Pro Tips to Remove Bad Smells from Your Refrigerator

PDF download Download Article
Natural remedies to remove odors from your fridge
PDF download Download Article

Bad smells in your refrigerator are often the result of spills, expired items, or naturally smelly foods. If you’re on a mission to rid your fridge of unpleasant odors, giving your fridge a thorough cleaning and placing some deodorizing household ingredients, like baking soda, lemons, or coffee grounds, in the fridge will help it smell fresh and clean in no time. Read on for a step-by-step guide to cleaning your fridge and deodorizing it. We’ll also give you plenty of tips about things you can do to prevent bad odors from polluting your fridge.

This article is based on an interview with our house cleaning professional, James Sears. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

  • Throw out all spoiled or rotten food, then wipe down the entire interior of your fridge with warm, soapy water or a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water.
  • Place a natural deodorizer like baking soda, coffee grounds, or slices of lemon in a bowl in your fridge to neutralize any smells.
  • Keep your fridge at 40ºF (4.4ºC) or lower to keep food fresher for longer and place food items in airtight containers to prevent any spills or bad smells from escaping.

Get Product Support Solve Any Problem

wH
Hi there! Do you have a question about how to use or repair your home appliance? I’ve read the manuals so you don’t have to. Select your product, brand, and model, then ask away!
*
*
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning Out Your Fridge

PDF download Download Article
  1. For safety’s sake, always unplug your fridge before you begin cleaning the inside. Pull the plug out from whatever outlet it’s plugged into. Or, some newer models of refrigerators have an “off” button instead of a plug. [1]
    • Leaving your fridge plugged in can end up using a lot of electricity, so unplugging it is the best option if you don’t want to spend extra on your electric bill.
    • If you’re conscientious about closing the door between steps in your cleaning, you can leave the fridge plugged in.
  2. Go through every storage area within your fridge—shelves, drawers, and door bins—and pull out all food items. [2] Look closely at the food and, if anything is spoiled, rotten, or emitting a bad smell, throw it into the garbage right away. [3] For foods that are still good, place them out on your counter or put them in a cooler to keep them cold.
    • Start and finish the entire job within 4 hours. Refrigerated foods left out for over 4 hours may spoil or become unsafe to eat. [4]
    Advertisement
  3. Remove all of the components of the fridge that aren’t attached to the walls, including pull-out drawers and the shelves themselves. Rinse them with warm or hot water and dishwashing soap. [5] If the shelves are made of glass, let them warm up to room temperature before washing them with hot water to avoid them cracking or shattering.
    • Also be sure to look underneath the pull-out drawers. Sometimes bits of food and old water can accumulate beneath the bins and emit a foul smell.
    • Use something soft like a microfiber cloth to wash and dry the components. Make sure each part is thoroughly dried after you’re done cleaning them.
    • Avoid using the scrubbing side of a sponge on glass or plastic since it may leave scratches. [6]
  4. Combine equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a bowl and mix them together. Then, use a microfiber cloth or sponge and wipe down the entire interior of your fridge. Work from top to bottom to allow any dirt or food residue to fall to the bottom to be cleaned up last. [7] Another option is to put the vinegar solution into a spray bottle and spritz it inside your fridge.
    • Vinegar is also an effective deodorizer and will absorb any unpleasant smells.
    • If you don’t have white vinegar, simply add some dish soap to a bowl of warm water and use that to clean the interior of your fridge.
    • Another option is to make a baking soda paste to scrub onto the inside of your fridge. [8] Dissolve 1 cup (128 g) of baking soda into 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water, then use a sponge or microfiber cloth to apply it to the fridge’s walls and floor.
  5. The drip pan is a thin plastic tray that clips into place beneath the bottom of the refrigerator. Remove the drip pan from beneath the doors, carefully pull it out, and dump the contents into the garbage. Then, use soapy water or a vinegar-water solution (equal parts white vinegar and warm water) to scrub the pan clean.
    • The exact location of the drip pan and the method used to access it can differ for each refrigerator model. Consult your appliance’s manual to see how to access this pan and remove it for cleaning.
    • Not all refrigerator models have a drip pan. Even if you don’t have a drip pan, take the time to scrub the bottom of the fridge thoroughly.
    • Once you’ve finished cleaning everything, leave the refrigerator door open and air out the interior for at least 15 minutes.
    6. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Deodorizing the Fridge

