Tips for Eliminating Odors from Your Fridge

Ever encountered a displeasing odor upon opening your fridge? Keeping it clean and fresh is key. Whether it's due to expired food or lingering produce stains, refrigerator smells can be a headache. Luckily, there are steps you can take to banish these odors and prevent their return. In this guide, we'll share practical tips on how to eliminate refrigerator smells, ensuring your fridge stays fresh year-round.

Understanding Refrigerator Odors: What Causes Them?

To tackle refrigerator odors, start by pinpointing their source. These unpleasant smells can stem from various factors, such as bacteria and mold, spills beneath the fridge, lingering food odors, expired items, and leaky containers.

How to Eliminate Odors and Freshen Your Refrigerator

Getting rid of those stubborn refrigerator smells might seem like a challenge, but it's simpler than you think. We'll take you through some straightforward steps, from cleaning your fridge to using natural deodorizers, to help you banish those odors for good.

Cleaning Your Fridge

Start by cleaning the fridge entirely. Remove all food items, as well as any removable drawers and shelves. Wipe down the interior with a mixture of warm water and dish soap, ensuring to clean the removable pieces as well. Rinse with clean water and dry the interior with a clean towel. Avoid washing refrigerator parts in the dishwasher.

Utilize Baking Soda as a Natural Deodorizer

After cleaning the fridge, simply place an open box of baking soda on one of the shelves. Baking soda serves as a natural deodorizer, effectively absorbing any leftover smells.

Don’t Forget to Clean Your Drip Pan

The drip pan at the bottom of your fridge can accumulate food particles and liquids, resulting in unpleasant odors. To clean it, simply remove the pan from the fridge and wash it with warm water and dish soap. Rinse it thoroughly and ensure it's completely dry before placing it back in the fridge.

Install a New Water Filter

If your refrigerator's water filter hasn't been changed regularly, it could be causing the odor. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to replace the filter.

Inspect the Gasket

Clean the fridge door gasket regularly to prevent odor buildup. Use warm water and dish soap to wipe it down, ensuring it's thoroughly dried afterward.

Try Vinegar

If the odor continues, consider cleaning the interior of the fridge with a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar. Vinegar, a natural deodorizer, can help eliminate stubborn smells.

Use Newspaper

Roll newspaper pages into loose balls and place them on a paper plate. Add a drop of cooking vanilla to each ball. Position one plate on each shelf in the refrigerator and freezer. The newspaper can absorb unpleasant odors effectively.

Utilize Activated Charcoal

Place activated charcoal in two paper bowls. Position one bowl inside the freezer compartment and another in the refrigerator compartment. For hefty and stubborn odors, consider adding numerous bowls to each compartment.

How Long Does It Take to Remove Fridge Odors?

The duration needed to sanitize your fridge varies based on the reasoning behind the smell and the approach used to remove it. Using the baking soda method may take approximately three days to eradicate refrigerator odors, while cleaning spills or spoiled food could provide immediate relief from the odors.

Which is Better for Deodorizing: Vinegar or Baking Soda?

Both vinegar and baking soda are effective natural deodorizers for your refrigerator, but the option depends on the type of odor you're dealing with.

For light odors like spilled milk or food, baking soda may be more beneficial as it can absorb and wipe out the smells. Simply place an open box of baking soda on a shelf in the fridge, or create a paste with baking soda and water to scrub the interior.

For stronger or lingering odors from spoiled food, vinegar may be more effective. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and use it to clean the fridge interior. The acidic compositions of vinegar help balance and extinguish odors.

Can Lemons Eliminate Fridge Odors?

Yes, lemons can neutralize fridge odors effectively. After cleaning the origin of the smell, wipe the shelves with lemon juice on a towel. Additionally, you can slice a lemon and place the slices in a bowl, leaving them in the fridge for a few hours or up to a week for maximum absorption.

How to Maintain a Fresh-Smelling Fridge

Consider the following tips to help keep your fridge smelling fresh:

• Ensure foods are tightly wrapped or covered to prevent them from drying out.

• Promptly wipe up spills.

• Clean all sections once a month.

• Maintain an organized refrigerator and freezer, including crisper drawers, to ensure easy access to food and better freshness management, reducing the likelihood of forgetting about items that need to be disposed of.

• Select KitchenAid^® refrigerators come with the FreshChill™ Temperature-Controlled Drawer, offering customizable freshness preservation for your ingredients. This feature also grants you control over the airflow entering the drawer.

• Certain KitchenAid^® refrigerators feature the Preserva^® Food Care System, comprising two independent cooling systems. These systems include a dedicated refrigeration unit to prolong food freshness and a separate system for frozen items.

• Throw out any spoiled or rotten food.

• Regularly clean under the refrigerator, removing any trapped dirt or items.

• Certain KitchenAid brand models feature an air filter that is 15 times more potent than baking soda at reducing typical food odors within the refrigerator. If your refrigerator is equipped with this filter, make sure to replace it regularly based on the indicator tab.

EXPLORE KITCHENAID^® REFRIGERATORS

If it’s time for a kitchen refresh, look no further than refrigerators from KitchenAid brand. Explore built-in, freestanding and specialty KitchenAid^® refrigerators—each equipped with innovations and high-end details crafted for your style and preferences. Features like the Preserva^® Food Care System and the FreshChill™ Temperature-Controlled Drawer on select models can help keep your fridge smelling good and your food tasting fresh.