About Refrigerator Odors

Refrigerator odor is a common problem that can be easily prevented. Although there are many different causes of a bad odor, the culprit is most often decomposing food. Depending on the intensity of the stink and the length of time that it has sat, the solution is often easy and inexpensive. However, to truly avoid fridge odor, limit storage of strong scented foods and clean top-to-bottom regularly.

Identification

Refrigerator odors are extremely common and are created by a variety of food-related sources. Spoiled foods are probably the most common and let off a powerful scent if not removed and cleaned properly. Forgotten foods and power outages lead to most spoiled food incidents.
Strongly-scented foods (such as cheeses, seafood or Asian foods) are another common source since their odors often overwhelm and pollute a fridge when stored for more than a few days.
Moisture, mold and mildew tend to generate another unwelcome odor if a fridge is not kept clean and dry, or if the drip pan under the fridge is not checked regularly.

Effects

Although a stinky fridge shouldn't pose a health hazard, it can certainly be unpleasant and embarrassing. If untreated, fridge odor will continue to grow stronger and can be absorbed by not only the linings of the fridge itself, but also the foods it contains. If mold or mildew build up in the fridge, or if the insulation is compromised by a scent, sometimes the refrigerator has to be replaced. It is important to take care of any odor upon first detection.

Prevention/Solution

Prevention is essential when it comes to refrigerator odor but this is easily maintained. Clean your fridge top to bottom regularly, removing shelves and drawers for better access. Defrost the freezer when necessary and check the drip pan under the fridge to avoid excess moisture. Store left-over foods in air-tight containers or cover with plastic wrap to prevent the scents from polluting the air in the fridge. Also, keep a box of baking soda in your fridge for daily absorption of minor odors.

Prevention/Solution

Once you have an odor to deal with, the solution is often easy and harmless (depending on how quickly you treat it). Remove all contents and unplug the fridge before cleaning. Use a simple mix of baking soda and water to clean the entire fridge, scrubbing the walls and removing the shelves and drawers. If this is not strong enough, use a solution of bleach and water to prevent the plastic from absorbing the foul scent. Leave the door of the fridge open while it air-dries to avoid closing in moisture.
Remove any remaining odor by placing a number of household remedies in the fridge to absorb the scent. Depending on the intensity you can use: baking soda, cat litter, cotton balls soaked in vanilla, citrus halves with salt, charcoal or coffee grounds.
If the odor is stemming from the insulation or outer makings of the fridge itself, sometimes insulation can be replaced, sometimes the fridge has met its maker.

Significance

The significance of refrigerator odor is that it is your first detection that something is wrong in your fridge. The sooner you find and remove the source, the easier the solution to remove any unwanted odor left behind. Preventative cleaning is an easy way to avoid unpleasant odors and something that should be done about once a month for regular upkeep to to lengthen the lifespan of your appliance.