I washed the fridge but the smell remained what to do. How to remove an unpleasant smell from the refrigerator

How to remove the smell from the refrigerator, if the technique has ceased to delight you with freshness, the question is quite acute. The refrigerator is perhaps the most indispensable thing in the kitchen, and with proper care it will take care of the correct preservation of food for many years. Today we'll talk about what to do if unpleasant foreign odors appear inside. Here are some effective and safe detergent recipes to help get rid of the stench.

What makes the fridge smell

Before eliminating extraneous aromas, you need to understand the root causes of their appearance. The culprits of the stench can be:

Improper storage. If you put food inside without proper packaging. For example, dishes with garlic, onions, or various smoked meats that are kept open can be sources.

Delay. If the food or goods have expired and have not been removed from the refrigerator on time. Most often, unpleasant "surprises" are presented with cottage cheese, eggs, raw meat.

Dirty container. It often happens that the packaging material is damaged in the sales areas of a store. Workers remove the unwanted product, and its remnants are not always carefully wiped off the product lying next to it. This often manifests itself in packaging made of foam plastic container and film. This can create a musty smell of meat and bruising.
Dirty shelves and drawers, as well as other parts of the apparatus. Spilled and dried droplets of milk or broth can give off an unpleasant odor, although at first glance they are invisible. Watch out for the condition of the rubber bands, which accumulate bacteria and mold.

New unit. Amber from the factory occurs when the parts are initially heated. Within a month, the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator disappears.
Disconnecting from the network. During a power outage or vacation, mold can form in the most inaccessible areas of refrigeration equipment.
Medicines that are not tightly covered with caps. In combination with other flavors of products, an unpleasant cocktail can be obtained.
Sometimes it stinks in the refrigerator also due to malfunctions or problems with defrosting and drip system. In this case, you need to contact the service center.

Odor elimination methods

Today we will show you how to remove the smell from the refrigerator easily, simply and for a long time. Which methods to choose depends only on your personal preferences and those available tools that are available to you. So, to fight for freshness at home, use:

Specialized detergents. It is imperative to follow the instructions for use and not exceed the norm. Make sure that there is no contact with food.
Industrial odor absorbers get rid of the nasty smell. The absorber is produced in the form of a ball or egg, inside which a sachet of active substance is placed. It is very convenient to put the absorber in the egg storage compartment. The odor absorber needs to be changed periodically, so even the stench from rotten fish will not be intimidating to you.

Folk methods. If you make an odor remover, you'll get fragrant freshness for a penny.
Ozonizers. Ozone supplied to the chamber prolongs the freshness of food and stops the spread of pathogens.

If the stench comes from the freezer, be sure to remove all the products from there and check each one for delays. Some types of fish are not designed for long-term storage. Remove mold odor by thoroughly washing all rubber bands and corners.

Important! Before you start washing, be sure to unplug it, remove food and all drawers with shelves.

Chemicals and absorbers

When using household chemicals, you need to be extremely careful, you should definitely study the instructions for use in detail. Remember that some drugs leave behind a pungent "chemical" odor that is only removed over time. Consider those drugs that do not leave behind a specific trace.

FeedBack. From the pros: it is safe even in the presence of small children, pets, pregnant women, the product is hypoallergenic.

Oro Fix 02012. Pros: it copes well with stagnant odors.
TOP HOUSE. Pros: does not need additional rinsing with water, reliably kills germs and bacteria, prevents their appearance.

Combined funds

Method 1. Cut a small lime or lemon into two halves with a knife, remove the pulp. Pour soda into each of the cups, then put these stuffed halves on the shelves. After 7 days, remove the lemon and discard. Use activated charcoal or charcoal instead of baking soda.

Method 2. Mix a couple of tablespoons of English soda (sold in the pharmacy under the name "magnesium sulfate") in equal proportions with baking soda. Add 50ml of water and 10 drops of aromatic essential oil to the composition. Transfer the composition to a small jar and place in the apparatus.

