You open the fridge and an unpleasant odour welcomes you leaving you wondering what went wrong. Food odours permeate the air within your fridge giving it a foul smell which is not only offensive but also indicates that organisms capable of causing spoilage (and therefore illness) are present in your fridge.

You know it’s time to clean your fridge. You don’t have to rely on artificial and chemical-laden fridge air fresheners; you can employ some inexpensive, green remedies to get rid of fridge odour.

Clean your fridge

The first step in getting rid of bad smells in your fridge is to clean it. Turn it off and take everything out. Dispose of the bad food causing the smell. Remove all shelves, bins, drawers and other removable parts.

Baking soda: Once your fridge is empty, mix a half cup of baking soda with some warm water and make a thick paste. Wash your fridge with this paste and let it dry before you place your items back in it. This will clean all the stains in your fridge and remove odours.

No need to buy expensive cleaners, clean a stinky fridge using stuff that’s already in your kitchen cupboard

Salt: If you don’t want to use baking soda then mix up a handful of salt in three to four litres of warm water and use it with a sponge to clean the inside of the refrigerator. The mixture isn’t abrasive, so it won’t scratch surfaces. And you won’t be introducing chemical fumes or odours.

Tomato juice: Thoroughly wipe the insides of the fridge and freezer with a sponge or washcloth doused in undiluted tomato juice. Rinse with warm, soapy water and wipe dry. If traces of the smell remain, repeat the procedure.

Vinegar: Vinegar might be an even more effective safe cleanser for your refrigerator than baking soda. Use equal parts white vinegar and water to wash both the interior and exterior of your fridge, including the door gasket and the fronts of the vegetable and fruit bins. To prevent mildew growth, wash the inside walls and bin interiors with some full-strength vinegar on a cloth.

Deodorise

Once you clean your fridge, the second step is to deodorise. You can make use of baking soda. Spread a packet of baking soda over a baking sheet and place in your fridge. For the odours to be completely gone keep in your fridge for 24 hours. You can also keep an open box of baking soda, or a few spoonfuls in a wide mouthed bottle inside your fridge to avoid odours. This will not only get rid of foul odours but will also prevent them from occurring again. Remember to change the bowl of baking soda once every month to make sure it works efficiently. 

Lemon: Lemon is a great astringent and absorbs foul odours readily. All you need to do is cut a lemon and place it with the cut side facing upwards in your fridge. Place half a lemon on the door and the other half on the middle tray of a medium sized fridge. If your fridge is bigger you will need more lemons. Leave it in for about half an hour to make sure all the foul odours vanish. 

Or dab lemon juice on a cotton ball or sponge and leave it in the fridge for several hours.

Orange peel: Oranges work just like lemons when it comes to getting rid of foul odours. All you need to do is take the peel of an orange, crush them up a little so that they are bruised but not mashed. Now place this on a plate lined with kitchen tissue. Keep this tray in your fridge. The orange peel will soak up all the odours and keep your fridge smelling fresh. 

Coffee: You can also distribute freshly ground coffee evenly on a plate and put it in the fridge for 24 hours. Coffee is known to absorb smells effectively. Instead of throwing the coffee away after the 24-hour stay in the fridge you can mix it with soil and use it as a fertiliser for your home flowers.

Onion: Surprisingly, onions can be a useful product to eliminate bad odours from your fridge. Empty your fridge and slice an onion, put them in your fridge overnight. Onions have odour-absorbing properties. In the morning, keep the door of your fridge open for a while before using it again.

Vanilla extract: Soak a cotton ball with vanilla extract and leave it on a shelf for 12 hours. It not only acts as a deodoriser but also produces a lovely fresh and clean aroma. To prolong the fresh vanilla scent, leave the soaked cotton ball in the refrigerator.

Place your food correctly: To reduce the chances of developing odour the first step is to place your food correctly in the fridge and to avoid storing food in open containers, so that the smells don’t blend. Once the smells from different foods combine foul-smelling chemicals are produced due to the low temperatures inside the fridge. Keep a regular check on the food items inside and remove spoiled or rotten food right away. This will keep your fridge clean and odour-free also.

Ensure maximum circulation: Make sure that the cold air is regularly circulated in your fridge. Defrost from time to time to avoid the bad odours that get mixed with ice found in the freezer. Keep your drip tray clean, the tray just below your freezer which contains the dirty water from it. Keeping it clean will ensure proper working of your fridge. Vacuum the coils in the back and underneath in front every three months. All these things will keep your fridge odour-free and help you preserve your food items for a longer period of time.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, January 11th, 2015

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