Why does the refrigerator smell?
Before trying to remove foreign smell from the refrigerator, determine the source of the problem. Ambre is caused by the following reasons:
- sometimes the first 5 - 10 days after purchase, the smell reminds of the materials from which the new unit is made: plastic, metal, lubricants;
- clogging of the drain channel - with regular sanitation, one should not forget to clean the drainage hole;
- spoiled food - expired cheese, sour kefir or moldy pieces of fruit lost in the bowels of the refrigerator begin to stink;
- storage of fresh products in unpackaged form - half a fresh onion, uncovered salad also smell;
- damage to the ventilation system hinders air circulation, causes the accumulation and mixing of odors.
Sometimes, when you open the refrigerator, you want to pinch your nose.
After careful treatment, the problem gradually disappears.
Reference! If, after defrosting and wet cleaning the freezer, you do not remove the water that has stagnated in the pan or under the sealing rubber, a “smell” will appear again in a week. To avoid trouble, the internal surfaces are wiped dry, the equipment is ventilated.
How to quickly remove an unpleasant smell from the refrigerator at home: basic rules for keeping cleanliness
- Use baking soda and detergent to wash the refrigerator, do not forget to dry all surfaces inside and out after wet cleaning.
- Ventilate the refrigerator for several hours after cleaning: to do this, unload it completely, open the chamber and the freezer compartment so that air can freely penetrate inside.
- Once every few months, clean the drain hole inside the chamber, because it tends to become clogged.
- Always close tightly all jars, containers and any containers with food.
Don't keep spoiled food in the refrigerator: expired place in the bin!
Before you eliminate the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator: we identify the causes
The reason usually lies in:
- spoiled products stale on the shelves
- improper storage of food and drinks
- clogged drain hole
- mold due to condensation
- faulty ventilation
- new refrigerator (smells of metal, plastic and other materials)
To prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor, it is worth not only keeping cleanliness and order, but also using several effective methods:
1. Rye Bread: Bread is one of the best odor absorbers out there. Just cut the bread into small pieces and leave a plate on each shelf.
2. Rice grains: grains or cereals are the best natural absorbent. Pour ordinary rice on a saucer and place on the shelf of the refrigerator.
3. Chopped onion, apple, and potato: Once every few days, use these fresh fruits and vegetables to eliminate refrigerator odors.
four.Aromatic herbs and spices: Store basil, turmeric, cloves, tarragon, cinnamon, celery, thyme, mint, and lemon balm in the refrigerator. Vanilla extract will come in handy.
5. Orange, lemon: fresh citrus peels are a panacea for unpleasant odors at home.
6. Salt, sugar: pour sugar or salt on a saucer, leave it in the refrigerator compartment, and very soon there will be no trace of the smell.
7. Coffee beans: Another effective and edible absorbent.
8. Activated carbon (you can pre-ignite in the oven).
How to quickly remove the smell of rotten meat or fish from the refrigerator
Eliminate rotten smell from the refrigerator with home remedies
In this case, heavy economic artillery will be needed.
- First, unload the refrigerator, and then immediately dispose of the spoiled animal product and leave the doors open for at least 2-3 hours.
- If possible, eliminate all products that have had time to absorb the rotten smell.
- Lumps of newspaper or dry paper perfectly absorb unpleasant odors. Crumple up paper bombs and place inside the refrigerator.
- The rotten smell of meat or fish can be eliminated both with the natural absorbents listed above, and using ready-made flavors. Ionizer cleaners quickly and effectively get rid of putrefactive ambre in the refrigerator compartment. If the smell turned out to be particularly ingrained, try alternating natural absorbents with purchased ones, and in a few days you will be able to completely get rid of this trouble.
How to remove an unpleasant smell from the refrigerator: step by step instructions
- If a specific product exudes an unpleasant odor, then, of course, you first need to get rid of it.Then the refrigerator should be freed from all contents altogether. Perishable products can be placed on the balcony for the time being if it is cold outside. Or put food in dishes or containers and place in a bowl of cold water and ice. You can also use a thermal bag with special cooling elements.