Traditional methods of dealing with the stench in the refrigerator

If you want to remove the stench inside the refrigerator simply, effectively and affordably, then you should use folk remedies that have been tested by the experience of grandmothers and mothers. Elimination of the stench that can make stored products unusable involves the use of the following recipes.

Combine vinegar and water in equal proportions, add a spoonful of sea salt to the solution. Wipe all walls and shelves of the device with a cloth soaked in vinegar liquid.

Place rye bread crusts, tea bags, a cut onion or half an apple inside the chambers - they successfully absorb the fetid odor.
Make a 10/1 vodka and lemon juice cocktail. This will help kill the stinky odor that can be left over from fish or meat. Wipe the inside of the unit with a cloth and solution.

Leave inside a saucer with fine salt or sugar - these are great "extracts".
Pour some cat litter into a small container. The tool will perfectly "pull out" unpleasant amber.
If you have purchased a new unit, you can eliminate the unpleasant technical odor by combining 2 tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and 0.5 liters of hot water.
You can put in the refrigerator to remove the smell, you can also jars with aromatic herbs - basil, tarragon, thyme or cloves.

Fighting for cleanliness with coffee

There are many recipes for eliminating the stench from refrigeration equipment using coffee.

Place a container with ground grains inside.
Boil a fragrant drink, put the cup to cool on the shelf. Repeat the procedure several times.
Fry the seeds in a pan, then let them cool in the apparatus.

How to prevent stench

Here are some simple rules, following which you will eliminate the appearance of an unpleasant fragrance. If these recommendations become a habit, then your refrigerator will become a model of cleanliness.

Ventilate regularly - unplug and leave doors open.
If you spill something, wipe off the shelves immediately.

Check the condition of the food at least once a week.
Cover food containers tightly with lids or cling film.

When defrosting food, place it in a deep bowl.
Place only clean containers inside.
Leave a jar of crushed activated carbon or soda in the corner. These are excellent sorbents.

It is possible to eliminate the stench in the chambers both by chemical and folk methods. Taking proper care of your home appliances will help you keep your food fresh and extend its useful life.

Video: Life or not life? Fridge odorless

Your refrigerator worked properly for a long time without causing any complaints, and suddenly you felt some strange smell ... What is it? Are the products normal, but the flavor is there? Maybe that's how Freon smells? Let's figure it out.

What is the smell of freon from the refrigerator?

Perhaps this fact will surprise you, but you cannot smell the refrigerant from the refrigerator, because IT DOESN'T SMELL! At least the one used in modern units (R600a and R134a). There is one exception to this rule: R12 freon has a characteristic sweetish smell, reminiscent of the smell of chloroform. But currently, R12 is not used in household refrigerators. Moreover, since 2010, the production of refrigerators with this type of freon has been banned in Russia - so it can only be found in old Soviet models.

Remember!To find out which freon your refrigerator is running on, unfold the unit and look at the sticker on the motor. It must indicate the type of refrigerant on which the compressor is running.

What then does the refrigerator smell like?

A reasonable question arises, if freon cannot smell, then what can it be? The probable reasons are as follows:

Stale (or improperly stored) food. Spoiled food can be both an independent cause of the appearance of an unpleasant smell when they have expired, and a consequence of a malfunctioning refrigerator. The breakdown led to an increase in the temperature inside the unit, the temperature regime of storage of products was violated and they deteriorated.
The smell of plastic in the new refrigerator. A pungent smell similar to the smell of plastic is quite natural for many models. You shouldn't worry too much, just wash the refrigerator (by the way, this is a mandatory procedure after purchase) and leave it open for a couple of hours.
Dirt and bacteria in the old refrigerator. If your refrigerator has been in use for a long time (and is not cleaned very often), then it is quite natural that a characteristic musty smell of an "old refrigerator" has developed in it. The same "aroma" occurs if you turn on the refrigerator, which has been idle for a long time (in the country, for example).
Blockage in the drainage system. Food crumbs and other small particles could clog the drain and cause water to build up in the refrigerator. Such conditions are excellent for the multiplication of bacteria, which are the cause of the unpleasant odor. If you haven't cleaned the drain hole and the refrigerator in time, expect a bad smell to appear.
Dirty deodorizer. In many modern models of refrigerators, a bio-deodorizer is provided, it absorbs odors, can have antibacterial properties, etc. The deodorizer may be clogged and require cleaning. For information on how to clean the deodorizer in your refrigerator model, read the instructions for the unit.