PDF download Download Article
  1. Baking soda has no smell itself, and it’s great at absorbing and neutralizing other aromas. Keep an open box of baking soda in your fridge for a few days. When you notice any unpleasant smells starting to emerge, toss that baking soda out and replace it with another box. [9]
    • If your fridge smells especially bad and you’d like to absorb a great deal of odor at once, pour out a full box of baking soda across a baking sheet and leave it in the refrigerator overnight.
  2. Coffee grounds can also successfully absorb unpleasant odors thanks to the nitrogen in them. Spread dry, fresh coffee grounds across a baking sheet or pour them into a bowl and place them on a shelf in your fridge. The smells should leave within 3–4 days. [10]
    • If you’re using used coffee grounds, spread them out on a baking sheet to dry them out completely before placing them inside your refrigerator.
  3. The citric acid in lemons helps get rid of smelly odors while also masking them with a fresh scent. Slice up a lemon and place the pieces on a plate in the fridge. Or, soak some cotton balls in lemon juice and place them in the fridge to do their magic. [11]
    • Leave the lemons or lemon-soaked cotton balls in the fridge for at least 24 hours.
  4. Dip a few cotton balls into a bowl of vanilla until they’re completely soaked. Then, place them inside your refrigerator for at least 24 hours. If there are any lingering odors, repeat this process until the smell is completely gone.
  5. Oats are another type of natural odor absorber. Simply pour a few cups of dry oats into a bowl and let it sit in the fridge overnight or for a few days. [12]
  6. Allow a small bag of activated charcoal to absorb odors. Purchase a small bag of activated charcoal and place it near the back of your fridge. In most cases, any odors should go away within 3–4 days. [13]
    • Another option is to place a few pieces of activated charcoal into a plastic container or bowl and let it sit on a shelf in your fridge.
    • Please note: A coal briquette is not the same thing as activated charcoal. Only ever use activated charcoal for odor removal purposes.
  7. Crumple up sheets of newspaper and place them on the shelves of your fridge, in drawers, and into any compartments on the door. Any bad odors should begin to disappear within 5 or 6 days.
    8. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Preventing Bad Odors