- Then step by step the refrigerator needs to be defrosted. This applies to any models, except those equipped with a no frost system.
- Wash the refrigerator next. Remove shelves, drawers and other removable parts from it and wash with hot water and soap or a soda solution. Removable elements can be washed in the dishwasher.
- Next, wipe the refrigerator compartment with one of the products listed above - of your choice. For convenience, pour the product into a spray bottle. You can clean the rubber parts on the refrigerator door with an old toothbrush.
- To get rid of the smell for sure, and also to prevent its occurrence, flush the drain hole, you need to rinse the drain hole - water can stagnate there or mold can multiply. Usually the drain hole is located on the back wall of the refrigerator compartment, but in some models it is not so easy to find it - in this case, the instructions will help. First, clean the hole from visible dirt with a wooden skewer, and then pour the selected agent into it using a funnel.
- When washing the refrigerator is finished, it needs to be ventilated. Unplug the appliance and leave the door open for 24 hours or overnight.
- Now you can reload the refrigerator with food and connect it to the network.
How to remove an unpleasant smell from the refrigerator folk remedies
To quickly remove obsessive odors in the refrigerator at home, use odor absorbers, solutions, aerosols. If you don’t want to use drugs in the kitchen, they turn to effective and safe folk recipes.
It is easy to get rid of odors if the device is cleaned from the inside with lemon. To do this, the juice (powder) is diluted with water (ethyl alcohol). At the same time, a saucer with a freshly peeled skin or a slice of citrus is placed on the shelf - this will enhance the effect of the juice. The remedy even eliminates the stench that comes from spoiled fish semi-finished products.
Shelves, seals and walls are rubbed with diluted ammonia (1 tablespoon of ammonia is poured into 1 liter). The caustic substance irritates the skin and mucous membranes, so gloves, a respirator are put on before work, and a window is opened.
The antiseptic substance removes dirt, eliminates even the “aroma” of rotten fish, spoiled semi-finished meat products. The walls are abundantly moistened with hydrogen peroxide. When the cleansing reaction stops and the substance stops bubbling, a second layer of the drug is applied (if the smell is persistent, the operation is repeated 3-4 times).Then the walls are washed, rubbed with a dry flannel. The same method is used to process sealing gaskets, grooves, retractable components.
Additional Information! The vial with hydrogen peroxide is kept closed, because the substance quickly decomposes into water and oxygen, and loses its antiseptic properties.
A solution of potassium permanganate is used as an additional antibacterial agent after washing the refrigerator. Crystals are diluted with warm water. Raspberry liquid wash the inner surfaces. If the stench persists, increase the concentration of the solution, repeat the procedure.
Universal cleaners and odor absorbers
Table vinegar is diluted with warm water in a ratio of 1: 1. The insides of the technique are wiped with liquid, capturing hard-to-reach places, corners and joints of parts. This method eliminates even persistent stink.
Sodium bicarbonate does not mask, but neutralizes the stench. The substance delicately cleans plastic from dirt and microbes, does not cause allergic reactions. To prepare a soda solution, take 1 liter of warm water and 2 tables. l. powder. Chambers, removable parts, fasteners are washed with liquid, then rinsed and dried.
To prepare a cleanser, mix the following ingredients:
- 2 table. l. bicarbonate of soda;
- 2 table. l. vinegar;
- 2 liters of warm water;
- 3 - 5 drops of essential oil.
To remove the “darling”, an open bag or a glass with a solution of soda is placed on the shelf of the unit (every 2-3 months they are replaced with fresh ones). Such techniques destroy the spores of the fungus, create unfavorable conditions for the development of pathogenic microflora.
Nondescript bars are an effective surface disinfectant that removes amber from a home refrigerator. Soaped with a sponge, wipe the insides, rinse with water. The procedure is repeated 1 - 3 times.
If 250 ml of water and 4 tablespoons are added to 200 g of soap chips. l.baking soda, you will get a washing liquid that will destroy germs and pollution. Together with the dirt, the "darling" will disappear, the original color of the walls will return.
Reference! After wet processing, the door is left open for ventilation for 2 to 4 hours.
What to put inside
Extraneous odors will disappear if you put flavors or adsorbents in the refrigerator.
