The refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in the home and it is important to us that it looks and smells good so that our food stays fresh. But it often happens that we forget which foods are in there, which creates annoying smells when they spoil. Here you will find the best tricks and home remedies that you can use to remove odors in the refrigerator.
Removing odors in the refrigerator: What really helps
If you open your refrigerator and notice a foul smell, it is important to first identify the cause. After you've discarded any expired or smelly food, you can harness the power of some natural home remedies and cleaning methods to keep your refrigerator smelling fresh and clean. By following the steps below, you can remove any odors in the refrigerator and prevent them from occurring again.
Clean thoroughly
First, throw away all expired and spoiled food, take everything out of the refrigerator and clean it thoroughly.
Remove any drawers, adjustable shelves or racks and rinse with warm water and dish soap. Wipe down any sticky jars and containers.
Put some baking soda and vinegar on a sponge and clean the inside of your device. Start from the top and scrub the ceiling, sides, and doors. Don't forget theAlso clean the drain. Then rinse the sponge with warm water and wipe off any residue. This method not only removes stains from surfaces, but also deodorizes and prevents the spread of bacteria inside.
Tipp:Pay particular attention to the seals on the inside of the door, which are made of rubber. The buildup of dirt and food residue in the cracks is a common reason for the formation of mold and odors in the refrigerator. So clean them carefully with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water.
Wait until the temperature inside the refrigerator drops to 5°C before putting the food back.
Which home remedies help against bad smells in the refrigerator?
Even if you have cleaned your refrigerator carefully, it is sometimes possible that you can still smell the bad smell. Luckily, there are some natural home remedies you can put inside the device to neutralize these odors.
- Newspaper:Make paper balls out of newspaper and place a drop of vanilla extract on each ball. Place one ball on each shelf in the refrigerator and leave them in for a few weeks. The carbon in the newspaper ink absorbs the unpleasant odors and the vanilla gives a nice scent.
- oatmealEliminate bad smells if you put some in an aluminum bowl and store it in the refrigerator.
- coffee groundshas a strong, pleasant scent and can replace the smells with its aroma. Place a small bowl of coffee grounds in the refrigerator, being careful not to store unpackaged foods nearby as coffee can absorb their smell.
- Lemonsare another helpful tool. Place a few lemon slices in a bowl and refrigerate for up to a week.
- baking powderis a natural deodorizer that can absorb and eliminate remaining odors. Place baking soda in an open container and leave it on the middle shelf for a day.
- Vinegar:Soak a paper towel in the white vinegar and place it in a small bowl. Leave it inside the device for at least 24 hours and replace it every time it dries out.
- potatoesare also perfect as odor absorbers. Peel a potato, cut it into pieces and store it in the fridge. Replace the potato with fresh pieces every few days until all odors are eliminated.
- GiveActivated carbonin a bowl and place it on a refrigerator shelf.