Maybe your refrigerator smells burnt? It is difficult to confuse such a smell with anything else. We have already talked about why a burning smell appears in the refrigerator.

How to get rid of fridge odors

Cleanliness is the key to the absence of bad odors in the refrigerator. Therefore, if you are not distinguished by cleanliness, then try to thoroughly wash and dry your unit first. You can use special solutions:

Hydrogen peroxide. Allows you to quickly eliminate almost any odor. It is enough to spray the peroxide solution on the inner walls of the refrigerator with a spray bottle and wipe dry with a towel after 2-3 minutes.
Water with vinegar. Make a 1 to 8 solution and wipe thoroughly all interior parts of the refrigerator. Repeat if necessary.

This helps in many cases. If the smell still remains, then you cannot do without special means!

To remove an unpleasant odor in the refrigerator, there are many, both folk and specially designed odor absorbers. The principle of operation of all of them is absorption: the "smelling" molecules are bound by the active substance of the absorber and are neutralized. Consider the simplest and most effective remedies that can be found in every home.

Black coffee. A glass of coffee beans (instant coffee will not work!) Absorbs unpleasant odors well, just put it in the refrigerator - and you will be happy.
Brown bread crusts. Leave in the refrigerator until the odor is completely eliminated.
Activated carbon. It absorbs odors from food well, just put a glass of charcoal in the refrigerator, which can be found in any home medicine cabinet.
Half an apple or a slice of raw potatoes. Leave in the refrigerator overnight. After - do not forget to throw it away so as not to create another source of unpleasant odor.
Citrus. Slices of lemon, orange, or tangerine will soak up bad odors, leaving a pleasant scent. We also recommend throwing them out after a day, until mold appears on the fruit.
Odor absorbers for refrigerators from the store. There are many different odor eliminators. Small in size (fits in the palm of your hand), they fit into the refrigerator compartment and absorb unpleasant odors. Absorbers operate for up to several months. Then they need to be replaced.

If all else fails - contact "RemBytTech"!

If none of the above methods helped to get rid of the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, it is very likely that there is some kind of malfunction in the unit.

In this case, contact "RemBytTech":

we will advise you in detail about the problem that has arisen and, if necessary, will send a master to you for repair. A specialist will come to your house at a convenient time for you, diagnose the unit and carry out repairs of any complexity.

And you will forget about unpleasant smells in the refrigerator!

If an unpleasant odor is found in the refrigerator, how to quickly get rid of it is an urgent question. In a confined space, unwanted aromas often appear and household appliances are no exception. To combat them, you need to use folk methods or purchase special household chemicals to eliminate the problem.

Smell in the refrigerator - reasons

Eliminating fridge odors begins with finding the cause. It smells bad from the camera if:

food products have deteriorated - especially meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits;
improper maintenance of the unit;
products are stored without packaging (especially fish);
the ventilation system is faulty;
the drain system is clogged;
a long shutdown was carried out, it is fraught with the appearance of mustiness, mold.

Anti-odor refrigerator cleaner

To keep the refrigerating chamber always clean, it is necessary to periodically carry out general cleaning in it. In this case, remove all products, discard stale ones, wipe the surfaces. For washing, you can use a store-bought odor remover in the refrigerator. This is a hygienic household chemicals that effectively and quickly removes dirt and unpleasant odors from the chamber, creates safe conditions for long-term storage of food. Sold in the form of sprays that are applied to the surface, do not leave streaks and do not require rinsing. Most popular cleaners:

Sano, Wpro- washing solution, cleans dirt, stains, leaving behind a scent;
Glutoclean- disinfecting cleaner, quickly removes dirt, grease, ensures hygienic cleanliness of surfaces;
Turbo- for washing and sanitizing refrigeration equipment, destroys dangerous microorganisms, mold, prevents their reappearance.