- Apple
The porous surface easily absorbs odors from uncovered salad bowls and pans. The apple is washed, cut into slices, the core is removed, laid out on the shelves.Dried fruit is discarded.
Apple slices absorb odors
- Activated carbon
To avoid a strong smell, sockets filled with crushed tablets or charcoal are placed on the shelves. The substance easily absorbs odors, so it needs to be replaced after 3 to 4 weeks. After the first application, a portion of the powder is heated in an oven for 10-15 minutes at a temperature of 180 degrees to restore the properties of the coal.
- Onion
To clean the device from the stench left by the medicine or spoiled food, use an onion cut into 2 parts. This option is rarely used, because the onion also smells sharp. But the spirit of the vegetable quickly disappears, along the way taking away extraneous "flavors".
- raw potatoes
The peeled root crop is divided into parts, put on a plate, placed in a fetid zone. After that, the air will become fresh.
Food products are good adsorbents
- Rye bread
The method, proven by older generations, is used to prevent the appearance of "darling". Saucers with pieces of rye bread are placed on the shelves.
- citrus peel
Fresh peel of an orange or lemon interrupts the bad smell from the refrigerator that appeared 1 - 2 days ago. Against persistent "aromas" citruses are powerless. Dried skins are discarded and replaced with fresh ones.
Products absorb not only odors and moisture, but can also work as odorants.
- Salt, rice or sugar
A simple but effective method.A bowl with a poured substance is left in the refrigerator. Natural absorbents will remove the stench in a day.
- Spices
Open bags of cloves, dried basil or turmeric are laid out on shelves. When after 1 - 2 days fragrant seasonings are saturated with stench, the bags are removed.
Additional Information! Neutralizes odors gruel made from acetic acid and ground cinnamon. The mass is placed in a container, covered with a film with holes.
- Paper
Crumpled writing paper or crumpled newspaper will keep bad spirits out of the freezer. After 1 - 2 days, wet sheets are thrown out.
Paper will remove the odor in 2 days
- Tea and tea bags
It is not in vain that tea is kept closed: the leaves are saturated with extraneous aromas. The property helps to clean the equipment from persistent odors.
- Coffee
Ground grains are poured into jars, put in a chamber. Coffee powder flavors the air and absorbs stink. Instant drink granules are not worth taking: freeze-dried coffee does not cope with the task.
- Cat litter
The method seems absurd, but the absorbent eliminates the old stench. The balls are poured into an open container, cleaned overnight in a washed empty refrigerator.
To choose the right odor absorber, you need to test several
Purchased detergents and aroma absorbers
Folk remedies do not give the desired result and do not help eliminate the smell? Specially designed purchased detergents will come to the rescue. They are not toxic, and there are already a large number of them. For example, to eliminate odors, try OdorGone eco-friendly water-based cleaner. In half a day, it will deal with all harmful bacteria and utilize the most persistent odors.
A good tool is Indesit for refrigerators. It is sprayed inside, and immediately washed off with clean water.
The Top House spray and wipe set is versatile for fighting dirt and germs. It perfectly absorbs fetid odors.
Gel Clean Home is one of the safest products.It consists mainly of peroxide.It doesn't even need to be washed off after use.
Safe Clean Home
Various aroma absorbers also work effectively. They just need to be put on the shelves, and the problem will disappear. The most popular absorbers include:
- Silica gel balls. In addition to the fact that they fight odor, they also absorb excess moisture.
- Egg-shaped absorbers. They are able to absorb the most persistent aromas.
- Device with carbon filters. They need to be changed every few months.
- Gel. It absorbs and eliminates odors twice as fast as other products.
- Ionizer. This item is highly priced. But it was invented not only to eliminate stench, but also to disinfect the air and stop decay. It is effective provided that it will be in the refrigerator for several minutes every day.
Other Methods
When figuring out how to remove an unpleasant smell in a new refrigerator, you need to remember about the first cleaning after purchase, good ventilation and isolation of products from each other. If you need to eliminate the smell in the old unit, do a general cleaning in the kitchen and an audit in the refrigerator. With intensive use, it may be necessary to clean the drain tube with special detergents.
