How To Get Smell Out Of Refrigerator

Have you ever experienced leaving your home for a few weeks of vacation, and when you returned to grab a nice cold drink in your fridge, you suddenly smell something awful and stinky? Well, this is quite a normal scenario because some people don’t really have the time to track every food and drink that gets in and out of the fridge.

Oftentimes, we realize something is spoilt when it already starts to smell. And even if you throw it away, the smell usually still lingers. That’s because of the microbes that reside in your fridge. They love moisture, and rotten food is their best place to thrive. But don’t feel hopeless yet. We have a few methods you can try on how to get smell out of refrigerator. In this way, you need not to but a new one just yet.

Cleaning your Fridge

Here are some ways on how to get smell out of refrigerator:

Clean your fridge thoroughly.

The first thing you can do to get rid of the smell is to clean your fridge. Get rid of all the contents and separate those spoiled foods from the ones you can still eat. Check the expiration date and throw out-of-date food.

Take out all removable shelves and clean them with hot and soapy water and leave them to dry. Sanitize the interiors of your refrigerator using a cleaning solution. Combine one tablespoon chlorine bleach and one gallon of water, then use this to scrub clean your fridge. Mae sure to scrub all areas to get rid of all grime and stain. The bleach will neutralize the smell and also get rid of all yellowish surfaces.

Use a clean towel to dry the fridge, then return all shelves to their proper places. Arrange all food and drinks you can still consume. It would be best if you can devise a system to ensure that rotten foods get thrown immediately.

Vinegar and baking soda solution

Besides combining bleach and water, you can also opt for another natural solution- baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda has natural deodorizing properties, so letting it sit on your fridge would help control the odor and bacteria growth.

How to get smell out of refrigerator using vinegar and baking soda is fairly easy. Put a sufficient amount of the mixture in a clean cloth or rag. You can also use a small brush to clean hard-to-reach areas. Scrub directly to the fridge's interior, starting at the top, and working your way down to the bottom. Make sure to scrub off all crevices such as the bottom of the shelves, the corners, and the ceiling. You can also use this solution to clean the fridge's outer part, such as the door and handle, to ensure no bacteria lingers behind.

After all, areas are covered, wash your cloth with warm water and use it to rinse all residues left in your fridge. Make sure you get rid of all debris of your solution. You can let the baking soda and vinegar sit for a few minutes before rinsing them off.

Arrange and organize the contents of your fridge.

As mentioned above, creating a system on your food's ins and outs can help you prevent them from rotting inside the refrigerator. One way to organize your food is to purchase air-tight containers in different sizes. This way, in case you forget about the food, it won't rot easily, or the smell won't be too overbearing. If you often stock up on certain food items, put them in one area so that you know what comes in first. If possible, label the containers by the date you place them inside. 

Store lemons to keep the fridge smelling fresh.

Another way on how to get smell out of refrigerator is through storing lemons. Lemons contain citric acid, which is a natural air freshener. Keeping one in your fridge can help get rid of foul odor. You can extract the juice in your lemon and use a cotton ball to wipe your fridge walls. Also, cut a few slices of lemon and place them inside. They will absorb all smelly odor and will leave a fresh fruity scent.

Set the right temperature.

Setting your fridge at the right temperature will prevent mold and bacteria from growing. If the temperature is too high, the food inside will rot easily, and bacteria will also multiply rapidly. Currently, advancement in technology led to antimicrobial appliances designed to inhibit bacterial growth.

The ideal temperature is between 4 and 5 degrees (37-40 degrees Fahrenheit), while the freezer should be between -18 and -17 degrees (0-4 degrees Fahrenheit).

Conclusion

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