Fridge odor absorber

If an unpleasant smell appears in the refrigerator, a special stench will help solve the question of how to quickly get rid of it. There are several types of adsorbents:

Silikogel balls... They act on contact with air, three pieces are enough for a year for a small chamber.
Eggs with holes, there is activated carbon and non-toxic gel inside. The composition absorbs unpleasant odors inside the chamber for a certain period of time (on average, about 3 months). The level of the gel indicates the need to purchase a new cartridge.
Helium filler with natural fillers and extracts, contains an extract of algae and lemon, absorbs odors faster than other compounds.
Crystal from mineral salts... It is washed 1-2 times a month to remove the spent layer.
Ozonizer... Eliminates stench, kills harmful microorganisms, runs on a battery.

If you do not want to overpay, you can make an odor absorber for the refrigerator with your own hands - crush several tablets of activated carbon and pour them into a plastic egg from Kinder, in which you need to make holes in advance. Or just put the powder in a container in the chamber. For a few weeks, you can forget about unpleasant odors.

How to remove odor from the refrigerator?

When the camera smells bad, it is removed:

using household chemicals;
using suitable food and tools at hand.

Before you get rid of the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, you need to figure out why it appeared. If necessary, technical malfunctions are eliminated, the drainage system is cleaned, it is important to get rid of the source of the stench - spoiled products. Methods of dealing with extraneous aromas for the refrigerator are selected suitable for old, new equipment, the care is different for different models of refrigerators. For example, units with drip defrost should be washed once a month.

Smell in the refrigerator know frost

A foreign aroma can appear in both the new and the old unit. Even if the equipment is equipped with a system (dry freezing), it must be washed at least 2 times a year. How to eliminate the smell in the refrigerator:

turn off the power to the device;
remove food, shelves and drawers from the chamber;
check if pieces of missing food have fallen somewhere;
check the drain hole, it may be clogged;
wash the shelves and walls of the chamber with detergent and wipe dry;
dilute a couple of teaspoons of ammonia in water and wash the unit from the inside (it does not leave streaks on the surface, washes away fat, kills germs);
the equipment should stand with the door open for several hours, then wipe it with clean water, dry it and turn it on.

How to remove odor from the fridge freezer?

To rid the freezer of the stench, you need to throw out all the old food from it, defrost the chamber, freeing it from the shelves and containers. When deciding how to wash the refrigerator so that there is no smell, you can use ordinary vodka. It is used to wipe all interior surfaces, containers and shelves. Vodka is good at killing germs in the chamber and eliminating stench. After processing, the freezer is left open for several hours. Then the technique is wiped off with a dry cloth and turned on.

Moldy smell in the refrigerator

Many housewives are interested in the answer to the question when a moldy smell appears in the refrigerator - how to quickly get rid of it. The fungus in the chamber starts up due to condensation and high humidity. To begin with, eliminate the cause of the problem - lower the temperature inside the unit to reduce the formation of dampness, check whether the rubber bands fit snugly to the frame, and whether the door closes well. How to remove unpleasant mold smell from the refrigerator:

Disinfect the chambers using a solution of laundry soap.
Treat the shelves and walls with one of the following anti-mold products:

bleach - whiteness quickly destroys fungal spores;
hydrogen peroxide - disinfects, removes fungus;
ammonia - kills fungal spores, removes even strong stench, is suitable for processing glass shelves;
commercial adsorbent - will reduce the percentage of dampness in the chamber and eliminate mold odor.

Do not close the door at night so that the surfaces are well weathered.

How to remove fish smell from the refrigerator?

If there is a fishy smell in the refrigerator, how to quickly get rid of it is the first question of housewives, because such a "aroma" is very sharp, persistent, it is difficult to remove it. The spoiled product exudes an even stronger "odor". How to get rid of the fish smell in the refrigerator:

clean all interior walls using a refreshing dishwashing detergent;
wipe the surface with lemon juice;
ventilate the chamber by placing any adsorbents in it: apple pieces, citrus peel, pieces of raw potatoes, activated charcoal on a saucer.

