| Author |
Content |
caganimalover
Joshua, TX
(Zone 8a)
November 22, 2006
9:05 PM Post #2938053
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HELP! I've got an odor in the refrigerator. I've cleaned the bottom (blood had leaked) with bleach cleaner. Put in baking soda, cinnamon, whole cloves, and an orange slice. It still smells awful. Anybody have any better/quicker suggestions? |
andidandi
November 24, 2006
10:56 AM Post #2940555
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Clean out as much as you can with bleach. It sounds like you already have. Then, put in couple of cans of cheap ground coffee. Then close it for a couple of days. It sounds like something dripped down into the coils. Did you remove the veggie bins and clean under there as well?
This message was edited Nov 24, 2006 4:12 PM |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
November 24, 2006
11:04 AM Post #2940578
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I would have also suggested bleach, lots and lots of bleach! It sounds to me like there is probably still either some blood left somewhere, maybe in the coils like andidandi suggested, or it's possible that the smell absorbed into some of the food and other items that are still in the fridge before you cleaned it up, so now you would have to get rid of the smell from those items before you'll stop smelling it when you open the fridge. |
june_nmexico
Albuquerque, NM
(Zone 7a)
November 24, 2006
1:15 PM Post #2940881
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Is this a self defrosting refrigerator? If so, look at the bottom front and see if there is a panel that snaps out. There is a "drip tray" in there that can be gross. As a refrigerator defrosts itself, the moisture goes into the tray where it evaporates, leaving glunk behind. I didn't know about this until one day I accidentally knocked that panel off and peeked inside where I saw a white tray. I clean that weekly now with Clorox CleanUp. |
WUVIE
Hulbert, OK
(Zone 7a)
November 24, 2006
1:36 PM Post #2940933
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Oh my. I'm sorry for the mess you are having. I found a similar present this
morning. Under the pool table, which is covered when not in use, our cats have
decided this is where they will dissect the critters they catch outdoors. NOT a pleasant
smell, but indeed a call for Clorox Clean Up.
What would the world do without this great stuff?
KM
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andidandi
November 24, 2006
4:28 PM Post #2941274
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You might also put in some kitty litter. If you don't get a good answer here, ask on the Katrina boards. This was a common problem, and I'm told the coffee works, but people there should know. |
caganimalover
Joshua, TX
(Zone 8a)
November 24, 2006
4:29 PM Post #2941278
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This is an old old small General Electric that has the small freezer in the corner. The freezer builds up frost around it's outside and the frig must be unplugged and left to defrost on it's own. I wonder if the smell is in the built up frost around the freezer? That would mean it would be there until it is defrosted again. Eww, wonder if my husband might defrost it this weekend? (He is the only one that defrosts it; afraid somebody else will puncture a freezer coil.) Good idea about the coffee. |
caganimalover
Joshua, TX
(Zone 8a)
November 24, 2006
4:31 PM Post #2941282
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Hmmm, hadn't thought of kitty litter. I do have some lavendar litter I add to the regular to make it smell better. |
moonlit
Southwest, OH
(Zone 6a)
November 26, 2006
11:07 PM Post #2946747
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Here is a tip that some Realtors use in vacant homes to remove any smells especially musty ones. I am sure that it would work in a refrigerator as well. Use a product called STALL DRY or STALL DRY PLUS. This is the stuff that is used in horse barns to keep smells down. Pour some in a bowl and put in a room to remove smells. You can get this at any feed and supply store or on the Internet. |
caganimalover
Joshua, TX
(Zone 8a)
November 28, 2006
1:14 PM Post #2950793
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Never heard of it. Will check my feed store when I go in tomorrow. Thanks |
moonlit
Southwest, OH
(Zone 6a)
November 28, 2006
10:39 PM Post #2952166
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I found their website at
[HYPERLINK@www.wicp.com] |
Mobi
Denver, CO
(Zone 6a)
December 2, 2006
11:29 PM Post #2963567
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My ex once left a fish in an unplugged refrigerator over the summer! I cleaned it with bleach, vinegar etc. but nothing worked. Finally I read something in the newspaper. I removed all the items from the fridge placed crumpled up newspaper inside and turned it on. In one week the smell was gone! However, it's not a quick fix but it really works.
I have also read that you can just place a folded newspaper in the fridge and it takes out the smells.
[HYPERLINK@www.thriftyfun.com] |
Bubba_MoCity
Missouri City, TX
December 15, 2006
3:59 PM Post #3001816
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Thats what movers use when transporting refigerators from house to house - newspapers. The newspaper may need to be changed several times. I was amazed at how much odor was in the newsprint when we moved the first time. Helps with any lightly used refrig or freezer, too. Change the paper every week and keep odors under control. We used this trick on a small camping refrigerator - visited the site every month or two - removed the old paper, used for the weekend, cleaned and let dry, then put in another crumpled newspaper. |
caganimalover
Joshua, TX
(Zone 8a)
December 15, 2006
4:03 PM Post #3001829
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Well I may try it on the working refrigs too. I don't think baking soda does that much good. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
December 15, 2006
4:21 PM Post #3001885
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I've heard that the baking soda doesn't actually absorb much odor at all, it's the cardboard box that actually does the work! But of course the box is small so it's not going to absorb very much, a bunch of newspapers laid out in the fridge are going to absorb a lot more. |
caganimalover
Joshua, TX
(Zone 8a)
December 15, 2006
4:40 PM Post #3001932
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Great! Will do. Thanks so much. |
anastatia
Vancouver, WA
(Zone 8a)
December 16, 2006
10:40 AM Post #3003709
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Is the smell still there? We had a similar problem with a refrig. and after weeks of everything ended up renting @ a commercial cleaning supply store a machine that the owner told me is used to remove stench of death if a body is found in a car etc. Really works!! |
caganimalover
Joshua, TX
(Zone 8a)
December 16, 2006
12:39 PM Post #3003962
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The odor is gone. Actually, before the suggestion of the newspaper I put in an apple that I had punched with whole cloves. Still I've put newspapers in both refrigerators to help with day to day odors. |
june_nmexico
Albuquerque, NM
(Zone 7a)
December 18, 2006
12:37 PM Post #3008647
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The newspaper worked for me on a canister that I wanted to use for Christmas cookies. Alas, it smelled of its previous contents which was flavored popcorn. A piece of newspaper crumpled up in it cleared the odor completely in a few days. I'm amazed! Thanks for this tip. |
purplepetunia
Savannah, GA
(Zone 8b)
February 17, 2007
1:45 PM Post #3199010
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I have a friend that had a similar problem and she was told to wife the sides down with artificial vanilla extract.
This worked for her. Maybe even leaving an open bottle would work. |
caganimalover
Joshua, TX
(Zone 8a)
February 17, 2007
3:08 PM Post #3199224
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Neat idea! Thanks |
