Asked on Sep 02, 2015

Smelly refrigerator!!!!

Bebra2346
by Bebra2346
My renter moved out. Her electricity had been disconnected and she left food in it. I have cleaned it, I thought thoroughly but it still smells BAD. I have used vinegar and baking soda. Put 3 boxes of baking soda on shelves. Does anybody out there have any suggestions what else I can use? The refrigerator is fairly new I really need to salvage it!
  15 answers
  • Mary Marshall Mary Marshall on Sep 03, 2015
    Try Lemon juice, it might help.
  • Michelle Michelle on Sep 03, 2015
    leave the door open and add several more boxes of baking soda for a few days, remove all the shelves and drawers, put into the tub, with a vinegar and baking soda hot water solution, let sit for 20 minutes, scrub and place out in the sunshine to dry. Hot water and lemon and scrub inside the fridge again
  • Karen Karen on Sep 03, 2015
    put a bowl of charcoal inside and let it sit for a couple of days. the smell will be gone!!
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Sep 03, 2015
    Usually baking soda is the trick.I would keep scrubbing it with the vinegar and water and put more boxes in there.
  • Darla Darla on Sep 03, 2015
    Get some of that enzyme spray for cleaning up pet accidents. Spray thoroughly and leave it for a couple of hours or overnight, then clean again with regular cleaner. That spray is the best for cleaning any kind of organic (blood, food, etc.) dirt.
  • Beadcarver Beadcarver on Sep 03, 2015
    There may not be a good answer. You need to keep it running. Put in a bowl of vinegar. In all likely hood your refrigerator is toast. I had to toss one two years ago. It would not hurt to call the manufacture for some help. There may suggest a service call.
  • Carol Carol on Sep 03, 2015
    I would sit a bowl of vinegar and some bowls of baking soda. Close for a day. Then open and air out
  • Nancy Nancy on Sep 03, 2015
    take a coffee filter and put un-used coffee grounds in the center of it... fold it like a pie and seal all the edges with tape... throw in refrigerator and freezer and smell will be gone in a few days... I used this with a refrigerator that had horrible fish smell, and it worked beautifully... was told this method by the refrigerator repair man
  • Linda Vellucci Linda Vellucci on Sep 03, 2015
    Check the drip tray under the fridge. Run the ice in freezer to get old water out of system.
  • Pre1794202 Pre1794202 on Sep 03, 2015
    have your tried crumpled newspaper and crushed charcoal, after you tried other cleaners? leave in closed ref.for a couple days
  • Diane Wilkins Diane Wilkins on Sep 03, 2015
    Try some kitty litter in a small bowl in the frig for a few days.
  • Vicky Weathers Vicky Weathers on Sep 03, 2015
    The best hint I ever got for this problem came from an AG Teacher. He said buy cheap real vanilla, place in an open bowl and keep the door shut for as long as possible. You might have to repeat after several days, but this actually works after you have wiped the fridge down beforehand.
  • Kathy mertz Kathy mertz on Sep 04, 2015
    Lightly crumple up pages of newspaper and fill every shelf leave for 24hours and take out
  • Bebra2346 Bebra2346 on Sep 04, 2015
    Thank you every one! we are crumpling up newspaper, sprinkling crushed charcoal with it and filling fridge with crumpled papers. Not taking any chances I also filled coffee filters with fresh coffee and am putting one in each side of fridge and freezer, Closing up for the weekend and I just know Monday will find fridge minus order!
  • Dfm Dfm on Dec 26, 2015
    okay...this post may be a bit late but it may help the next person...did cleaning it thoroughly mean getting the creases of the door seals? is there a condensation catcher pan under the fridge? if so clean it as well. are there any cracks in the interior of the fridge? there is a product used to clean up pet messes -Dr.foster and smith odor logic cleanaway. it's enzyme action works well for warm stinky fridges. also check water lines for trapped stagnate water and mold.