Nobody likes a smelly fridge! Find out how to get rid of those bad smells in your fridge.
Even with regular maintenance, it’s not uncommon for your fridge to give off unpleasant odors. What’s more, unpleasant odors can damage food and can spread through the kitchen as soon as you open the fridge – it’s very unpleasant!
Fortunately, there are some simple and effective ways of eliminating these unpleasant odors…
What’s the solution to unpleasant fridge odours?
Unpleasant odors in the fridge can come from a variety of sources: expired food, spilled liquids or simply the accumulation of residues over time. It’s not uncommon for a single drop of something to cause an abominable odor.
Emptying and cleaning your fridge with bicarbonate
The best thing to do is to start by thoroughly cleaning your fridge. To do this, empty the fridge completely. Throw out any out-of-date food and remove trays and shelves. Use hot water and baking soda to clean the inside of the fridge.
Scrub well in nooks and crannies and on rubber seals. If odors aren’t too strong, you can also try a dish filled with baking soda, which can be placed in the fridge to absorb odors. You can also add a couple of drops of essential oil to a dish for a more pleasant scent, but it’s best to find out why the fridge is giving off a bad smell.
White vinegar to neutralize odors
White vinegar can neutralize fridge odors. You can place a bowl of white vinegar inside the fridge for a few hours. The product will absorb the odors. But it’s still best to deep-clean your fridge with a solution of water and white vinegar.
Marseille soap for a pleasant smell
Marseille soap cleans and leaves your fridge smelling fresh. But remember to use natural Marseille soap, otherwise all the beneficial effects of the soap will disappear. Here’s how you can use Marseille soap to combat unpleasant fridge odours:
- Create scented sachets: wrap pieces of Marseille soap in net bags or a breathable fabric, then place in the fridge.
- Keep food fresh with Marseille soap: place a small slice of Marseille soap in the crisper.
Cleaning with coffee grounds and/or citrus juice
These two solutions are less well-known than those using white vinegar or bicarbonate of soda, but they are nevertheless interesting for neutralizing unpleasant odors in the fridge.
Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are an excellent odor counteractant. To be effective, it needs to be very dry. Simply place a bowl of dry coffee grounds in the fridge. With this solution, you’ll see that unpleasant odors disappear.
Citrus juice
Citrus juice also neutralizes unpleasant odors and adds a more pleasant fragrance. To do this, filter the juice from a fresh lemon or a large orange. Pour the juice into a mug and place in the fridge.
Regular maintenance to keep your fridge clean
The best way to avoid unpleasant odors is to clean your fridge regularly.
Every two weeks or every month, you should give your fridge a thorough cleaning. Also remember to change the odor neutralizers in your fridge. Be vigilant, too, and remember to wrap foods that give off odors, such as fish and cheese. Think of resealable bags for extra protection against unpleasant odors.
