How to Fix a Smelly Refrigerator

Empty your refrigerator and give it a good cleaning to get rid of bad odors.

There is nothing like opening your refrigerator door and being slammed in the face with a bad smell. The odor, which more than likely is coming from improperly contained or rotting food, will permeate the good food in your refrigerator. Take some quick action and clean out your refrigerator to remove the smell.

Things You'll Need

• Cooler
• Baking soda
• Sponge
• Dishwashing soap

Instructions

1. Turn the temperature control unit off. Remove everything from your refrigerator. Place good, perishable items in a cooler. Throw away any outdated or rotten food.

2. Remove all racks and drawers and wash them in the sink with hot soapy water. Rinse them and let them air dry.

3. Dampen a sponge in the sink and sprinkle baking soda on it. Use this to scrub all interior surfaces of the refrigerator. Rinse and reapply the baking soda as needed. When done, wipe one more time with a damp sponge to remove any baking soda residue.

4. Place the shelves and drawers back into the refrigerator. Return all the food from the cooler. Turn the temperature control back on -- the optimal temperature is about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Place an open box of baking soda into the refrigerator to help absorb any remaining odors.

6. Check the drain pan underneath the refrigerator as it is possible it is dirty. Empty any water that has drained into the pan and clean it with a gentle detergent and water.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How to Clean Your Refrigerator
• Eartheasy: Non-Toxic Home Cleaning