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.
Check that no food or drink has spilt into the drain hole at the back of your fridge. Use the supplied plunger to help push anything that may have spilt into the hole. Flush the drain hole with the mixture of water and bicarbonate of soda to push food or liquid into the drip tray at the back of the fridge freezer.
Vacuum. With the appliance pulled far enough out that you can see the back of it, go at it with a vacuum cleaner. Use a narrow attachment to remove dust, dirt, and food particles from the floor and surrounding area.
Clean your refrigerator's coils every six months by using a brush and vacuum cleaner, or hire a professional for a tune-up.
One of the most frustrating yet common issues homeowners encounter is a clogged drain tube in their refrigerator. This problem can lead to water pooling inside the fridge, causing unpleasant odors, food spoilage, and reduced efficiency.
The Best: Remodeez Aqua Refrigerator Deodorizer
This means that a single Remodeez will last much longer than anything full of baking soda (though the baking soda models can be refilled). Basically, you only need to replace it every six months—which is about five months and 27 days longer than your oldest leftovers.
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.
Wipe inside of unit with equal parts vinegar and water. Vinegar provides acid which destroys mildew. Leave the door open and allow to air out for several days. Stuff both the refrigerator and freezer with rolled newspapers.
Most filters are either in the back upper-right corner of the fridge interior or behind the front grille at the fridge base.
If you have a coils under your refrigerator, or on the back, it's a good idea to clean them periodically. To do this, you can use a long skinny attachment on your vacuum, and if you have one, use a refrigerator coil cleaning brush. The brush is really the only good way to get back between the coils.
The degree of air humidity and the amount and temperature of fresh food can influence the degree of condensation inside the fridge. During the cooling process, the humidity/moisture starts to condense on the back wall as this is one of the coldest places in the fridge.
Fridge temperature settings are generally numbered from 1 to 5, with 5 being the coldest. A fully stocked fridge may need to be set to a higher setting (around 3 or 4), whereas one with more space is best suited to temperature setting 2 or 3.
The drain hole can be found on the back wall of the of the fridge. Clearing the hole should just need a couple of pokes with the small plunger (this should be kept in the hole). If the issue is still not resolved, the blockage may just be a bit further down. Use a pipe cleaner in order to reach any deeper blockages.
Experts recommend that you clean behind your fridge at least once every three months. This will keep dust and bits of food to a minimum, which in turn can prevent bad odors and reduce the occurrence of pests and allergies. Additionally, if there is any dampness in the area, mold could start to grow.
When the defrost heater turns on, heat is conducted through the strap to melt any ice that may have accumulated in the drain. If your freezer's defrost drain keeps freezing over, the drain strap may have fallen off or deteriorated. It's also possible your refrigerator model didn't come with a drain strap to begin with.
Remove the grill to clean the coils. After you expose the coils, vacuum them with a crevice or upholstery tool to remove the biggest debris. Suck up dirt on, above, and below the coils. While you're at it, vacuum the floor under and behind the fridge, too.
Dirty coils can make your fridge work harder to keep things cool, which means higher energy bills for you.
With the help of another person, tilt the fridge backward slightly to apply furniture sliders underneath the feet, or gently rock the fridge side-to-side to “walk” it forward. Use stretch tape to secure the refrigerator and freezer doors closed, then cover the fridge with a moving blanket and wrap it with tape or rope.
Improved Energy Efficiency: Over time, dust, dirt, and pet hair can accumulate on the refrigerator coils, creating a literal barrier that prevents efficient heat transfer. When these coils are dirty, your fridge has to work that much harder to maintain the desired temperature, leading to increased energy consumption.