We get a lot of questions from customers complaining of refrigerator odors. Now, we’ve got some horror stories about dead rodents that had nothing to do with the appliance itself. But presuming the problem comes from the refrigerator itself, and not from under or behind it, here are some tricks for getting rid of the smell.
Whirlpool Refrigerators:
· Put coffee grounds in the refrigerator for a few days
· Put wet newspapers in the fridge for a few days
· Rub Down the walls with lemon juice
Maytag Refrigerators:
· If you can, unplug your refrigerator and put activated charcoal inside of it for a couple of days
· Wash the interior of the refrigerator with a mixture of equal parts baking soda and water (1 cup of each should do the trick).
· Unplug the fridge and stuff it full of crumpled newspaper
General Electric Refrigerators:
· Spray the interior of the unit with Smell Begone
Sub-Zero Refrigerators:
· Flush the drain tube with a mixture of bleach and water (1 cap bleach/3 cups of water), then wash the interior of the unit with soapy water.
· Set box of baking soda in the refrigerator
Frigidaire Refrigerators:
· Rinse the interior of the unit with tap water and ammonia. BE SURE TO LET IT AIR OUT AFTERWARDS.
· Set a mixture of coffee grounds or coffee beans and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in a bowl and leave it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
· Put a few pieces of newspaper in a bowl, then add water and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Leave the bowl in the fridge for a few days.
Of course, these techniques are no substitute for preventative maintenance. We recommend having maintenance done on your refrigerator at least once a year by a qualified professional, particularly if you’ve got a high-end refrigerator like a sub-zero or a commercial unit. This service is relatively cheap compared to a major repair, particularly on high-end units, and will improve the function, efficiency, and, of course, smell of your refrigerator.