The smell of rotten meat in the refrigerator

The stench from rotten meat is very strong and not easy to remove. In this case, how to remove the smell from the refrigerator:

throw away all rotten foods;
wipe the walls and shelves with dishwashing detergent;
put an adsorbent in the chamber: lemon slices, a plate of soda, ground coffee, 200 g of cellite in an open container (they will absorb foreign aromas);
if it does not help, use professional adsorbent household chemicals.

Chemical smell in the refrigerator

Often, new equipment smells like plastic, metal, grease. Before using it, you need to disinfect the surfaces. How to clean the refrigerator so that there is no smell:

wash the equipment with clean water using a weak soda solution or detergent;
disinfect the compartments with alcohol or vodka;
leave the door open for 2 hours, put lemon slices on the shelves overnight. It will remove the remnants of foreign aromas and create a fresh atmosphere in the chamber.

How to remove the smell from the refrigerator - folk remedies

It's unpleasant when a foreign smell appears in the refrigerator, how to quickly get rid of it - the answer to this question is available folk remedies. They are environmentally friendly, do not contain aggressive substances harmful to human health. For example, instead of chemistry, you can use one glass of apple cider per liter of water, an excellent remedy for removing odors from the refrigerator. They wipe the inner walls and shelves of the unit.

Smell in the refrigerator - how to get rid of, food-adsorbents:

rye bread, cut into pieces and put on the shelves;
raw rice grains, poured into a bowl and placed on the shelves;
an apple, onion, potatoes, any vegetable are cut into slices and laid out in compartments, the pieces are changed every 2-3 days;
freshly ground coffee poured into a bowl is an excellent adsorbent.

Soda from the smell in the refrigerator

When deciding what to wash the refrigerator with to get rid of the smell, you can use regular baking soda. It effectively cleans surfaces from dirt and dried streaks due to abrasive particles and absorbs all foreign aromas. If a smell appears in the refrigerator - how to quickly get rid of it with soda:

prepare a liquid gruel - stir 3 tbsp. l. soda in 1 tbsp. water;
with the composition, treat all surfaces in the chamber, apply thicker gruel on old spots (5-6 tbsp. l. per 1 tbsp. water) and leave for 30 minutes;
after the surface is washed out with clean water, ventilated and wiped dry;
soda is also a good adsorbent. A glass of powder diluted in water will quickly absorb unwanted odors. The soda can be poured into a box with holes or the whole package can be put in the chamber in an open form. You need to change the product every three months.

Have an unpleasant smell coming from the refrigerator? This phenomenon is a fairly common problem, the reasons for which can be many. And everything would be fine if the smell could be removed with the help of regular cleaning, but the stench does not always disappear after that.

In any case, you need to deal with such a problem as soon as possible. Read on for our tips on how to do it quickly and efficiently.

What to do if it stinks inside the refrigerator

The reasons for the smell from the refrigerator can be completely different. Moreover, it can smell not only in the old, constantly used refrigeration device, but also in the new one. Therefore, first you need to understand the reasons: where did the unpleasant smell come from in the refrigerator.

Smell from a new device

If the refrigerator is new, then the stench can exude plastic or chemicals that were used at the factory in the manufacture and assembly of equipment. Be sure to get rid of this smell before plugging in the appliance. This is easy to do: just wipe all the shelves, rubber seals and walls inside the refrigerator with a damp cloth.

You can soak a cloth in water with lemon or ammonia, or wash the "insides" of the device with any chemical detergent. Then leave the refrigerator door open for a few hours. Once the smell has completely disappeared, you can use the technique.

Advice... Refrigerators with the modern No Frost system do not need to be defrosted frequently, as a snowy “coat” does not appear in them. But a couple of times a year, such a device will not hurt to wash it with laundry soap.

From old household appliances

If it comes to the old device, different methods of struggle are used. First, find the source that makes the refrigerator stink: it can be an expired product or, for example, a forgotten or lying piece of meat, fish, sour dairy products. Even a dish that has been standing for a long time and not covered by anything can cause a smell in the refrigerator.

