Fridge Smells Like Dead Animal
Are you a victim of a foul-smelling fridge smell? If visitors came to your home, such a smell could make you uncomfortable. Next, think about the possible causes. Learn how to solve the problem and understand the source. Yes, instead of crying out in disgust–“My fridge smells like dead animal”, you should do something about it, or else this stench can permeate throughout your house and make life difficult for you.
What makes the fridge smell so bad?
Molds and bacteria are the main culprits for creating bad odor. These microbes can thrive if there is moisture in the fridge. You might be wondering where the moisture is coming from. You could get it from condensation in your fridge, or even spilt food. It could also be caused by humidity from the outside. The microbes reach a critical mass when they have accumulated in a moist environment. This is the point at which the smell of them is no longer detectable. What should you do?
Here are some quick tips to get rid of the foul odor
Lower the temperature
According to the manufacturer, the ideal fridge temperature should range between 35 and 37 degrees F. The ideal temperature prevents moisture buildup. It is important to determine if your area is humid to be able to adjust the temperature. You might want to buy a thermometer for your fridge if it doesn’t have one.
Find the Source
It is important to understand where the smell is coming. Check the door. Most often, food left on the door pollutes more quickly than the rest of the fridge. Continue to inspect the fridge for any food you may have kept earlier. Remove any food that is spoiled.
Clean the fridge
Deep cleaning your fridge is necessary if the smell persists after you have removed the food that caused it. Put the food in a cooler filled with ice, and clean your refrigerator thoroughly. Is your fridge equipped with a spill-proof shelf? While a traditional fridge might not have one, a newer one should. Spill-proof stops small spills from causing damage to the fridge. But the bacteria loves hiding between the plastic and glass in the fridge. Make sure you use the correct disinfectant to deal with this part first.
After cleaning
It can be frustrating when the smell persists after all your hard work. Do not give up. The smell could be coming from under your fridge’s drip pan. The drip serves two purposes: to protect the floor from liquids and prevent them from running over. Any milk runoff, meat, and other food that is trapped in the pan can build up near the hot motor. You might mistake the smell for dead animals because of the strong odor it produces.
It is important to inspect it and thoroughly clean it with a disinfectant. You can use a mild bleaching solution for that.
The bad smell could also be caused by a damaged or worn-out water filter. Check your fridge’s drainage system to see if any buildup is possible.
Refrigerator door gasket
Many people ignore the seal around their refrigerator doors. The seal can trap food in its crevices and grooves, and cause spoilage. Use a disinfectant to clean the seal. Clean the bottom of your fridge door. Make sure to clean the gasket, where liquids are likely to collect.
Refrigerator condenser coils
It seems absurd to think mold could grow on refrigerator condenser coils. Although it is rare, mold can grow on refrigerator condenser coils and cause a foul-smelling stench. First, unplug the refrigerator to clean the condensing tubes. You will need to take out the grill at the lower end. To clean the coil’s underside, use a rag. It can also be cleaned with a long-handled brush.
Use baking powder to prevent odor
You can stop the smell by wrapping leftovers with aluminum paper. The aluminum paper will protect food from the smell. To prevent product rot, you can place a silver mat on the floor to keep the odor at bay. A glass of coffee or ground coffee can be placed in your fridge. You can also place baking soda in your fridge if you don’t have ground coffee.
Baking powder absorbs smells faster than baking powder, which is why many people love it. The odor can be removed by using charcoal. You can also try soaking a piece of crumb bread in vinegar, and then putting it in the fridge. This neutralizes the smell. A few liters can be placed in a container. Add one tablespoon of bleach to each liter. This can be used to clean the fridge.
If the bad smell persists, you can leave baking powder in an unopened container for three days in the refrigerator to absorb the smell. Cotton soaked in vanilla can be left in the fridge for an additional night. You can then rinse the fridge with a mixture water and bleach.
