Soda is good at absorbing any odor and yet has almost no odor of its own. Pour the pack into a container or an unwanted jar and leave it open somewhere in the corner of the refrigerator. About once a month, remember to clean and empty the container, wash it, and refill it with fresh baking soda.
Put a cup of kitchen salt in the far corner of the refrigerator for a few weeks. You can pour half a spoonful of lemon juice over it or drop a couple of drops of essential oils. For example, citrus or tea tree (an excellent natural antiseptic).
How to get rid of the smell of cat urine in the apartment?
Causes
Bad smell from the fridge, the causes of which are different, most often localized in such places:
- Part of the unit with a temperature no higher than 0 (fresh zone), where it is customary to store fish or meat products. If the meat is rotten, the odors will be particularly intense and strong.
- Containers and shelves.
- Sometimes the problem affects the freezer, which may be due to causes of failure of an important cooling equipment unit.
- In rare cases, the unpleasant situation is due to the poor quality of the insulation materials with which the interior of the refrigerator is covered.
If you purchased a new appliance and immediately began to use it, placing fresh vegetables, fruits, meat or other products on the shelves, do not be surprised when you will taste grease or plastic in your mouth when eating them. It is a normal phenomenon associated with the fact that you have not made preparations for operation. Any new refrigerator needs to be thoroughly washed with water, dishwashing detergent, a weak solution of soda or vinegar. After performing such actions the door should be opened for a couple of hours and only then use the device for its intended purpose.
If the odor persists, contact the manufacturer’s representative and determine the cause of the problem. Since the leading brands provide the possibility of warranty service of their products, in the case of factory defects they are forced to replace the device or refund the customer money. It is recommended to buy equipment in large and trusted stores, which quickly solve such problems, as well as pay for the delivery of refrigerators to the house. Representatives of small companies are not always responsible for their obligations.
The cause of bad odor in the refrigerator can be a lack of timely cleaning, scheduled defrosting and other maintenance procedures. To avoid unpleasant phenomena, it is necessary to maintain the freshness of the interior of the refrigeration unit. However, sometimes even responsible housewives often forget about the importance of “revision” of the placed products, so even after cleaning measures, the smell may not disappear.
To maintain cleanliness, it is advisable to use highly effective cleaning agents that are sold in stores with the appliance itself. In the composition of such liquids there are special components that destroy bacterial colonies.
If the lack of freshness is due to the inability to perform a general cleaning, you can place an odor absorber on the shelves. Dry tablets in the form of activated charcoal pellets or other substances that absorb and absorb any odors are available. The disadvantage of these options is their limited lifespan.
Unpleasant odor can also arise due to a clogged drain hole, which is located on the inner wall at the back of the unit. It is not uncommon for loaf crumbs, meat juice, fruit pulp, etc. to end up in this drain mechanism.д. To remove the clog it is sufficient to use a syringe with hot water after disconnecting the fridge. If you can’t clean the unit yourself, you’ll need the help of a professional.
Sometimes bad flavors appear due to prolonged storage of food and prepared meals, especially from cabbage with garlic dressing, meat or fish. Such food is better placed in closed containers. Someone else of the occupants may accidentally spill liquid food (broth, soup, okroshka) in the refrigerator, which will lead to the development of bacteria.
Cottage cheese, butter and cheese can absorb any odors, so they should be stored in containers made of ceramic materials or glass.
If you ignore such recommendations, it will not be easy to get rid of the smell after rotten meat and other rapidly spoiling products.
Unpleasant phenomenon can also occur with rotting greens. All fruits and vegetables should be kept in glass containers with an airtight spring lid. In this case, the shelf life of food in a fresh state will reach 2-3 weeks.
If you notice frequent power outages in your area, a rotten smell may appear in the unit, as mold and fungal organisms begin to develop inside. To get rid of the smell of mold in the refrigerator and quickly remove the traces of its appearance, you need to use store and folk remedies with high efficiency.
Causes of unpleasant odor in the fridge
Stinky odor in the fridge can appear for a variety of reasons. The most common is spoiled food. Especially fish, meat, and eggs give off the most unpleasant stench. No less popular cause of poor maintenance of the refrigerator: untimely cleaning, errors in the storage of products, which often provokes the appearance of mold. There are also technical reasons: ventilation breakdown and clogged drain. To solve such problems, it is better to call a master.
How and what to clean your refrigerator from various types of dirt
Carrying out daily cleaning is not difficult, but how to carry out a general washing of the interior of the appliance? In such a case, it is worth following the algorithm of actions that will allow you to remove dirt and odor.
