Remove paper and clean with vinegar and water. Sprinkle fresh coffee grounds or baking soda loosely in a large, shallow container in the bottom of the refrigerator and freezer. Place a cotton swab soaked with vanilla inside the refrigerator and freezer. Close door for 24 hours.
Vinegar. Add some vinegar to a small paper towel and place in a small bowl or open container. Leave it inside your fridge for at least 24 hours to obtain the desired effect. Make sure to replace the towel every few days or each time it dries out.
If your refrigerator smells exceptionally bad, mix about 1⁄2 cup of baking soda with a tablespoon or two of vanilla extract. Place the bowl on the bottom shelf of the fridge, and after a few days the baking soda and vanilla mixture will effectively and completely remove bad smells.
The Best: Remodeez Aqua Refrigerator Deodorizer
Charcoal is known to be far more effective an odor absorber than baking soda because of its porous surface area, which allows for more absorption.
The length of time it will take to deodorize your fridge depends on the cause of the smell and your method for eliminating it. The baking soda method can take about three days to eliminate refrigerator odors, while cleaning your fridge of spills or spoiled food could remove the odors immediately.
Eliminate odors by storing an opened box of baking soda inside the refrigerator and freezer. You should notice a fresher smell within one to three days, but baking soda in the fridge needs to be replaced at least every three months.
To clean the inside of the fridge, spray the inside of the fridge with a solution of vinegar and water, concentrating on soiled areas and let it soak in.
Refrigerator smells come from either bacteria or mold, often from food spoilage or moisture buildup. The interior of the refrigerator is primarily made of plastic, and plastic absorbs odours. If the refrigerator is not regularly cleaned, it is most likely the reason why it smells.
Add 2 – 3 tablespoons of baking soda and table salt onto the lemon slices. Place the lemons onto a shallow, uncovered plate. Keep the plate in your refrigerator for up to 6 days. Lemons usually take a couple hours before you notice the smell in your fridge is getting fresher.
Since baking soda has alkaline properties, it's best at killing acidic odors, but the powder can eliminate many other types of odor as well. In fact, there are few odors baking soda can't combat. "Baking soda also absorbs oils and a lot of grease, thus killing their odors," says Cohoon.
A bowl of vinegar can start absorbing odors almost immediately and is typically adequate for up to 24 hours. When left out in a room, the acetic acid in vinegar neutralizes alkaline odors, such as those from smoke, cooking, or pet accidents, by binding with the odor molecules and neutralizing them.
Mix 3 ounces of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner with 4 cups of cold water in an empty spray bottle. Using cold water will help your fridge reach optimum temperature quicker after you've finished cleaning.
Use an odor neutralizer such as OdoBan or NeutraAir to treat the upholstery. Allow it to dry. Once all fabric and carpeted areas have been treated, fill bowls with vinegar, cat litter, activated charcoal or coffee grounds and place several in each room. Allow them to remain in place until the odor is removed.
Wipe the inside of the empty refrigerator with hot, soapy water, then wipe with clean water to rinse off soap. Dry with a clean towel. DON'T FORGET TO WIPE INSIDE THE DOORS AND ANY DRAWERS THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED. USE A SOLUTION OF 1 TABLESPOON OF LIQUID BLEACH IN 1 GALLON OF WATER TO SANITIZE YOUR REFRIGERATOR.
Remove paper and clean with vinegar and water. Sprinkle fresh coffee grounds or baking soda loosely in a large, shallow container in the bottom of the refrigerator and freezer. Place a cotton swab soaked with vanilla inside the refrigerator and freezer. Close door for 24 hours.
Place trays of activated charcoal, clean kitty litter or baking soda on the shelves of the refrigerator or freezer. Run the appliance empty for 2 or 3 days. Activated charcoal can be purchased from stores that sell aquarium and terrarium supplies.
To help your fridge smell fresher, unplug it and clean the interior with a baking soda paste (baking soda + water) and a soft cloth. Wipe it clean with a damp cloth. Let it air out with the door open for a day before plugging it back in.
Spoiled food: When food goes bad, it can produce unpleasant smells that can spread throughout the fridge. Spills: Food or liquid spills in the fridge can create a breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria.
Using baking soda as a cleaning agent or as a deodorizer can help your refrigerator stay clean and fresh.
If you want to give them a shot, simply set a small bowl in the fridge, filled with either coffee grounds or vinegar (or buy a canister of odor-eliminating gel to keep on a shelf). Just keep in mind that you may find a new smell invading your fridge and its contents, rather than what we really want—no smell at all.
Cleaning Inside of a Refrigerator
The best cleaner is a combination of abrasive salt and bubbly soda water. Create a homemade all-purpose cleaner by combining the following in a gallon of hot water: 1 cup clear ammonia, ½-cup vinegar and ¼-cup baking soda. Pour into a spray bottle, or use from a bowl with a sponge.
Pull out all of the removable shelves and bins. Soak any serious stuck-on grime and take a sponge soaked in Fabuloso® (I like the Lavender scent) and give them a good wipe down.