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Are you opening your fridge only to be accosted by a foul smell? Then you're in the right place. A fridge does a great job of making perishable food last as long as possible by keeping it at a low temperature, but it can't last forever.
It's very common for fridges to hoard unpleasant odours - it can happen for several reasons and is extremely unpleasant when you're just trying to feed your kids and cook dinner.
In this post, we will explore how to find the culprit for the bad smells in your refrigerator, the best way to clean your fridge, and how to keep it smelling amazing permanently! Many experts will suggest using harsh chemical cleaners to banish bad odours, and while these might do the trick, many of us (myself included) prefer natural, or even homemade, options. Therefore, all the solutions in this blog post are completely natural! So let's get started.
Work Out What the Culprit Is
The first step is to establish what's causing the smell if possible. Sometimes, there isn't a single cause for bad odours in the fridge, but, if you're lucky, it can be as simple as finding a rotten item hidden at the back of the top shelf and removing it to make your fridge fresher smelling.
Besides rotten items, check if there are any spillages on shelves or in drawers or mould growing on the interior surfaces of the refrigerator. Even a small amount of spilt milk can make your whole fridge smell less than desirable.
Other possible causes include faulty fridge mechanisms, a water filter that needs replacing or a drip tray that needs cleaning.
Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Rid of Bad Fridge Smells Naturally
Dispose of Any Rotten or Expired Items
Take out the entire contents of your fridge and check expiration dates to ensure they are in date and still usable. There's no point in keeping old food in your fridge! Additionally, make sure there are no rotten fruits or vegetables or any items without clear use-by dates hidden at the bottoms of drawers or the backs of shelves. Dispose of anything that is out of date or going off.
Clean Fridge Interior (Thoroughly!)
Removing any mouldy food might immediately get rid of the smell, or it might continue to linger even after the items are long gone. In either scenario, it's best to give the inside of your fridge a thorough clean so it smells as fresh as possible and is zapped of harmful bacteria.
Empty the fridge: Start with an empty fridge, putting any in-date food items aside and taking out all removable drawers, shelves, trays, etc.
Clean inside fridge: Fill a large bowl with warm soapy (dish soap will do!) water and use a sponge to thoroughly clean the entire fridge interior, paying special attention to any areas with spillages. Clean up any soapy residue using a clean sponge and plain warm water. You can then use a natural cleaning spray (or make your own using ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda all of which are great at busting bad odours) to spray the inside of the fridge and wipe down with paper towels or a clean cloth.
Clean attachments: Clean any removable drawers or shelves with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Allow to dry fully.
Clean the refrigerator gasket: The gasket is the rubber seal around the edge of the fridge door. Food can often get trapped here, exacerbating bad odours.
Clean the refrigerator’s drip pan: If your fridge has a removable drip tray (it's important to note that not all do!), empty it, clean it and put it back. Some refrigerators may require you to turn off the power and water supply to clean the drip pan, so check the manufacturer's manual to ensure you can do this safely.
Clean The Outside Of Containers, Jars, Bottles, Etc,
Before putting the contents of your fridge back, clean the outside of any sealed containers such as jars and Tupperware with a damp cloth to remove any residue that may have stuck to the outside and could cause unpleasant odours.
What to Do if Cleaning Your Fridge Doesn't Get Rid of its Odour
If you've given your fridge a thoroughly clean and disposed of any expired food but the unpleasant smells are still lingering, you might need to take further measures.
Try natural deodorisers:
Newspaper: A rolled-up newspaper placed in your fridge for a few days can help to absorb bad smells.
Vinegar: Cleaning your fridge with vinegar or placing a cup of vinegar in an open container in the fridge for a few days can neutralise unpleasant odours.
Lemon: Putting lemon juice in a DIY cleaning spray or placing a few lemon slices in an open bowl in the fridge can also help.
Coffee grounds: Fresh coffee grounds are another great option for natural deodourising. Place a bowl of coffee grounds in your fridge for at least 24 hours to soak up bad smells.
Baking soda: Baking soda is a champion at removing unpleasant odours. Simply placing a small bowl of baking soda in your fridge can help to negate any lingering smells.
Be Patient
Even after the smell's culprit has been neutralised and the fridge is clean, the odour itself can sometimes linger, and, often, fixing this can be as simple as waiting a day or two to see if the smell goes away on its own.
Try Airing It Out
If the smell is continuing to linger, you might consider airing out your fridge. To do this, disconnect the fridge from its power supply and leave the door open for at least 30 minutes or, ideally, up to 24 hours.
If All Else Fails
If you've tried all of the steps above and the bad smell is still stubbornly lingering, there are a few possible causes:
The plastic inside your fridge has absorbed the bad smell: If this is the case, sometimes a further deep clean with vinegar and/or baking soda might do the trick.
Your fridge is faulty: If bad smells keep coming back, your fridge may be faulty and not keep your food as cold as it should. If your fridge doesn't have an inbuilt thermometer consider placing one inside to check if the fridge is working correctly. Most fridges should be between 37° and 40° Fahrenheit (3° and 4° Celsius). Consider asking an expert to come and look at your fridge to assess any possible issues - your fridge might need to be repaired or replaced.
How to Keep Your Fridge Smelling Fresh
Giving your fridge a deep clean and clearout should always be the first port of call when getting rid of bad smells, but it's important to maintain your fridge's cleanliness to keep it smelling as fresh as possible.
Clean regularly: Include a deep clean of your fridge in your regular cleaning schedule so you don't forget to do it.
Use natural deodorisers: Consider placing a deodoriser in your fridge, or make your own!
Keep your fridge organised: Throwing away food before it starts to smell is the best way to keep your fridge smelling fresh. If needed, consider adding labels to the outside of jars or bags so they are more obvious.
Use fridge liners: Using washable fridge liners can help keep your fridge clean by catching spillages that can cause bad smells.
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