My fridge stinks and I can't get rid of the smell! Any ideas???

Lori
by Lori
I had crab legs in the fridge and some of the liquid leaked...now it smells like fish. I have wiped and sprayed and it still smells! Any ideas???

  12 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jul 25, 2017

    Use white vinegar and then place open boxes of baking soda inside.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Jul 25, 2017

    Try vinegar water, if it can rid of cat urine odor, it should work on the fishy smell. Check under the drawers to make sure it didn't seep down there and in the areas the drawers and shelves sit on. You could also try putting a box of baking soda in the fridge as it absorbs odors.

  • Lori Lori on Jul 25, 2017

    Thanks to both of you, I am going to try both!

  • Brooke Conley Brooke Conley on Jul 25, 2017

    put a box of baking soda in there and leave it, it will soak up any smells

  • Candy cane Candy cane on Jul 25, 2017

    Put a container of charcoal briquettes (not match light) in a container in the fridge and shut the door. The more the better! Let sit for 24 hrs. Remove them and place in the sun to air a few hours, then place back in the fridge. Repeat till smell is gone. I usually work with 2 containers, one for in the fridge and one airing out and swop out daily. I used this method in a chest freezer and it worked wonderfully.

  • Keep boxes of baking soda in fridge and freezer and replace once a month. Take the "used" baking soda and sprinkle in toilets and drains to freshen them up too. When they are on sale for 50 cents a box, I buy a bunch of them.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Jul 25, 2017

    I agree to look at the bottom of the fridge for anything that's dripped. ACTIVATED charcoal is the type that absorbs odors! It's found at the pharmacy, grocery, etc. Fresh air and sun will "reactivate" it by releasing the already absorbed odors.

  • Marci Marci on Jul 25, 2017

    ive been making my own spray I got online, soak orange and lemon peels in a jar of vinegar for a three or four days or longer and then spray in fridge. I also add some pine sol to the mixture for better clean smell. Hope it work

  • Mary McCormick Mary McCormick on Jul 25, 2017

    Try charcoal briquets - lavin g them open in the frige.


  • Yam28342135 Yam28342135 on Jul 25, 2017

    baking soda

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Feb 14, 2023

    Plain white vinegar, undiluted will clean and deodorize, be sure to get it into the guides for the shelves.

  • Julie Julie on Apr 19, 2023

    Take everything out of the fridge. Using a diluted bleach cleaner, wash:


    • interior (sides, top, bottom, door)
    • drawers
    • every, single thing before it goes back in (jars, bottles, containers, etc.)


    When I was cleaning someone’s fridge I found stinky spills under the bottom drawer or in the railing the drawers slide in).


    Use long-handled brush to get in nooks and crannies. Use a gentle scrubber to get stuck on food.


    I use a bowl of hot water to remove bigger messes. When it’s clear I do a final spray of bleach cleaner and wipe. Use paper towels to dry before putting items back in.