Sooner or later you will open the refrigerator door to get something to eat, and the odour that wafts out will destroy your appetite. Unpleasant smells in the fridge can be caused by rotten food, mould and mildew growth, or spoiled milk. Not only can the odour of your fridge spoil your appetite, but bad smells can actually affect the taste of food. It’s also not healthy to have mould, mildew and possibly even bacteria growing where you store your edibles. For these reasons, it’s important to locate and get rid of bad smells in your fridge as soon as you encounter them.
Step One
Look closely at all of the food and liquids in your fridge. Remove and discard anything that is expired, has mould growing on it or just looks or smells bad.
Step Two
Clean out everything and give your fridge a good washing. Move the food to a counter (or a cooler if you are going to clean for longer than 30 minutes). Fill your sink with hot, soapy water and use a rag or sponge to scrub down the inside of the fridge. Remove shelves and wash them in the sink.
Step Three
Replace the food and tackle the outside of your fridge. Fill your sink with a fresh mixture of hot, soapy water. Scrub around the door handle and even the door gaskets, as mould can grow in the cracks and crevices.
Step Four
Pull out the dripping pan from under your fridge and rinse it out. Then, pull your fridge away from the wall. Check behind it for spilt food that could be causing an odour. While you are there, vacuum the coils.
Step Five
Place an open box of baking soda in your fridge to absorb odours. For maximum odour absorption, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda in a wide pan and slide that onto the bottom shelf of your fridge.