Asked on Jan 29, 2018

How to get a rotten meat smell out of an RV fridge.

LaDonna DeHoet
by LaDonna DeHoet
The refrigerator, with a freezer full of meat and frozen dinners accidentally got turned off. It was probably off for a couple weeks or more. I could smell it when I walked into the RV and it about knocked me over when I opened the fridge and freezer. I've taken everything out, including removing the shelves and plastic bins. I wiped everything down with bleach water and rinsed it. Then I wiped it with vinegar, After that I made a paste of baking soda and vinegar and wiped it all down. I let that sit for a few hours, wiped it out and repeated the vinegar and baking soda; leaving it overnight before cleaning again. The odor is still there. What next?

  9 answers
  • Charcoal! My ex did that last summer in his motor home. It was shrimp. Pee Yew! I laughed and laughed! He is always Mr. Perfect and Mr. Thorough, and this time he blew it so I took the opportunity to rub it in. All in good humor of course. And this was discovered about 2 days before we were leaving on a short trip. Seriously, charcoal. I put an entire bag in both the fridge and freezer. Took a couple weeks and I changed the charcoal after a week, probably not necessary, just made ME feel better.

    • See 2 previous
  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Jan 29, 2018

    Try putting dry baking soda in the fridge and freezer and places around the RV. I would put some charcoal around too, both are good for odors. Put the charcoal in some bowl and spread it around the RV. I am sure the odor got into the upholstery too. It may take time, but it may work.

    • LaDonna DeHoet LaDonna DeHoet on Jan 30, 2018

      Thank you. I have a bowl of baking soda and a bowl of vinegar sitting in both the fridge and freezer right now. I'll try charcoal if that doesn't do the trick. We seem to have caught it in time and the odor isn't in the upholstery. Airing it out and fans seem to have taken care of the odor in the RV body.


  • Alma Baker Alma Baker on Jan 29, 2018

    baking soda and/or charcoal


  • JE JE on Jan 29, 2018

    Leave an open box of baking soda in the freezer.

  • JE JE on Jan 29, 2018

    Clean with baking soda & water, then leave the box of soda in the fridge

  • Karen Smith Karen Smith on Jan 29, 2018

    Baking soda or clean with bleach

  • Keith Little Keith Little on Dec 10, 2020

    Leave an opened bag of charcoal inside of the refrigerator

  • Dee Dee on Dec 10, 2020

    Put newpapers in the fridge, with charcoal. Let it sit for a few days. Then clean with baking soda. There is a product that Costco and Sams sells, i think you can buy it at Home Depot too. It is called Odorban. It works really well.