How to get rid Of fridge smells with lemon
Lemon is a refreshing and popular choice when it comes to eliminating fridge odors. This odor hack is easy to use:
Use half the lemon juice to wipe down the refrigerator’s plastic sides with a damp cloth.
Place the remaining lemon on a plate and let it rest in the fridge for at least a day.
Use coffee to absorb fridge odors
Coffee isn’t just your morning pick me up. Coffee can also be used to remove odors from your fridge.
Put a cup of coffee ground on a glass and let it sit in the refrigerator for a few days.
For more power in fighting odors, replace the ground.
How to get rid of the fridge smell with vanilla
A cotton ball soaked with vanilla essential oil can be used in place of the baking soda and coffee tricks.
The vanilla-soaked swab can be left in the refrigerator for up to a day, with the door shut.
Newspapers can remove refrigerator odors
Do you have a few newspapers lying around? You can then use them to get rid of odors in your fridge.
Use white vinegar to clean all of the plastic.
Place the newspaper rolls in the refrigerator.
Let them sit with the fridge for three to four days without being touched.
Fridge smells, but no rotten food: what to do?
You can have a spillage or rotten food in your fridge. But if your fridge smells like rotten food and nothing else, you should be more creative. There are many places where bacteria and mold can grow, creating that awful smell.
Clean under veggie bin trays
Even though you may have thrown away old fruits and vegetables, there might still be juice or bacteria that could cause rotting. Take out the bins and scrub them with straight white vinegar.
Clean drip tray
Most of us are aware that there is a drip tray underneath our fridge, but we forget to clean it. This little tray can collect stagnant water and other bacteria. Use your user manual to pull out the drip tray and wash it with soapy water. Consider adding 1 cup hydrogen peroxide to your dishwater for particularly troublesome trays.
Check under your refrigerator
You might be experiencing a smell in your fridge despite having tried everything. You could have food that has rolled under your fridge and rotted or a drip from your drip pan.
With a little help, get out the fridge.
To clean underneath the fridge, use a cleaner that is approved for flooring.
Fridge smells like chemical
If your fridge smells like chemicals, it could be a sign that you need to call a professional. There are some things you can do before panicking.
Change the water filter
If you notice a sulfury smell around your refrigerator and if there is a water dispenser, it may be the water filter. If this happens, it is time to change the water filter in the fridge. To make sure there aren’t any other issues with your water filtration system, you can clean the area. The ice cubes might also need to be thrown out.
Clean the refrigerator coils
The coils of your refrigerator can become clogged with dirt and grime, which can cause a bad odor. You should clean the coils with care. Before you embark on this adventure, make sure to unplug your refrigerator.
View from the bottom of an empty freezer.
Freon leakage
A refrigerator that leaks freon can have a strange smell. It might also be running constantly and not keeping as much cold as it normally does. To determine if the fridge can be fixed, call a professional appliance technician.
How soon should you deep clean your fridge?
You will never again risk your fridge smelling after such an experience. Next, you will want to know how often your refrigerator needs to be cleaned. The frequency of deep cleaning depends on how frequently food is spilled in the fridge and how much it is used.
You can clean the interior of the fridge once a year if you don’t use it as often as you should and your food doesn’t spill. The likelihood of spillage is higher if you use your fridge more frequently. This means that you will need to clean the inside of your fridge more often. It is best to clean the inside as soon as possible after a spillage.
Wrapping up
Fridge smells like dead animal
Obviously, dead animal smells in fridges can be very unpleasant and should be addressed immediately. First, you will have to identify the source of the smell. Once you have identified the source of the smell, you should clean your fridge thoroughly. You must pay special attention to any areas where spilt foods may be hiding. You can eliminate the odor by using baking powder, charcoal, coffee grounds, or any other method.
Some fridge smells can be caused by rotten foods, but not all. If they are, there are several ways to get rid them. And you don’t need an expert to do your cleaning work. You can do everything at home. It’s time now for you to clean your fridge. Get going!