PDF download Download Article
  1. To prevent odors in the future, make it a point to look in your fridge at least once a week to remove expired food. If you find any spoiled food, toss it out right away. This preventative measure will keep foul smells from building up in the first place. [14]
    • One tip is to go through your fridge right before you go grocery shopping so that you can replace spoiled food with fresh items. [15]
    • Store fresh foods where they’re visible so they don’t spoil unnoticed. This includes things like vegetables, fruits, meats, and dairy products.
    • As an extra precaution, make sure the expiration dates on food items are visible so that you can easily check them whenever you go into the fridge to get something.
  2. Keeping your fridge at this temperature or below will make it so that any place is safe for you to store food. If the temperature in your fridge rises above 40ºF (4.4ºC), bacteria will begin to grow, causing your food to spoil and smell. [16]
    • Avoid setting your fridge below 32ºF (0ºC) since your food will freeze at these temperatures.
  3. Keep leftover food in airtight containers to prevent it from smelling. If you leave food uncovered in your fridge or leave it in something like a cardboard takeout box, it’s likely to spoil a lot faster. By keeping leftovers in a sealed airtight container, you’ll help them last longer and prevent foul odors from stinking up your fridge. [17]
    • Label each container with its contents’ expiration date. For an extensive list of how long certain types of food stay good in the fridge, check out this guide from foodsafety.gov.
  4. Oftentimes, bad odors come from spilled foods or liquids that have been sitting at the bottom of your fridge for some time. If you notice any messes, clean them up right away with warm water and dish soap or a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. It’s also easier to clean up fresh spills than ones that have hardened and stained your fridge. [18]
    • Another tip is to wipe down food containers, like plastic tupperware and glass jars, and condiment bottles before placing them in the fridge. [19]
    • If you have containers that are prone to leaking, place something like a plastic lid or plastic bag underneath them to catch any spills and make cleanup easier.
  5. 5
    Deep clean your fridge every 3 months. Get ahead of any bad odors by keeping a strict cleaning schedule for your refrigerator. Every 3 months, take out all of the food from your fridge and wipe down the interior with warm, soapy water or a mix of equal parts white vinegar and warm water. [20]
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Do I need to turn off my fridge when getting rid of bad smells from it?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, you'll need to remove all of the food and turn off the fridge. You can keep the food in another fridge or in a cooler during this time.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
  • Question
    I cleaned out drip pan and drain on my refrigerator but it still smells like something died in it. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    At the back of the fridge/freezer is the motor located at the base. Turn the power off and pull the appliance out. If it has a grill in front of the motor compartment, remove this and, with gloved hands, check all around the compartment. It could be a small four legged friend that has passed away or the remains of a nest.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 33 Helpful 80
  • Question
    Do all refrigerators contain drip trays?
    Mohsin Khan
    Community Answer
    Yes, mostly, but I noticed nowadays they assemble them on top of the compressor, so water evaporates by the heat generated there and it is rarely necessary to empty them.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 16 Helpful 44
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Make a Basement Smell Better
      Deep Cleaning a Fridge: How to Remove Odors, Mold, & Residue
      How to
      Arrange Refrigerator Shelves
      How to
      Clean a Microwave
      Easy Steps to Remove & Replace a Fridge Door Seal
      How to
      Remove a Dent from a Stainless Steel Refrigerator
      9 Simple Steps for Cleaning Your Fridge Condenser Coils
      How to
      Clean a Refrigerator Drip Pan
      The Complete Guide to Defrosting a Refrigerator Fast
      How to
      Remove a Fish Smell from a Refrigerator
      How to
      Clean Stainless Steel Refrigerators
      How to
      Clean a Refrigerator with Vinegar
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-the-refrigerator-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-203976
      2. ↑ James Sears. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.
      3. ↑ [v161139_b01]. 27 August 2019.
      4. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/keep-food-safe-after-emergency.html
      5. ↑ James Sears. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.
      6. ↑ [v161139_b01]. 27 August 2019.
      7. ↑ [v161139_b01]. 27 August 2019.
      8. ↑ James Sears. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.
      9. ↑ [v161139_b01]. 27 August 2019.
      1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/deodorize-fridge-pantry-ingredients-23124871
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/deodorize-fridge-pantry-ingredients-23124871
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/deodorize-fridge-pantry-ingredients-23124871
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/charcoal-bag-trash-trick-23386885
      5. ↑ James Sears. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.
      6. ↑ Donna Smallin Kuper. Professional Organizer. Expert Interview. 15 August 2018.
      7. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/refrigeration
      8. ↑ https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/6-quick-ways-get-rid-the-bad-smells-your-fridge.html
      9. ↑ Donna Smallin Kuper. Professional Organizer. Expert Interview. 15 August 2018.
      10. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/help-around-the-kitchen/get-rid-of-fridge-smells
      11. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/help-around-the-kitchen/get-rid-of-fridge-smells

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To get rid of bad smells in your fridge, start by turning the fridge off, taking everything out of it, and putting the food in a cooler temporarily while you work. Next, dissolve 1 cup of baking soda in 1 gallon of warm water and use the mixture to wipe down the shelves, bins, and sides of the fridge. Once the inside of your fridge is clean, put everything back in it and place an open box of baking soda in the back to absorb bad odors in the future! For more deodorizing tips to tackle especially stubborn bad smells, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,363,777 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Margaret Trousdale

        Mar 10, 2017

        "Thanks for all the tips. I inherited a Kenmore refrigerator that smells like tobacco, even after a hot towel wipe ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement