Does your refrigerator stink? Then you better go catch the source
Sometimes you’re very well aware of what smells when you open your fridge (three-week-old fettuccine Alfredo, we’re looking at you), and the solution is simple: throw out the rotten food. Other times, the mystery lingers without answers, and you know it’s time to turn to more extreme measures.
Sure, sorting out the fridge or cleaning the freezer isn't the most fun task on anyone’s list of chores, but conducting a comprehensive cleanout of the place you store your food has its benefits. Not only will you keep your food fresh longer, but you’ll find things faster, too.
Whether your fridge currently has a rotten odor or you’re simply looking to avoid that unpleasantness in the future, read our tips to keep your refrigerator smelling as close to daisies as possible.
The best way to get rid of any foul odor lingering in your fridge is to take everything out and throw away anything that is rotten or close to it.
After removing everything (if you have a second fridge, you can store everything in there), remove the bins and shelves and wash them in warm, soapy water. Spray the interior sides and bottom of the fridge with a gentle, food-safe cleaner. You should also wipe down jars of food items like jams and salsa if any food is caked on the exterior.
If any food has spilled and left a sticky residue that won’t come off with a typical cleaning solution, whip up a homemade cleaning paste made with three parts baking soda to one part water. Spread it over the offending area and wait a few hours before scrubbing it off with an old toothbrush. Wipe it away with a wet cloth, and your fridge should be smelling better in no time.
If your fridge's filth is the result of a power outage (or it’s just been a really long time since you’ve cleaned it), it might be time to de-germ in addition to de-stink. Once all of the food is out of the fridge, spray a bleach mixture (1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 gallon of water) on all surfaces of the fridge, and wipe clean.
After cleaning, if you’re able to store away your food items safely in a backup fridge, unplug it and leave the door open for 24 hours or more to let fresh air inside (and funky smells out). If you don’t have a backup fridge, an unplug time of 30 minutes is recommended so none of your food spoils while you wait.
The optimal temperature for your fridge is between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. By keeping your fridge at this temp, your food will stay fresh for as long as possible without letting bacteria breed prematurely (and cause new bad smells). If your fridge doesn’t have precise temperature control, use a refrigerator thermometer to know when the dial needs to be turned up or down.
Your refrigerator’s drip pan catches condensation so it doesn’t end up all over your kitchen floor. Sometimes, moisture builds up and leaves a pool of unpleasant-smelling liquid. Check your fridge’s manual to find the drip pan (it’s usually underneath, behind a kick plate on the front or the back), pour off any accumulated water, and clean it with diluted bleach or a solution of vinegar and water.
Your fridge’s coils—responsible for keeping the machine cool—can grow dusty over time, making the fridge less effective. Unplug your refrigerator, locate the coils, and then use a coil cleaning brush to clear away any dust or food bits that have gotten stuck. Vacuum up the area to get anything that drifted onto the ground. This kind of regular fridge maintenance will also help prolong the life of your appliance.
Plastic breeds bacteria, so recycle any old plastic food storage containers and invest in a set made from glass or stainless steel. In addition, always store take-out leftovers in a glass container rather than the plastic or styrofoam they came in.
After you’ve cleaned your fridge and have it smelling better, keep it that way by placing a homemade deodorizer inside. One tried-and-true item for this is baking soda; just be sure the baking soda container is either open or sprinkle some of it on a sponge so it can come in contact with the fridge air.
Another method is to put some baking soda in an old spice jar. The holds in the top of the jar allow the baking soda to reach the stinky stuff in the fridge. You can even add a few drops of essential oil to introduce a pleasant scent. Other deodorizers include:
Fresh coffee grounds
Crumpled newspapers
Lemon slices
Cotton balls dipped in vanilla extract