Rules on how to properly clean the refrigerator:
- The first thing to do is to turn off the power of the device, so that it has had time to defrost a little before washing. Usually the process is carried out once every 2-4 months. this is done for any model of kitchen appliances.
- Open the door, remove all the food. Because general cleaning takes so long, put the food away in a cool place or in a special container. If you are planning to clean in advance, it is advisable not to buy perishable food.
- Remove all shelves, metal parts, and plastic racks. They are washed and dried separately from the main container. And besides, it will be problematic to wash every corner of the appliance qualitatively.
- To avoid odor, first wash the most contaminated areas, washing the hard-to-reach places. To clean the fridge, it is worth choosing a safe and effective remedy. Usually these are chemical products and folk recipes. They remove dried-on dirt, wash yellowed plastic and remove stains caused by cooking leftovers.
Warning! Folk recipes not only help to wash the base of the chamber and freezer, but also to disinfect. as a result, harmful microorganisms will die, which means that you can, without fear for the products, use the fridge.
- To wash the interior, pay attention to all nooks and crannies. Rubber seals on the door are washed because bacteria can also be found underneath them.
- The last step is to wipe the parts with a wet rag and then with a dry cloth.
Only plug the appliance into the socket when it is completely dry!
The outside of the refrigerator is wiped with a foam rag and then wiped dry. The back should be scrubbed with a brush to prevent dust collecting in the mechanism. For external cleaning folk remedies are not usually used.
To remove odors, wash only after defrosting.
What is the best way to wash your fridge so it does not stink and accumulate difficult to remove dirt? It is best to use folk remedies that gently clean the chambers of dirt. Do not use abrasive detergents as their particles scratch the surface.
General cleaning of your refrigerator
If the internal contaminants are strong. they are soaked in advance, and then scrubbed with improvised compounds, not chemicals.
Emergency measures
If the smell is strong, to eliminate it, perform one or more of these procedures:
- Clean and rinse surfaces and wipe with a concentrated vinegar solution. A baking soda pulp can be used instead. After 3 hours rinse with water.
- To get rid of the smell of mold, treat the walls and other surfaces of the cell with ammonia mixed with hydrogen peroxide. The disadvantage of this method is that the smell of mold will replace the strong and unpleasant smell of ammonia. To remove it, open the refrigerator door and leave it open for 24 hours. Then rinse again with clean water or a mild detergent.
- Mould and fungus spores are killed by the chlorine. Wash the walls with bleach. Sodium hypochloride, which it contains, stops the growth of microorganisms and kills them.
If there is mold and mildew in the refrigerator, they cause condensation to build up in the unit. It causes increased humidity in the chamber. To get rid of mold, perform the following actions:
My Refrigerator Stinks! | How to FIX a Smelly Fridge | FIX.com
- Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide solution can be used to wash away black stains
- Disinfect with a solution of laundry soap, the alkali of which kills the fungus
- Leave the fridge open for 8-10 hours
- All jars and trays are wiped down with a weak solution of vinegar
Hydrogen peroxide is effective in getting rid of fungus.
If milk has got into the narrow holes, it is impossible to get it out without disassembling it. Stinks appear inside the cell. To get rid of it, you can use a tool called Smeloff (SmelOFF) Apply according to the instructions. A little less effective means from brands Sumo, OXY, Flat. They should be as neutral and non-toxic as possible.
What can be used from household chemicals?
Zealous housewives often prefer to use folk remedies. These are just as effective, but take more time and effort, and are very gentle on the plastic. This is of great importance. But household chemicals also do a pretty good job of cleaning up stubborn dirt in the refrigerator.
The purpose of any household cleaner is to gently remove stubborn dirt and grease, and neutralize odors. As the refrigerator is a household appliance, which is in contact with food, the composition of care products does not contain aggressive components. The advantage of such means is in economical efficiency and convenient packing. You can’t do completely without chemicals, so we use old, tried-and-true remedies.
Housewives speak highly of chemical gel and dispenser fresheners. They are effective with a very prolonged action, which facilitates the care of the appliance.
Peculiarities of cleaning different models
The decision of a problem, how to wash a fridge essentially differs for each model, depending on its design features. Note that not only old, but also new, newly purchased units are subject to hygienic procedures, regardless of the presence or absence of specific flavors.
How to clean a no-frost fridge
Many modern refrigerators are equipped with a special freezing system No Frost, which prevents the formation of ice inside the freezer. This effect is produced by an innovative ventilation technique that optimally distributes the air flow inside the appliance. The air movement removes any condensation from the walls, so that the walls are always clean.
