Some cat litters contain this component. Using this filler, you can get rid of the smell in the refrigerator.

Take 2-3 small containers, pour a small amount of filler into each container. Place the container with the contents in an empty, clean refrigerator and leave for several days.

36. Vanilla extract

Vanilla extract is a substance used in confectionery. It has a strong pleasant aroma that can drown out all unpleasant odors. Vanilla extract will give your refrigerator a fresh aroma.

Make several balls of cotton wool. You can use cotton pads.

Soak them in vanilla extract and place on saucers.

Place saucers of this homemade vanilla flavoring on the refrigerator shelves.

37. Hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap

Hydrogen peroxide is a substance that can easily cope with various contaminants and with smells. To get rid of the smell in the refrigerator, you can use this product. Don't forget to wear rubber gloves before working.

Prepare a mixture consisting of hydrogen peroxide and any liquid soap.

  1. Take a wide container and pour a bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide into it.
  2. Dampen a sponge with peroxide and apply a few drops of liquid soap to it.
  3. Treat the interior surfaces of the refrigerator.
  4. Do not wash off the product from the walls and shelves immediately; leave it for 30 minutes.
  5. After the time has expired, rinse everything off with clean water.

38. Pomegranate peels

Everyone knows that pomegranate peels are used as a healing agent. But not everyone has heard that they can be used to purify the air in the refrigerator.

If you eat a pomegranate, do not throw away the peels, but dry them. The crusts should be placed on saucers and placed in the refrigerator. The product works as an absorbent, absorbing foreign odors. After a week, the dry pomegranate peels will need to be changed.

39. Fragrant mixture

Another budgetary means to get rid of odors in the refrigerator.

  1. Boil 1 liter of water.
  2. Dip a little cinnamon and cloves into boiling water.
  3. Add lemon zest and apple peel there.
  4. You will get a fragrant mixture. When the mixture has cooled, pour it into a jar and place it in the refrigerator.

The wonderful aroma will displace all unpleasant odors from the refrigerator.

40. Vinegar and essential oils

To prepare this product you need vinegar and essential oils lavender and tea tree.

  1. Take a liter of vinegar, add 15 drops of essential oils to it.
  2. Mix the mixture well and pour into the bottle.

The product is budget-friendly, easy to manufacture, economical and effective. It can be used to disinfect and clean various surfaces, including the inner surface of the refrigerator. Don't forget to wear rubber gloves when doing this. A bottle of this homemade detergent enough for more than one time. There will be no trace of dirt left, and the insides of household appliances will be filled with a pleasant aroma.

41. Ground cinnamon and vinegar paste

This homemade remedy can be used to prevent or remove unpleasant odors from the refrigerator.

  1. Take 2 bags of ground cinnamon, pour it into a plate, add a little vinegar and stir. The mixture should look like a paste.
  2. Place the product in a small jar with a lid. You first need to make small holes in the lid.
  3. Place the jar of cinnamon and vinegar paste on the refrigerator shelf. After 2 months, change the contents of the jar.

42. A solution of ammonia and tooth powder

To remove odors and dirt from the refrigerator, you can prepare another simple and effective remedy yourself.

You will need 1 liter of cool water, 1 tablespoon of ammonia and 50 g of tooth powder. First, add ammonia to the water, and then tooth powder. After thoroughly mixing the ingredients, you can use the product. It not only removes dirt and odors, but also has deodorizing properties.

43. Toothpaste

With toothpaste you can not only brush your teeth, but also use it as a cleaning and deodorizing agent in the kitchen. The product copes well with dirt and odor. It is best to use for this purpose toothpaste with mint or menthol flavor.

Apply a small amount of paste to a damp sponge and wipe all surfaces inside the refrigerator. After this, rinse everything with clean water and wipe with a dry cloth.

44. Salt or sugar

The method of preventing and getting rid of odors in the refrigerator is simple and accessible to everyone.

Take a small bowl or jar and fill it with salt or sugar. You can prepare a mixture of salt and sugar. Place the filled container on the refrigerator shelf. Salt and sugar are good absorbents; they will absorb all foreign odors. After about a month, change the contents of the jar.

45. Turmeric

Turmeric is a well-known spice with a specific aroma. It is used most often in cooking and medicine. Turmeric contains a huge amount of antioxidants that have antifungal and antibacterial properties. Therefore, it can be used as a means of preventing and getting rid of unpleasant amber in the refrigerator.

You can place turmeric in a small container and simply place it on the shelf of your household appliances. Gradually the unpleasant smell from the refrigerator will disappear.

46. ​​Soap emulsion

You can get rid of the smell using regular laundry soap. To do this you need to prepare a soap emulsion.

  1. Take a small piece of soap and grate it on a coarse grater.
  2. Add warm water to the soap shavings and stir.
  3. Using a rag and the resulting product, wash all surfaces of the refrigerator. Treat hard-to-reach areas especially carefully.
  4. Rinse surfaces with clean water.
  5. Wipe everything with a dry cloth.

Soap will destroy both dirt and unpleasant odors.

47. Silica gel shoe bags

Everyone knows about the existence of small bags in boxes with new shoes. The bags are designed to keep shoes dry. They are filled with hard granules. This is silica gel. It absorbs moisture and odors well.

Bags of silica gel granules can be used as a preventative against odor in the refrigerator by placing them on the shelves and doors of household appliances. The bags can be changed as needed.

48. Store-bought odor absorbers

Currently, special odor absorbers can be purchased at any household chemical store. There are several types:

  1. Ball. Consists of a plastic box round shape, inside of which there are silica gel granules. They are able to absorb odors and excess moisture from the refrigerator. These are the most affordable products.
  2. In the shape of an egg. Absorbs odors and is a kind of temperature indicator.
  3. Odor absorbers with dispenser. A device with removable carbon filters that absorb all foreign odors well. Change carbon filters needed once a month.
  4. Gel is an absorber. Absorbs very quickly and eliminates all odors.
  5. Ionizer. Battery operated device. It not only gets rid of odors, but also disinfects the air inside household appliances. The device is effective, but not cheap.

Most often it appears in old refrigerators, and this is explained by minute damage to the chamber lining. At regular washing Bacteria, mold spores and small pollutants can remain there, interacting and creating a living environment for themselves. To prevent the aroma from appearing, you need to regularly wash the shelves, walls and all parts of the device, and always with chemicals. Only they are capable of penetrating deep into cracks and effectively combating the proliferation of bacteria. Plus the constant use of an odor absorber for your refrigerator, and you will always smell like Arctic freshness, and not a mixture of culinary masterpieces.

However, a new refrigerator may also have an unpleasant odor. These are the so-called technical aromas. Fresh plastic smells like production. The reason for this is residual chemical compounds used in the production of household appliances and plastics in general. Over time, they evaporate and are removed by washing, and the refrigerator technically stops smelling. However, you can get rid of such an unpleasant neighborhood ahead of schedule with the help of thorough washing and the same absorbers, which will be discussed in detail below.

5 old-fashioned methods to get rid of unpleasant odor in the refrigerator

Most of these methods have been known since the time of our grandmothers, but nevertheless they prove their effectiveness.


How to remove odor from the refrigerator: modern methods

Old-fashioned methods have been followed modern methods, and now it won’t be at all difficult to solve the problem of how to remove the smell from the refrigerator.


In fact, the problem of how to remove the smell from the refrigerator can be solved quickly and without special effort. To avoid this need, store food in closed containers and use absorbent absorbents.