Smell in the refrigerator: how to quickly remove and get rid of it

Sometimes you have to deal with such a problem as an unpleasant smell in the refrigerator. Opening the door, if it doesn’t cause a gag reflex, at least ruins your appetite. But discomfort can be caused not only by the musty smell of spoiled food, but also by the aroma of fresh food. Because a cake that smells like herring will no longer give you the satisfaction it deserves. Therefore, there should be no odors at all in the refrigerator, and if they arise, they must be eliminated immediately.

Causes of unpleasant odor in the refrigerator

Spoiled food. Sometimes products that do not cause the slightest suspicion turn out to be spoiled. Often this “surprise” is a rotten egg, which looks no different from just a dozen, but spoils the air in the entire refrigerator. If the refrigerator smells obviously musty, you need to identify the source and throw it away.
Unpackaged products. Fresh products that are not stored in a package/jar/container or covered with a lid emit an odor that permeates their “neighbors” on the shelf. The way to prevent this is very simple - seal all food with a strong smell so that it does not leak out.
Spilled liquid. If all containers with food are tightly closed, and there are only fresh foods in the refrigerator, but there is still a smell, you need to take everything out of there and carefully inspect the shelves for dried puddles. Often, accidentally spilled milk, gravy or brine goes unnoticed and sticks tightly to the surface, emitting a sickening stench.Having identified this in your refrigerator, you need to thoroughly wipe this place, preferably with detergent. The food can then be placed back into the refrigerator.
New refrigerator. When a new product from a warehouse reaches a store and then a customer's home, it may have a peculiar odor of grease, plastic, rubber and metal. After some time it will disappear on its own, but it is better to speed up this process. Therefore, before you put food in the refrigerator for storage, you need to thoroughly wash it from the inside.
Long shutdown of the refrigerator. If you have to temporarily leave home - on a business trip or on vacation - the refrigerator is temporarily turned off. The same applies to moving. And during the time it sits idle, mold can form in it. In addition to the unpleasant odor, it is also very harmful to health. Mold can be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, bleach, ammonia, or a special aseptic primer, which can be purchased at any hardware store.
Clogged drain or freezing system. Everyone knows that the refrigerator needs to be cleaned periodically, but cleaning such an element as the drain hole is often overlooked. Some housewives don't even know about its existence. You can read more about where it is located and how to clean it properly in the instructions. And if one has not been preserved, the answer can be found on the Internet.
Refrigerator malfunction. Odors may be caused by loose magnetic tape on the door or old insulation. You can’t do this without a specialist, and if the refrigerator is very old, then it may be easier and cheaper to buy a new one.

Folk remedies

When washing the refrigerator from contaminants that caused the unpleasant odor, you can use it like regular soap or dishwashing liquid. But many prefer to trust proven folk remedies. Here are the most common ones:

Soda. Dilute a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in a glass of water. Use the resulting solution to clean the inside of the refrigerator. There will be no trace of the unpleasant smell.
Vinegar. Mix vinegar and water in equal parts, moisten a rag or sponge with the resulting solution, and wipe the interior surfaces of the refrigerator. After this, leave the refrigerator open for a while so that the smell of vinegar disappears.
Lemon. Squeeze lemon juice and dilute with water in a ratio of 1:2. Treat the refrigerator shelves with lemon solution.
A solution of ammonia. Eliminates any unpleasant odors. One tablespoon of ammonia is enough for a liter of water. After wiping with ammonia, the refrigerator also needs to be ventilated a little.

Preventing unpleasant odors in the refrigerator

To prevent the occurrence of unpleasant odors, you need to properly care for the refrigerator - periodically defrost, wash, and clean the drain hole once a year. Before washing the refrigerator, you must unplug it; you cannot keep it open for a long time in working condition. After washing, all surfaces should be thoroughly wiped dry, or leave the refrigerator open and it will dry on its own.

To prevent the appearance of odors, you can purchase and store special absorbers in the refrigerator:

Silica gel balls, three pieces in a pack. One or two packages will be enough for a year, depending on the size of the refrigerator.
Helium absorber with lemon extract and algae extract. Helium evaporates, absorbs odors and freshens the air.
Absorber-crystal made of mineral salts. Once every two to three weeks you need to wash it to remove the top used layer.
Activated carbon granules. Helps fruits and vegetables stay fresh longer by absorbing ethylene gas, which speeds up ripening.

Modern means to combat odors in the refrigerator are also available for sale. These are special devices, such as an odor absorber, which works on the principle of a carbon filter, driving air through it. There are also ozonizer absorbers that not only neutralize odors, but kill harmful microorganisms, fungi and mold, allowing products to be stored longer and not spoil. You can also kill all odors and bacteria using a bactericidal ultraviolet lamp, which automatically turns on in the refrigerator and completely disinfects everything that comes under its irradiation.

You can also use one of the following natural air fresheners:

Lemon slices or orange peel. They just need to be placed on the shelves of the refrigerator.
Soda or salt. They can be stored in the refrigerator directly in their “original” cardboard packaging, but to save space it will be enough to fill a small saucer.
Cut the black bread into slices and leave it inside the refrigerator.
Grind the activated carbon into powder, pour into a small container and place in the refrigerator. After two weeks, the used charcoal should be calcined in the oven, after which it can be reused.
Tea bags or ground coffee. Excellent absorption of odors and moisture. Just place them in an open container in the refrigerator and freshness is guaranteed.
Aromatic spices or herbs: cinnamon, cloves, basil, thyme - all this will help prevent the formation of unwanted odors.

You should learn one simple truth: it is always easier to prevent the appearance of unpleasant odors in the refrigerator than to deal with them later.