Timely cleaning work will keep the equipment in a fresh and efficient condition.
Removing odor from a new unit
To get rid of the "flavor" of plastic, characteristic of new household appliances, it is enough to carry out a set of simple measures.
First of all, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the product with warm water, adding soda or detergent. This helps eliminate odors and sanitizes work surfaces.
The new refrigerator requires special attention. Before connecting to the mains, it must be thoroughly washed inside and out, and then dried well.
It is recommended to leave the prepared refrigerator with the door ajar for 1-2 days for complete ventilation, and only then turn on the device in the mains. For additional disinfection, the chamber can be treated with alcohol or vodka.
"Soft" store products
There are a lot of drugs. It is preferable to use liquid or with a cream and gel consistency. They will not scratch the treated surfaces. The use of household chemicals is carried out in several stages.
- Dilute the product in warm water in accordance with the instructions.
- Processing the walls inside the device, pallets, shelves, boxes, shelves in the door with the resulting solution. For this, a soft sponge will be the best tool.
- Washing surfaces after cleaning. A spray bottle filled with clean water will do just fine.
- Wiping dry.
- At the end, the refrigerator must be well ventilated, leaving it open for several hours, and even better for the whole night.
regular soda
For many housewives, despite the wide range of cleaning products, soda remains a favorite. This is not surprising, because at a low price it allows you to observe an excellent result. Soda is also suitable for refrigerators.
You need to act like this:
- Heat up one liter of water. Add no more than three tablespoons of soda to it.
- Stop your choice on a soft sponge (it will not damage the surface), soaking it with the resulting solution. Treat the camera from the inside, as well as all removable elements.
- Rinse the remaining soda thoroughly with clean water.
- Open the refrigerator to dry completely.
The freezer also needs to be cleaned before use.The above methods will work for her. Metal scrapers, various abrasives and alkalis are not the best options for processing. It is better to choose soft sponges or rags. The refrigerator must be completely dry before plugging in.
Removing stubborn stench
Polymers have an unpleasant feature to quickly absorb various flavors, which can be removed with great difficulty. It is especially difficult to get rid of the stench absorbed from rotten meat and spoiled fish, which happens when the electricity is turned off during a long absence of the owners.
To remedy the situation, first of all you need to turn off the refrigerator and get rid of the products. After that, it is necessary to carefully treat its inner and outer surface with water and vinegar or detergent.
Particular attention should be paid to the following elements:
- the state of the sewage system;
- containers for draining water;
- rubber parts.
It is also advisable to move the equipment away to rinse the floor well, while it is better to use special preparations to neutralize odors.
With strong “fragrances”, it is recommended to repeat the procedure several times for at least 2-5 days, while the refrigerator door, as well as the window in the room, should be left open.
If the stench is not removed even after regular flushing, it is necessary to disassemble the waste mechanism. It is better to entrust this operation to the masters by contacting the service center.
At least twice a year it is necessary to carry out a complete defrosting of the device. It is recommended to clean the main cooking chamber weekly
After processing, it is desirable to place a saucer with absorbent agents on each shelf and / or place flavors.
With a pronounced stink, it is better to give preference to industrial preparations that have a more pronounced effect.
Getting rid of mold and its fragrance
A lot of trouble is caused by moldy fungi, the colonies of which can settle in the refrigerator. They are not only sources of unaesthetic stains and musty spirits, but can also cause allergies, diseases of the respiratory system and the gastrointestinal tract.
To get rid of mold yourself, you can use a combination of baking soda and vinegar. It is enough to wipe the surface with a soda solution, and then apply a solution of vinegar; wash off the mixture preferably after a while. It is better to dry the treated shelves and walls with an ultraviolet lamp or a hair dryer with a stream of hot air.
Since the smell of mold quickly eats into the plastic, even after removing it, it is worth using adsorbents and / or fragrances.
When treating surfaces, do not use products based on toxic substances, such as copper sulphate. In this case, even thorough washing does not guarantee the safety of products.
Preventive measures to prevent mold and odor
If it is not very difficult to get rid of the smell in the refrigerator, then it is difficult to remove mold. And this means that the “aromas” will soon return.