If there is such a product, immediately eliminate it and all traces of its presence on the shelf. For example, a broken egg could leak out, sour kefir could leak, a rotten apple could leave a mark on the shelf, and blood could drip from raw meat. All this must be washed with any available or chemical means.

If the smell in the refrigerator has appeared a long time ago, most likely, ordinary wiping of the shelf will not be enough. Therefore, your next actions are to disconnect the equipment from the network, defrost the device and thoroughly wash it inside.

Then let the appliance air out - leave it with the door open for a couple of hours. The longer, the better, but then be guided by the state of the food from the refrigerator - it will be unpleasant if they go bad.

Attention! The refrigerator is considered one of the dirtiest places in the house, along with the keyboard, doorknob, and even the toilet. Therefore, it should be cleaned as often as possible: every month, or even once every two weeks, wipe all shelves, cells, doors and rubber parts, and at least once every six months, arrange a general cleaning for it.

Another tip: when you wash the refrigerator, pay attention to the technical details inside. It often happens that clogged automatic defrost tubes or water drain holes exude a smell. Pay special attention to them - you can use cotton swabs for better cleaning from blockages.

What can cause an unpleasant odor

Naturally, an unpleasant odor in the refrigeration device does not occur by itself. As we have already found out, most often it appears due to expired products, but this is far from the only reason why it smells in the refrigerator.

If the appliance is thoroughly washed, the freezer is defrosted, and the smell still hasn't gone anywhere, then look for the reason in the equipment itself.

Doubtful scent can be sourced from plastic or rubber. This smell is more typical for new technology, but it can also appear in older models after a long period of disuse. In new devices, it is eliminated by ordinary wet cleaning and ventilation. In old devices, rubber seals must be thoroughly washed out - dirt, moisture, food crumbs can clog in them.

Another reason is mold and mildew. They can appear due to:

missing food, which has deteriorated due to a temporary power outage;
malfunctions of refrigeration equipment;
improper storage of food;
setting an unsuitable temperature in the freezer, at which microorganisms can develop and the process of decay can occur.

It is quite difficult to get rid of such a smell and you cannot do without household chemicals or folk remedies.

Advice... Can't handle the problem yourself? Call a refrigeration repair technician. He will quickly find the cause of the stench and help solve the problem.

By the way, in old Soviet refrigerators freon was used, which has a specific smell of chloroform. However, in modern models, freon does not smell at all. Therefore, do not look for the cause of the smell in it.

Some odors can be removed quickly and easily. Others require multiple washing and the use of additional products. It can be both folk methods and special chemicals.

Remember, a technique that is loved and cared for will last much longer. Therefore, in addition to constant cleaning, it is necessary to prevent the appearance of unpleasant odors in the refrigerator:

Before storing food in the refrigerator, be sure to check the expiration date and the integrity of the packaging.
Throw away missing meals and products in a timely manner.
Keep food in closed containers or bags.
Use food absorbents that absorb all surrounding odors. These include common foods found in any home:
- Rye bread;
- dry rice;
- salt, sugar, or soda;
- ground coffee;
- tea brewing;
- onion, apple or potato cut in half (they will have to be changed more often than other absorbents);
- sliced orange or lemon, but even the zest of any citrus fruit will do.

Simply put bread, rice, salt or coffee on a saucer and refrigerate. For the best effect, place a plate of any absorbent on each shelf. Keep in mind that you cannot eat foods that have been used as absorbents afterwards.

If the refrigerator has not been used for a long time

If the refrigerator, which has not been used for a long time, began to exude a fetid odor, do not be upset and throw it away. It is enough to use:

folk recipes;
special household products;
regular cleaning with laundry soap.

All of these methods are applicable to daily used refrigerators in which the stench has appeared. Try any of our tips, or rather several at once, to get rid of the smell and give a second life to your old refrigerator.

Folk ways

The strong smell from the refrigerator can be “clogged” and slightly eliminated with absorbents. But it is still a temporary measure. And wet cleaning does not always fulfill its function 100%. Remove food residues from the surface of the device and disinfect it much more effectively with a cleaning solution. For example, cooked at home.

