An unpleasant smell can touch any refrigerator, both old and new. The main task of the user is to understand the causes and eliminate the bad smell as soon as possible. Despite the fact that modern refrigerators have departments designed for different types of food - fresh meat, vegetables and fruits, eggs and cheese, this does not guarantee that a strong “flavor” does not appear in the cells.
Next, we will understand the causes of odors and find out what are the best ways to eliminate them.
Where a rotten smell may appear
If there is a smell of rotten meat, the main places from which it can “carry” are:
- a compartment with zero temperature or a “freshness zone” for storing fresh meat or fish;
- shelves and containers;
- less commonly, a freezer;
- the worst case is the smell of insulating material.
Why may an odor appear inside the refrigerator? Such situations occur in models with an upper freezer that are left turned on unattended. For example, you forgot to remove the meat from the freezer and went on vacation. Due to a power surge or for another reason, the refrigerator turned off and thawed, along with it the frosts melted. The meat leaked and the liquid fell right inside the walls. The situation is “awful,” because you can’t do with ordinary washing here - you need to open the case and completely change the thermal insulation. Therefore, having caught the smell of fish or rot, but not finding the cause of this smell, sound the alarm and call the master to eliminate the smell in the freezer of the refrigerator.
Often users complain about the smell of mold and vinegar or a specific chemical “aroma” - it can smell like that from any compartment if the operating rules are violated. The reasons for the appearance of such an "amber" we will understand further.
Bad smell: reasons
It usually smells bad from the refrigerator compartment if:
- Spoiled products. Sometimes food can go bad and smell if it is tightly sealed, so check the production dates and expiration dates on stale products periodically. A chicken egg can smell, by the appearance of which it is difficult to determine that the smell comes from it. It is recommended to find a spoiled egg by breaking the entire batch (prepare an omelet), or throw out all the eggs so as not to risk it.
- Dirty packaging. Packages deteriorate in stores due to careless layout of products. If milk is spilled and it is forgotten to wipe it, and you accidentally take an adjacent pack, the smell is provided.
- Spilled liquid food. Soup, broth, borscht, okroshka and any other liquid food has the property of spilling. A couple of drops is enough for the shelves to smell completely. Periodic maintenance of the shelves will solve the problem.
- Long shutdown. “Country” refrigerators especially suffer from this - a musty smell is observed in them because the surface is moldy. You need to try to completely withdraw it.
What if you cannot determine where the smell comes from? Defrost the refrigerator. Wash all surfaces thoroughly, sort out foods - if the smell resumes, take more stringent measures. We will talk about the methods and means of absorbents further.
How to get rid of odors
Below we give instructions for eliminating various types of odors, so that you know how to remove an unpleasant "aroma", regardless of the source of its occurrence.
4 best ways
Before you eliminate bad odors at home, determine the type of refrigerator. If it is equipped with the No Frost function, do not forget to wash it at least twice a year. If the equipment is new, wipe all surfaces before use to eliminate technical odors.
- Do water solution of vinegar (50 to 50) and treat them with shelves. A similar effect will give water with lemon juice (a few drops per glass of slightly warmed water).
- Buy regular activated or charcoalgrind it and fold it in a saucer. Put for 24 hours inside the chamber - this natural absorbent will quickly ensure the elimination of odor.
- Not sure how to wash the refrigerator? Look in the first-aid kit - if it has ammoniaUse it to wipe the shelves.Important! When working with ammonia, work in a respirator.
- How to wash any persistent odor? Ordinary will help you soda, 3 tablespoons of which should be diluted in one glass of water. If you smell too harsh, take more soda - up to 5-6 tablespoons. It will turn out something like gruel - apply it for a while on the surface, then wipe it off.
After the procedures, do not rush to close the doors - let the shelves dry for several hours before loading the products and connecting the equipment to the network.
Fungus and mold control
Many housewives are interested in what to put in chambers to get rid of the smell of mold or fungus. It is necessary to eliminate the root cause of the smell - mold, and then use absorbents.
Important! When mold appears in the refrigerator, the condensate concentration rises, due to which the humidity in the chamber increases. These are optimal conditions for the rapid growth of fungal colonies.
How to remove mold:
- Use 9% vinegarmixed with hydrogen peroxide - treat the mixture with all surfaces.
- Disinfect cameras by wiping them water solution of laundry soap.
Important! Ordinary soap will not work. An alkaline environment that kills the fungus will create an economic bar of soap.
- Do not close the doors at night, let the inner surface dry.
- Treat all additional elements - containers, trays, lids, coasters, jars and even dishes - with vinegar.
TOP 5 mold remedies
Not sure how to wash mold? Here is the rating of the most effective means:
- Bleach. This household chemicals includes sodium hypochlorite. It is famous for its detrimental effect on fungal spores.
- Hydrogen peroxide (three percent). A simple solution has a disinfecting effect - it kills microbes, eliminates mold.
- Vinegar Table. It is enough to use it once a week for surface treatment to forget about mold forever.
- Ammonia. This alcohol is perfect for glass shelves.
- Purchased absorbent. It will reduce the percentage of dampness in the chamber (in a humid environment, bacteria develop much faster) and eliminate the smells of aggressively smelling foods (smoked meats, onions, garlic).
Which odor absorber to choose
- Silica gel bagged balls. Usually sold in packs of 3. If the refrigerator’s displacement is modest, packs will last for a year. Do not load all the balls, put one, and then change every 4 months. Store unused balls in airtight conditions so that the air does not spoil their properties.
- Granular absorbent. The composition is usually activated carbon. It absorbs moisture well, as well as ethylene - a gas that is released during the decay of vegetables and fruits. By isolating it, fresh fruits or vegetables deteriorate much faster, so with such an absorber you will extend the safety of products.
- Helium absorber. It includes an extract from algae and lemon extract. When the components of the product evaporate, the air in the chamber becomes fresher. Absorption capacity is twice as high as that of analogues.
- With mineral salt. Sold in crystal form. Much more convenient than ordinary salt - the crystal does not take up much space. Requires flushing a couple of times a month to remove plaque.
- Ozonizer. This tool is not only an absorber, but also a disinfector. With it, products do not rot so quickly. The battery-powered device is equipped with an indicator showing the degree of battery discharge.
Useful Tips
Now you know how to process the refrigerator to get rid of mold, mildew and unpleasant odors. Take our advice into service so that everything works out 100%:
- Choose a place for the absorbent so that there is space around it. The capsule or ozonizer is attached with a special lock to the door - so their efficiency is maximized.
- For a large refrigerator, one sink is not enough. Place at least two: one on top, the second on the bottom shelf.
- When buying absorbent material, check production date, expiration date and packaging integrity. Despite the fact that the capsule has a shelf life of up to 5 years, choose “fresh” products that have not passed half a year from the date of manufacture.
Now you are a “guru of purity”, and you know all the methods of dealing with “aromas”. Choose a suitable method, and forward - towards freshness and pleasant smells.