Such devices defrost automatically, but at certain intervals. it must be done manually. At the same time, the inside of the refrigerator should be cleaned after defrosting, including the freezer compartment. If the defrosting has been carried out recently and the fridge requires unscheduled cleaning, it can be cleaned without defrosting the unit.
The defrosting procedure without defrosting is done quickly and in a certain sequence:
- The appliance is disconnected from the supply voltage.
- The freezer compartment remains closed.
- All shelves are removed, washed and dried.
- The inside walls are cleaned to eliminate odors.
- The outer coatings are being washed.
- All moisture is collected with paper towels or paper towels.
- The shelves and containers are put back in their places, the food is piled on them and the refrigerator is restarted.
How to wash a refrigerator of regular models
Cleaning and washing procedures for standard models are described in detail in the instruction manual. It is imperative to specify how often surfaces must be treated in order to kill the odor, and what cleaning agents are allowed to be used.
The actual cleaning should be done with a dish sponge or a soft cloth. The detergent of your choice is applied to the shelves and walls from top to bottom. The door, containers and small trays should be cleaned particularly carefully as these are the places where most dirt and food residue accumulate.
Particular attention is given to the rubber gasket. Do not use a wide sponge soaked in water to wash the gasket. It will cause the rubber to stretch and become very deformed. Naturally, any tightness is out of the question.
That’s why it is recommended to use an old toothbrush for cleaning the sealant. An effective cleaning agent must be prepared in advance. Laundry soap (50 g) is grated and mixed with tooth powder (3 tbsp. spoons). Next, water and 2-3 drops of essential oil are added to the mixture, resulting in a homogeneous mass with a pleasant smell. The mixture is applied to the gasket and rubbed with a brush, especially in hard-to-reach places. After cleaning, all wet areas are thoroughly dried by natural airing or using a hair dryer.
Remember, vinegar and acids are not suitable for washing rubbers. It is recommended to use vegetable oil to treat dried up gum.
After removing all contaminants, the surfaces should be wiped dry and the refrigerator should be left open until everything is completely dry. Then, it is turned on and put into action.
How to wash a new fridge after the purchase
The new unit may also have some smell of plastic or plastic, this is quite normal. In this case, a simple airing is usually enough. Sometimes you just can’t wait and then specific products come to the rescue. Let’s consider the most effective of them.
How to clean a refrigerator with the “No frost” system
Despite all the convenience of the “no frost” system, which is how the familiar phrase “No Frost” translates, refrigerators with this feature also need special cleaning. Most often the problem occurs with the condensate tray. Sometimes you have to remove the back of the appliance to clean it. That’s why from the very first day in these refrigerators you need to pay attention to what and how it is stored. It is necessary to defrost such a unit at least once every six months.
When washing your fridge, do not forget to wipe its drain hole. Very often it is the very source of stink
In addition, it is not recommended to clean modern refrigerators with caustic substances if they smell. Compared to their “Soviet counterparts”, plastic is quickly attacked by lye and acid. This is why it is not recommended to clean new fridges with chemicals. The owner’s manual often says that it is ideal to wash your fridge with mild soap and water, or, if not, baking soda at a ratio of one tablespoon per gallon of warm water.
How to wash a fridge without the “No Frost” function
Before you buy a fridge, don’t hesitate to open it and look inside
The new appliance will necessarily have a slight smell of plastic. But if there is no grease at all or, even more so, if you smell a fragrance or any chemical substance, choose another refrigerator. This one was probably repaired and they are trying to sell it to you.
Important! After you have brought your refrigerator home, do not rush to plug it in. It is best to let it stand in the open for 3 hours to a day.
Before plugging in the appliance for the first time, it is best to wipe it with a damp cloth, possibly without any additives, to wipe off the dust. And this concerns not only the interior “decoration” (shelves, trays and drawers), but also the freezer. After wiping or washing the fridge all its surfaces must dry. The same goes for the defrosting process.
After washing, wipe the surfaces dry with a soft cloth or towel
Whether your fridge is new or unworn, here are a few rules to remember. Do not use abrasive or alkaline substances for cleaning the surfaces of the appliance, as well as its vulnerable places, such as pipes with freon.
What is the right way to clean the fridge inside after defrosting and outside from yellowing
Every user should know how to properly wash the refrigerator, because in the process of operation the unit can get dirty and emit an unpleasant smell. When and how often you need to clean the appliance depends on many factors.