To avoid this problem, just follow a few simple rules:
- Products must be stored in tightly closed containers or wrapped in cling film. This will help protect against the appearance of mold and smell in the refrigerator, and in addition, it will also protect food from drying out and chapping in appliances with the “No Frost” system.
Proper storage of food is the key to the absence of mold and unpleasant odors in the refrigerator.
- Regular inspection of products will also help to keep freshness in the refrigerator.
- If any liquid has leaked from one of the products or a drink has spilled, then the spill must be immediately wiped up and the shelf or tray washed. Otherwise, the substances in the liquid will become a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic or putrefactive bacteria and mold.
- Every time the refrigerator is cleaned, even if it does not contain unpleasant odors, it is recommended to wipe the surfaces after washing with a soda solution.
- To reduce humidity in the refrigerator, in addition to the above-mentioned means, silica gel can be used. It is usually put in packages with shoes, in new bags, in jars of medicines. Bags of granules should not be thrown away, as they can be placed in different sections of the refrigerator.
- General cleaning of the refrigerator should be done at least once every one and a half months.
- Full defrosting of refrigerators is carried out twice a year, unless circumstances force it to be done more often.
Top 10 Refrigerator Odor Absorbers
Dealing with bad odors is no easy task. However, you can prevent the appearance of darling by using "absorbers". Clean the surfaces and spread one of the products listed below in the chamber. Thanks to the absorption effect, they will absorb unwanted impurities from the air.
- Activated carbon. We take seven tablets, heat them in the microwave and leave them in the chamber. Charcoal is an excellent air filter.
- Coffee. Large beans are ideal, however, ground coffee will also help if it is natural. Pour the product into a small container and leave it in the chamber.
- Soda.Open the package and put it in the chamber. If desired, the powder can be poured into a small container.
- Citrus. Use a sliced lemon or orange, just the peel will do. There is another effective remedy - pour soda into the empty half of the lemon.
- Ordinary coal. The one that we use when cooking barbecue is suitable. It also needs to be warmed up.
- Oriental spices. Turmeric, cloves or cinnamon - take your pick. Pour the spices into the lid to close the jars and place on the shelf of the unit.
- Black tea. To achieve the effect, two or three sachets are enough. They should be used but completely cool. They should be changed every day.
- Mixture for filling the cat's litter box. The mineral zeolite, which is part of it, has the ability to absorb unpleasant odors.
- Rice. Even uncooked rice will do, however, cooked grains are more effective odor absorbers.
- Black bread. You need to use dried crusts of rye bread. It is more convenient to place them on napkins so as not to collect crumbs later.
In addition to natural remedies, there are a number of special neutralizers. They are produced in the form of filters, balls and sprays.
It is a mistake to believe that only spoiled foods exude sharp aromas.You can find information about the drain in the instructions for your unit. It requires cleaning several times a year. If this is not done, a putrid smell will appear even if the refrigerator is perfectly clean and its contents are absolutely fresh.
We deal with causes, not effects. What causes bad odor?
The very first thing to understand is where and why it smells, in order to know what and how to eliminate the smell.If something has gone bad, there are no questions, but in other cases, sometimes you have to rack your brains. There are several main reasons.
Improper storage of products
Due to improper storage, the product may not have deteriorated yet, but has already endowed the entire refrigerator with its aroma. Most often this applies to sausages, meat and fish in open packages or without it at all. Such products should be packed very carefully, avoiding contact with oxygen to prevent oxidation and spoilage. For example, the smell of rotten meat or herring is difficult to confuse with something.
New technology
Some people like the smell of new things, but most often it starts to irritate, and sometimes even causes headaches. There is good news: this “flavor” will disappear in about two days, even if nothing is done. The reason for its occurrence lies in the plastic dust that remains from the factory. You can wipe the refrigerator with a regular cloth with soapy water and the smell will disappear.
Breakage or other causes of defrosting
Due to the increase in the temperature of the refrigerator, the food began to deteriorate, the number of microbes increased - hence the unpleasant smell. An increase in temperature can happen for various reasons:
- breakdown of equipment;
- power outage;
- tritely open refrigerator door.
