Appliance Repair Tips: How to Rid Your Refrigerator of Unpleasant Odors

From spills to uncovered foods, your refrigerator is constantly subjected to an array of smells. Unfortunately, not all of those scents are pleasant, and some can linger for weeks or even worst, months. If an unsavory smell has invaded your fridge, utilizing the tips provided below will help you eliminate the displeasing odor.

Cotton Balls

After scrubbing down your fridge and removing any undesirable foods, grab a cotton ball and dab it in vanilla extract. Place the dampened cotton ball on a shelf in your appliance and leave it there. The vanilla will act as deodorizer and stop unwanted odors from taking over your refrigerator.

If you’re not a fan of vanilla, you can use lemon juice instead. Simply splash a bit of the juice on a cotton ball and place it in your fridge for a few hours. If the smell remains, you may need to perform a more intense cleaning before employing the cotton ball trick.

Vinegar

If the odor in your refrigerator is overwhelming and no amount of vanilla extract or baking soda is able to knock out the smell, you may want to wipe your appliance down with a mixture of water and vinegar. To start, remove all items from your fridge. Next, mix together equal parts white vinegar and water. Finally, spray the interior of your refrigerator with the solution and give it a good scrub. Don’t forget to clean the door gasket and the inside of your crisper drawers; otherwise that unfortunate smell will more than likely stick around for another few months.

Preventing Unsavory Odors

Now that you’ve gotten rid of that awful smell in your fridge, it’s time to prevent new odors from infecting your appliance. First and foremost, cleaning spills immediately after they happen is key to avoiding offensive odors. Covering your food in airtight containers and throwing away leftovers before they begin growing mold is also a must in the war against unpleasant smells. Following these three easy, but highly effective tactics can save your fridge from unwanted odors in the future.

Maintaining your refrigerator, whether it’s cleaning its interior or removing dirt and dust from the condenser coils, is essential to your appliance’s well-being. However, when you neglect your fridge, its need for appliance repair increases and its life span decreases. If you’re worried about your refrigerator’s performance and need help diagnosing the issue, please contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you.