Help Please

[fernykins]

My son gave me his fridge cause it wouldn't fit in the spot. But they left food in it and it was unpluged. I alreadt cleaned it out with viniger. Still smells
Fern

[joyofsix]

Wash it out with baking soda. It may take more than once. Then put a couple open boxes in it and close the door for a day.

[frugalfarmwife]

Yep, baking soda or charcoal to soak up the smell.

A girl I work with had her freezer accidently unplugged and by the time she found it, welll, ughhhh!! It had been full of deer meat.

They scrubbed it with baking soda, then put in charcoal briquets to absorb the smell, did the job for her.

kj

[Jamauk]

I would scrub it out with baking soda, then take a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract and swab down the inside - that should take care of it.

[powerfm1]

I would also suggest that you use some bleach to kill the bacteria. They say not to use bleach in a refrigerator but I've done it for over 40 years. Just make sure to rinse well.

[MarshHen]

Yep, clean interior several times with a paste made from baking soda and water. Rinse well after each application. Then place charcoal inside and close it up for a day or two. Replace charcoal daily until smell is gone.

[Becci]

I always wipe my fridge out with vanilla after I have cleaned it with warm saopy water. But seeing as it is smelly I would clean with baking soad, then the vanilla, and place the box of soda in there until the smell goes away. Maybe wiping every few days with more vanilla for a while might help.

[alliwantisjb]

wow never thought of the vanilla...

baking soda really works !

[Jskell911]

We went through the same thing when MIL gave us the fridge that came with the house she bought. We took it as an extra and had to use baking soda several times.

[Daisygirl]

My freezer got unplugged last year and I did use bleach for the first major cleaning. Then I cleaned it with a paking soda paste. Then I left open bowls (more surface area) of baking powder in it. I switched themdaily and it took about a week before the smell was gone.

Good luck!

[Libby]

Wow this reminds me of days with my 'bad' ex bf

I asked this same question many moons ago and from what I can remember - we scrubbed with lemon juice (bottle kind) and baking soda. Wiped it down several times using Lysol wipes. Placed bowls of vinegar, baking soda and cheap coffee grinds (unused). But one at a time. First we did vinegar to deodorize. The next chunk of days was vinegar, and the last chunk of days was coffee grinds. We used 2 shallow bowls b/c it was a larger fridge. We didnt have access to the charcoal briquettes if I am remembering correctly.

[Frugal Girl]

You could get a lemon, slice it and rub it around in there.

[mommy4ever]

crumple up some newspaper and leave it in there change out at least once a day.

This gets stubborn odors out too.

[northernmom2boys]

I dont know if is sold in the US but here its called Mean Green,works on anything stinky

[qtkitty]

When i move into a new place i always make sure all the stuff is out of the fridge first then wash it down liberally with Bleach water just a cap full of bleach to a gallon. Then wipe that up and let it dry.

Normally after that it smells pretty good cause i make sure some bleach water goes down the defrost water thingy so it cleans it out. There usually will end up being some nasty water either below the bottom shelves or in the bottom shelves. but its soooo worth it to get it to stop smelling. ( note i haven't ever had a side by side obviously )

i also always put one of those dual side opening baking sodas in both the fridge and freezer. Keeps the butter from smelling like Fish or anything else weird smelling in the fridge.