How to Get Rid of Bad Smell in the Refrigerator – Natural Odor Absorbers

Every housewife has faced the problem of unpleasant smell in the refrigerator. Sometimes simple maintenance and regular cleaning are not enough to get rid of this problem. We will give you some excellent ideas how to get rid of bad smell in the refrigerator that will help you deal with the problem.

There is no doubt that the most important household appliance in the kitchen, right after the stove, is the refrigerator. It is responsible for food preservation and we all rely that the products will remain fresh and good for consuming. However, due to a variety of reasons like improper storage and untimely cleaning, an unpleasant smell appears. Leaving aside the discomfort, this situation is dangerous to health, because unpleasant odors can be caused both by mold, dirt or by spoiled food.

What to do if the fridge smells bad?

There are many reasons that result in an unpleasant odor. Here are the main ones:

• contamination of walls and shelves;
• milk spilled inside and not wiped off in time;
• fish or meat products that lie inside the refrigerator for more than two days;
• spoiled food;
• the appearance of rot in vegetable or fruit compartments;
• storage of some types of cheese.

How to get rid of bad smell in the refrigerator – where to start from?

Even the best fridge freshener will not be able to cope with the unpleasant odor if the inside of the unit is not thoroughly cleaned before installing it. Of course, before using any natural remedy that will help you get rid of bad smell in the refrigerator, you need to identify the source of the unpleasant odor.

Check the products on the shelves and in the trays. Surely you will find stale foods that are responsible for this “flavor”. They should be discarded immediately.

Check the integrity of the plastic parts: shelves, trays and other things, as dirt and germs constantly accumulate in the cracks.

Empty the refrigerator compartment and freezer from food, unplug the fridge.

Remove shelves, trays and racks and wash thoroughly with detergent. Do not forget about the inner walls of the refrigerator and freezer compartments, as well as the drip tray where the liquid is drained during defrosting.

Clean the refrigerator thoroughly with soapy water. Use baking soda to remove stubborn stains.

After the refrigerator has been cleaned, remove any remaining moisture with a dry cloth and ventilate it by leaving the doors open for 1–1.5 hours.

How to prevent unpleasant odors in the fridge?

Usually odor neutralizers sold in stores are based on activated charcoal or the natural mineral zeolite as they are environmentally friendly and safe for human health. The chemical properties of activated charcoal allow it to absorb molecules of a certain size and thus absorb odors. However, it is important to know that the only way to prevent unpleasant odors in the fridge is to maintain its hygiene and regularly remove all possible sources of odors. Here are some simple tips that will help you prevent unpleasant fridge odors:

• Once a week wash the inside of refrigerator;
• If liquid is spilled on the shelves, you must immediately wipe it thoroughly with a cloth soaked in warm water;
• Check the contents of the refrigerator every day and remove products that have expired;
• If ready meals are stored, they must be covered with lids or plastic wrap;
• Cover the bottom of vegetables compartments with cling film;
• Keep a special odor absorber in the fridge and replace it when needed;
• Once every two months, disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply, remove the food, open its door and leave it for 2-3 hours.

What are the best natural refrigerator odor absorbers?

Natural refrigerator odor absorbers are quite efficient, they are safe and affordable. However, they need to be changed frequently as their active working time does not exceed 2-3 days. Ok, let’s see what natural ingredients you can use to remove bad smell from the fridge? Lemon, baking soda, vinegar, coffee beans, rice, wine cork, oatmeal, milk and believe it or not – Cat litter.

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Lemon

Lemon is one of the best natural ingredients for DIY refrigerator air freshener recipes. How to use it? Just place a few slices on the refrigerator shelves. The main thing is to replace them with fresh ones in time. You can use an orange in the same way. Another method is to place a cup with freshly squeezed lemon juice in the refrigerator. If, however, you can still sense the odors, can combine lemon with baking soda – mix a few drops of lemon juice, baking soda and lukewarm water. Pour everything into a sprayer and spray your fridge regularly.

Baking soda

As you may know, baking soda cleans everything that gets in its way. Used as a natural fridge deodorant, it is also very effective! Simply put a cup or a small container with three tablespoons of baking soda on one of the shelves. The positive effect is noticeable after 1.5-2 hours. Remember to replace the soda regularly.

Also read: How Can You Use Wood Ash in the Household? What Can You Do with It?

Salt

Salt does a pretty good job. Just like soda, it is laid out on the shelves in small containers.

White Vinegar

A natural and effective way to clean the whole house, white vinegar will help to cope with the unpleasant smell in the fridge. Pour a small amount of vinegar into a small bowl and place it at the bottom of the fridge. It will absorb and neutralize all unpleasant odors. For optimal anti-odor effect, change the vinegar regularly – once every two weeks.

Rice

Rice is another excellent neutralizer. Pour uncooked rice into a plate and place on the shelf. You can also use cheesecloth instead of a plate, so the homemade absorbent will take up less space.

Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is one of the most effective odor absorbing natural products. Put 5-6 charcoal tablets in a small glass or wrap them in a napkin and place them on the shelf. It is not recommended to grind the charcoal.

Coffee beans

Coffee beans absorb and neutralize unpleasant odors very well and do not overpower the smell of food in the refrigerator. The main advantage of coffee compared to other homemade fridge odor absorbers is the longer service life. Simply place saucers with beans on the shelves or pour the beans into cheesecloth bags.

Bread crust

Pieces of regular bread, laid out on shelves, can remove unpleasant odors in the fridge in a few hours. Take a few pieces of dry bread crust and put them in the refrigerator. Replace them every 12 to 24 hours.

Warm milk

Lukewarm milk is very effective. Take a small bowl and pour in some milk. Put it in the fridge and wait. The next day, the strong smell of stale food will no longer be there!

Raw potatoes or apple

Cut an apple or potato into slices and place inside the refrigerator. You will need to change the slices every two days. The vegetable and fruit will absorb all the unpleasant smells.

Onion

Despite the sharp smell, this vegetable is able to absorb odors. Cut the onion in half and place on the shelf. Remove after a few hours.

Wine cork

Instead of throwing wine cork in the trash, use them wisely! They are very effective against odors in your fridge. Place a few wine corks in a cup and you will have a clean refrigerator with no unpleasant odors.

Cat litter

Believe it or not, cat litter is a great natural way to neutralize bad odors. Fill a small bowl with cat litter and place it in the fridge. Change every two weeks! You can also put a little in the bottom of your trash can to absorb bad smell.