Can anyone help me get rid of the odor from my fridge handles?

1620810
by 1620810
We bought a house a few months ago and it included the appliances. The refrigerator handles are a rubber like texture and they smell like sweat...no matter how much I clean them.
  17 answers
  • Comiksitran Comiksitran on Feb 01, 2016
    Try contacting the frig manufacturer. They can tell you what the handles are made of which may help in finding a cleaning product to solve the problem, or they may already know such a problem exists and have a solution to it. Also, most companies are quite happy to send replacement parts for free if nothing else works...it might only be a matter of calling them. Good luck!
    • See 1 previous
    • Comiksitran Comiksitran on Feb 03, 2016
      @Sthomas-1 Just wondering if you have made any progress with your 'stinky problem' ? Did you try contacting the mfg?
  • Henare Makoare Henare Makoare on Feb 01, 2016
    Spray 3% h202 on.
  • Georgene Georgene on Feb 01, 2016
    Try cleaning them with white vinager
    • 1620810 1620810 on Feb 01, 2016
      @Georgene Thank you, I have tried white vinegar and no luck. Still stinking Lol
  • Capernius Capernius on Feb 01, 2016
    forget the peroxide, use vinegar. the acid in the vinegar will kill 99% of all bacteria that causes odors.
  • Bill Bill on Feb 01, 2016
    Not 100% sure if this will work. We use it for inside of the Refrigerator and it works great. Use Baking Soda. I would suggest to mix it as a heavy paste and try to leave it on for at least over night. That is because the handle as you say is rubber like texture.
  • Marylou Murdock Marylou Murdock on Feb 02, 2016
    lemon juice??
  • 1620810 1620810 on Feb 04, 2016
    I did contact the mfg and was told they hadn't had any problems like I described. So since its not under warranty they said to get new handles would cost between $67 - $275 so I guess I am stuck with the stinky handles. Thank you so much it was worth a shot!
  • Susan Rutter Susan Rutter on Feb 04, 2016
    I always use vinegar on my fridge - it is stainless street - works every time. A combination of baking soda and vinegar is an extreme and may damage your appliances.
  • Jackie Webb Jackie Webb on Feb 05, 2016
    try using oxy clean , the laundry stain remover. it does remove all smells on clothing and flooring and furniture. give it a try!
  • 1620810 1620810 on Feb 05, 2016
    Thank you I will try it today!
  • 1620810 1620810 on Feb 05, 2016
    I will risk it, it is just the rubber/vinyl handles that smell so at this point it is get rid of the smell or replace them which will be very expensive. Thank you
  • Henare Makoare Henare Makoare on Feb 05, 2016
    what I didn't say was you can up the % by 3% each time to say 35%but you must wear rubber or plastic gloves, glasses and a mask at all times just in case of a spill. . Remember to just dab it on. H202 food grade and this is how to get rid of hard to clear smells in dairy sheds and our restaurants. Way way better than vinegar. Do not get this stuff on your skin it burns for awhile goes white then goes away no harm done. H202 is the go to for most things. Google it and you will be so surprised of its home uses. Amazing stuff
  • 1620810 1620810 on Feb 06, 2016
    Thank you for the clarification, I just ordered some 35%. I am going to go for the full strength due to the really terrible odor. Thank you again, I will let you know how it turns out!
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Feb 06, 2016
    If the handles aren't white, I find the only thing that gets rid of the smell completely INSIDE when the usual baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice don't work is vanilla on cotton balls. I'm wondering if you rubbed some on full strength and left it overnight, and then washed it off in the a.m. would work. It could however stain white handles. Keep us posted.
  • 1620810 1620810 on Feb 06, 2016
    Thank you I am willing to risk stain over stink! Lol I will let u know.
    • See 2 previous
    • B. Enne B. Enne on Feb 12, 2016
      @Sthomas-1 WOW, I was just taking a guess for a handle...but I have learned that leaving things IN the cottage fridge, can be gross...it is the ONLY thing that works consistently for me...and to hear that it is used in forensic cases just flabbergasts me!!! I used to buy the expensive real vanilla bean, but a couple of times, I only had the cheap fake no name stuff, and it worked too...just a bit slower. Thanks for sharing!
  • 1620810 1620810 on Feb 12, 2016
    Pure Vanilla extract, it slightly colored my white handles but was not a bad look in my kitchen. best thing is the odor is gone!
  • Carolyn Leath Carolyn Leath on Jun 29, 2022

    6 years late but I am googling how to get rid of the body odor smell from my refrigerator handles and saw this. We also have a refrigerator we got with the purchase of our house a few months ago. So it’s an older fridge but not that old. My guess is nothing works but I will try the vinegar. I have tried pine sol, baking soda paste with lemon juice and comet. I couldn’t figure out why I kept smelling B O every time I went to the fridge. Thought it was me and kept smelling my armpits lol. If anyone has resolved this let me know. Thanks!