Opening your fridge and getting hit with a nasty smell isn't great. Not only does it make you lose your appetite, but often, you may be left wondering what's causing the stench – it could be spoiled food, a spill on the shelf, undiscovered mold behind the door, among many other reasons. The cause of these bad odors is simple: bacteria. These microbes thrive off moisture which can come from spills, condensation from the fridge, and even humidity from the outside.
Read on to learn easy and practical tips to keep your fridge smelling good. Our experts here at Garner Appliance and Mattress also dish out some cost-effective and natural remedies that can help you keep your refrigerator clean and fresh.
Lower the temperature
You can reduce food spoilage by keeping your fridge at an optimal temperature anywhere between 37°F to 40°F. Setting the refrigerator temperature at an appropriate level, neither too high nor too low, efficiently helps prevent the onset of any foul smell while also saving energy and money on electricity bills. However, if you live in a humid area, you might need to make some adjustments as the recommended settings might not be enough to stave off the buildup of moisture.
Check your fridge for spoiled food
Check your fridge on a regular basis to ensure that food remains fresh. People tend to forget that the food on the door spoils the fastest. Often, even if a food item’s expiration date is weeks away, opened cartons or containers may already be a feast for germs. Then, after going through the items you have on your fridge door, work your way to the back of the fridge, sniffing and peeking at all your past food purchases.
Freshen your fridge
Once you’ve gotten rid of stale or spoiled food inside your fridge, try these easy DIY remedies to eliminate foul odors:
Baking Soda
The awesomeness of baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is in its ability to neutralize pH levels. The way it works is that it absorbs strong acids and buffers them. Since most odor buildups are because of acids (like lactic acid in milk) and bases (spoiling meat), it comes as no surprise that baking soda has been hailed as one of the most effective cleaning solutions for most of our household chores. This natural remedy is always valid and inexpensive!
Simply pour at least one cup of baking soda into a shallow, open container and put it inside the fridge. As for optimum placement, odors are essentially the same weight as the air around them and will dissipate throughout the whole fridge, so you can put the container closest to the source of the stink to get rid of it as quickly as possible. You can also mix baking soda with water to create a paste to clean the shelves and drawers. Baking soda works wonders at removing food stains and spills!
Lemon or any citrus fruit
When it comes to removing fridge odors, many people use lemon because of its refreshing scent. Slice the lemon in half and leave it inside the fridge. If you decide not to use the whole lemon, you can squeeze the juice from the other half onto a cloth and use it to wipe down the sides of the fridge.
If the smell is persistent, consider hollowing out any citrus fruit (like grapefruit or orange), filling it with salt, and placing it in the back of the fridge. Leave it there until the salt gets completely damp, and then throw the whole thing out and replace it. The salt will draw out the wonderful citrus smell and make your whole fridge smell like fresh fruit.
Oats
A bowl of oats works well for removing any kind of bad smell in the fridge. Remember to keep it in an aluminum or ceramic bowl for maximum efficacy.
Vanilla Extract
You can also take a cotton ball and soak it in vanilla extract to get a fresh aroma each time you open your fridge.
Activated Charcoal
Place activated charcoal on baking sheets and distribute it evenly on every shelf for a faster effect.
Do some deep cleaning
If your refrigerator still smells bad after doing the steps above, it's time to start clearing it out. Get a cooler, stuff all your food in it with some ice, and start cleaning out your refrigerator. Keep in mind that you should not use cleaning agents with chemicals that can linger on shelves and create toxic odors.
Time to clean out your refrigerator
With these easy-to-remember tips, we hope you no longer have to deal with this problem. After all, health is wealth!
However, if, even after cleaning, the smell persists, then it may be time to replace or upgrade your refrigerator. The bad smell could be coming from a malfunctioning part inside the fridge. Sometimes, a damaged water filter can emit odors and even cause a buildup of liquid inside the fridge's drainage system.
If you’re looking to shop for a new refrigerator, head on over to Garner Appliance and Mattress today! You can also take a look at our complete online home appliances catalog on our website. Visit any of our local appliance stores in North Carolina and let our experts help you find the perfect refrigerator for your kitchen.