What is the best way to get a rancid smell out of a freezer?

Michele Carlson
by Michele Carlson

Our freezer went unplugged for a week and the food went bad. It has been cleaned and disinfected, but still has a lingering stink. What is the best way to remove that?

  5 answers
  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Apr 23, 2019

    Hi Michele, you could try baking soda, leave a box open inside of it (or several boxes...) it should help absorb the smell within a few days.

  • Everything Pretty Everything Pretty on Apr 23, 2019

    Try putting a flat dish of baking soda inside. Vinegar might also help. I'd do dishes of both (in separate dishes, not mixed).

  • Rebecca Taylor Rebecca Taylor on Apr 23, 2019

    Hi Michele, I would wipe it down with baking soda and water. Let it sit a little while so that the baking soda can absorb the smell. Wipe it out with clear water. You may have to do it a few times.

  • Judyms9 Judyms9 on Apr 25, 2019

    This worked for me with a cooler that had a similar odor. Wad up newspaper pages, enough to spread around inside. Close and leave for a couple of days. Open and discard newspaper into recycle bin. (By the way, when chicken goes bad it's the worst of the worst.)

  • V Smith V Smith on Apr 26, 2019

    Activated charcoal. Find it where they sell aquarium supplies. Pour it into a couple of bowls and place them in your freezer.