How to Get Rid of Refrigerator Odor Due to Spoiled Meat

Remove refrigerator odors with items in your home.

Refrigerators eventually develop odors because they accumulate dirt and food crumbs. Cleaning the refrigerator out monthly helps to prevent odors, but sometimes they cannot be prevented if a power outage happens or if food spoils quickly. Spoiled meat has a strong odor that can make the appliance unbearable to use. When you notice a spoiled meat odor, clean the refrigerator thoroughly to remove any bacteria and mildew that may have formed in the appliance.

Things You'll Need

• Liquid dish soap
• Chlorine bleach
• Cloths or rags
• Baking soda
• Towel
• Cat litter
• Shallow pans
• Washcloth
• White vinegar
• Newspapers
• Cotton ball
• Vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Remove everything inside the refrigerator. Check expiration dates carefully, and throw away any food that looks or smells questionable.

2. Unplug the refrigerator while you clean it to prevent the risk of an electrical shock.

3. Wash the refrigerator shelves and storage bins with warm, soapy water and a cloth or rag. Then, rinse everything with a bleach solution that consists of 1 tbsp. of chlorine bleach mixed with 1 gallon of water. Dry the shelves and bins thoroughly with a new cloth, and place them off to the side.

4. Wipe the inside of the refrigerator down with 2 tbsp. of baking soda mixed with 1 qt. of warm water to remove the spoiled meat odor.

5. Rinse the refrigerator with 1 tsp. of chlorine bleach mixed with 1 gallon of water. Dry the inside of the refrigerator with a towel.

6. Leave the refrigerator door open for 12 to 24 hours to remove the spoiled meat odor.

7. Spread baking soda or cat litter in shallow pans if the odor remains. Place the pans in the refrigerator with the doors closed for 24 hours to absorb the odor.

8. Clean the inside of the appliance with a washcloth dampened with an equal amount of water and white vinegar. Wipe the entire interior surface of the refrigerator to kill any remaining odors.

9. Pack crumpled newspapers into the refrigerator if it still has a spoiled meat odor. Close the refrigerator doors, and let the newspapers absorb the odor for two to three days.

10. Replace the shelves, bins and food back into the refrigerator after you remove the odor. Then, soak a cotton ball with vanilla extract, and place it in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours to freshen the appliance.

Tips & Warnings

• Place refrigerator foods inside a cooler or in a neighbor’s refrigerator while you clean the appliance to prevent them from spoiling.

• Consult a professional if you cannot remove the odor. Spoiled meat juices may have dripped into the insulation of the appliance.

• Always remove the refrigerator or freezer doors, or place a chain and padlock around them to prevent children from climbing inside if you discard the appliance.

References

• "Reader's Digest": Simple Deodorizer Ideas for Your Home
• Texas A&M System AgriLife Extension; Removing Odors From Refrigerators and Freezers After Food Has Spoiled; June 2006
• University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service; Odors: What's That Smell?; Linda R. Adler, M.A.; January 1997
• United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service: Food Safety: Removing Odors From Refrigerators & Freezers