These are the most common causes of bad smell in the refrigerator.
What to do if the smell is not removed
If you threw away all the missing products, thawed and cleaned the equipment, and the smell in the refrigerator still remains, then you need to check the operation of the unit itself. It is better to call a specialist for these purposes, but if you do not want to do this at all, you can try to fix the refrigerator robot yourself.
It could be a seal failure.
Sometimes the freezer does not maintain the desired temperature. It can spontaneously defrost. Accordingly, the answer to the question of how to remove the smell is simple: repair it and wash the refrigerator again. There may be a blockage in the drain or freezer system. In this case, we get rid of the stench by cleaning them. Foreign odors may come from broken parts or be the result of a damaged seal. Of course, replacing these elements will help fix the problem, but in this case, it is better to buy a new refrigerator.
Prevention
Some causes can be eliminated quickly and easily, but others have to be fought for a long time and with the use of additional chemicals.
To protect yourself from such inconveniences in advance, you should remember a few simple rules aimed at preventing foul odors:
- before placing the product in the refrigerator, it is worth checking its expiration date and making sure that it is fresh;
- try to introduce the habit of putting stickers and doing systematic cleaning to get rid of the missing food in a timely manner;
- leave only hermetically sealed dishes in food containers or bags;
- put absorbent foods in the refrigerator: rye bread, rice, coffee, tea, sliced \u200b\u200bpotatoes, citrus fruits;
- more often arrange general cleaning in the refrigerator, washing all hard-to-reach places well with the use of cotton swabs.
A pleasant smell in the refrigerator is the key to comfort in the kitchen. By applying these simple recommendations, you can get rid of the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator and not face this problem again.
Knowing simple and useful tips for determining the cause of an unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, how to eliminate and prevent it, you can continue to forget about this problem and enjoy a pleasant aroma in the kitchen
Helpful Hints
In order not to think about how to remove the unpleasant smell of the refrigerator, it is better to avoid this problem before it occurs. For this, it is necessary to use the preventive measures described above.
Clean up liquid that has been spilled or food that has been accidentally spilled as soon as you see it. You can even wipe the area with a baking soda solution.
Do not store food in plastic bags. Store them only in containers with lids or plates covered with cling film.
Products should not be stored in plastic bags.
Smoked products and spices have a sharp and specific smell. It builds up and starts to stink. Therefore, it is best for them to have a closed container. But if, nevertheless, this problem happened to you, then we tell you what to do if the refrigerator smells like fish. Beer will help to remove its smell. Just soak a sponge in it and wipe the place where it lay. If you don't like the beer method, you can wipe the shelves with lemon juice and soak for three hours. Then everything should be washed with clean water.
Close juices and compotes with lids. If they are open, then an ice coating will appear on the walls of the refrigerator.
It is necessary to constantly monitor the level of humidity. When it rises, mold forms on the shelves. Silica gel balls help regulate humidity. If a fungus has started in the refrigerator, then whiteness, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, ammonia, soda and laundry soap will come to your aid.Just wipe the camera well with these solutions and mold will not bother you anymore. A bactericidal lamp will also perfectly eliminate the fungus.
If meat begins to stink in the refrigerator, then it should be thrown away immediately.When figuring out how to eliminate the smell of spoiled meat, pay attention to soap, soda, vinegar and ammonia solutions. The recipes for their preparation are described above. Clean the camera with a tissue soaked in one of the solutions. Particular attention should be paid to shelves and drawers made of plastic. Everything that can be removed and pulled out must be aired on the street. Let the refrigerator stand for several days with the door open.
Dispose of spoiled meat immediately.
Thanks to these tips, you will never have problems with how to clean the smell of the refrigerator.
Summing up
To completely and permanently eliminate the unpleasant odor from the refrigerator, you need to:
- Find the cause of the bad smell;
- Eliminate source;
- Completely rinse the refrigerator;
- Remove residual odors.
In this article, we have analyzed all the possible causes of bad smell in the refrigerator. We hope you find it useful. Don't forget to share it with your friends!