The most faithful and reliable helpers in the fight against unpleasant odors are vinegar, soda, lemon juice (or acid), ammonia and vodka.

Detergent recipes:

2 tbsp. l. soda and 1 liter of warm water;
9% table vinegar and warm water in a 1: 1 ratio;
5-6 drops of ammonia per 3 liters of water (use in the refrigerator as a last resort and then ventilate the device well);
lemon juice with warm water in a ratio of 1:10;
lemon juice with vodka in a ratio of 1:10.

For greater efficiency, you can use one solution, and when the refrigerator is completely dry - additionally another. Be sure to unplug the appliance before starting any procedure. After cleaning, let your equipment "rest" by leaving it for a few hours with the door open.

Chemicals

Folk remedies are a budget and convenient option. They are usually quite capable of dealing with unpleasant odors in the refrigerator. But if all the same, nothing helps or you are interested in a simpler option, you can use household chemicals or odor absorbers in small boxes.

There are special wipes, sprays and even ionizers-fresheners on sale. They are able not only to eliminate odors, but also to absorb excess moisture, prevent the appearance of mold, and inhibit the activity of bacterial growth.

We present you a list of the most reliable commercial products for combating unpleasant odors:

The best is the capsule ozonizer. It is attached to the refrigerator door and lasts for about five years. Such a device costs in the range from 300 to 3000 rubles. In a tall refrigerator, it is better to use two ozonizers: on the top and bottom shelves. This device absorbs even strong odors of garlic, onion and fish, so you can forget about unpleasant and any other aromas. It also ionizes the air inside the refrigerator.
An alternative to the ozonizer is a gel in the form of granules, which quickly absorbs odors. He actively eliminates them and can be used for 1-2 months, then the packaging is changed to a new one. The price is about 200 rubles.
Suspended dispenser with a cartridge is designed for 1-3 months, costs from 50 rubles... Powered by coal.

In emergencies, you can use the most common laundry bleach or hydrogen peroxide against mold and mildew. Naturally, after that, wash the inside of the device more thoroughly than usual in order to eliminate the remains of household chemicals.

Conclusion

To avoid combating unpleasant odors, regularly clean and prevent stench in the refrigerator. If the problem has already appeared, unplug the device from the network, free it from products and wash it thoroughly using folk remedies or household chemicals.

Do not forget to carry out an audit of products - then there will be much less unpleasant odors in the kitchen.

Have you ever encountered an unpleasant smell coming from the refrigerator? Most likely more than once. In this case, it does not matter if a new refrigerator or an old one, an unpleasant smell can occur suddenly and there are a number of reasons for this.

Why does the refrigerator smell bad and what should be done in this case?

First you need to establish the reason for the origin of the smell, what smells: freon, rotten meat, other products. Even if you store food correctly in special containers and compartments, the appearance of an unpleasant smell can suddenly upset.

Locations and probable causes of the rotten meat smell:

meat or fish left for a long time in a compartment with zero temperature, intended for storing fresh products;
freezer;
food storage containers;
often the cause of the odor is in the material that insulates the walls of the refrigerator.

The case with the elimination of the rotten smell from the insulation material inside the walls of the refrigerator is one of the most difficult. Who has not happened to leave the refrigerator with food on for a long time before leaving? A sudden power surge in your absence causes the refrigerator to stop. Frozen foods will melt, their juice will flow along the walls, penetrate into the walls. In this case, to eliminate the odor, it is inevitable to replace the thermal insulation material.

If the cause of the unpleasant smell cannot be found inside the refrigerator on your own, all that remains is to call a specialist. An experienced craftsman will identify and eliminate the cause of the stench.

The main causes of bad odor are:

Spoiled food. Unpleasant odors can come from packaged foods if they are past their expiration date. An ordinary egg, which has an imperceptible crack, emits a stench that is barely perceptible at first.
When buying food, you should carefully check the packaging. A product that has stood on a shelf in a store next to a leaked product can be brought home in a dirty package.
Liquid food (milk, kefir, soups, borscht) that gets on the refrigerator shelves must be removed immediately, otherwise it will become a source of odor.
A refrigerator with a closed door, left unplugged for a long time, may smell of mold and musty. It will be difficult to get him out.

What to do not to smell

To eliminate the unpleasant odor, you must unplug the refrigerator from the mains, defrost and wash it. Better to wash with warm water and laundry soap. Dry all surfaces thoroughly. Before turning on the refrigerator, check all the food placed in it for the integrity of the packaging and their expiration date.

The smell has not disappeared and some are wondering: maybe it smells like freon from the refrigerator? Modern freon is a refrigerant that does not smell. However, in old models of Soviet refrigerators there is R12 freon, which smells like chloroform.

Sometimes meat smells like a refrigerator if it has been in the freezer for a long time. In this case, the meat should be soaked in a vinegar solution, and the refrigerator should be washed using vinegar and baking soda.

Refrigerators "No frost" do not require frequent defrosting, as the "fur coat" does not grow in them. However, in order to prevent unpleasant odors, they should be washed twice a year.

When purchasing a new refrigerator, wash all its compartments with warm water and soap. This will eliminate the smell of new plastic.

The most effective ways to eliminate fridge odors are:

Vinegar or citric acid diluted in water 1: 1 will clean and deodorize the refrigerator, get rid of the smell of rotten meat.
Several crushed activated charcoal tablets placed on a plate in the refrigerator will absorb the foreign aromas.
The ammonia available in every home will perfectly clean the shelves and the air in the refrigerator. When working with ammonia, do not forget about a respirator!
Soda ash, diluted in water to a mushy state, will wash the surfaces of the refrigerating chamber and adsorb the stench.

It is important to keep the refrigerator open for a while after handling it.

Folk remedies are not always able to completely destroy the unpleasant smell from the refrigerator. In this case, a professional will help you.

The neutralizer is as natural and safe as folk remedies, but at the same time it has special properties, thanks to which it does not mask the smell, but completely destroys it.

In order to eliminate the unpleasant smell from the refrigerator, you must:

Find the source of the stench and get rid of it. Temporarily empty all food from the refrigerator, disconnect it from the power supply and defrost it. Drain off all defrosting water and clean all surfaces of visible dirt.

Pull out all removable parts of the refrigerator and treat them separately with a neutralizer.

Apply SmellOff by spray to all surfaces of the refrigerator, including hard-to-reach areas. On the areas that have absorbed the smell the most, it is necessary to spill the product so that it is absorbed as deeply as possible.

We leave the refrigerator with the door ajar until it dries completely for 12-24 hours. Please note that the product does not require rinsing with water.

We ventilate.

What if the reason lies in mold, fungus has grown on the walls of the refrigerator and insulating gaskets?

First, thoroughly wash the refrigerator, then use special adsorbents. Mold causes condensation to build up, which increases the humidity inside the refrigerator. The result is a fungus.

In this case, laundry soap diluted in warm water or a mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide is perfect. It is important to thoroughly clean all surfaces inside the chamber and dry them well.

In emergency cases, the following remedies will help to combat fungus and mold:

regular laundry bleach kills fungal spores;
hydrogen peroxide disinfects not only wounds, but also the walls of the refrigerator;
the glass will be cleaned and shine after using ammonia;
purchase a special adsorbent in granules or in the form of a gel (helium is the most effective, made from algae and lemon juice);
a special mineral salt crystal does not take up much space and absorbs the smell;
battery-operated ozonizer-disinfector.

A modern arsenal of tools will help you cope with the problem and answer the question of what to do if it smells bad from the refrigerator. Wash the refrigerator, sort the food, put an adsorbent in the chamber and the problem will be fixed. The most effective is the capsule ozonizer, which is attached to the door of the refrigerating chamber. If your refrigerator is large, you should purchase 2 copies. The service life of the capsule ozonizer is about 5 years. When purchasing a new refrigerator, take care of the ozonizer right away.

Look at the photos of modern odor-absorbing products, choose the best option for your refrigerator. Armed with this knowledge, having acquired a good adsorbent, you will forever get rid of the problem of bad smell from your refrigerator.