How to Get Rid of Refrigerator and Freezer Odors
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2014/02/25 - Updated: 2026/02/09
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Household Tips - Related Publications
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This article provides comprehensive strategies for eliminating persistent odors from refrigerators and freezers, a common concern when food spoils or is improperly sealed. It emphasizes the importance of initial steps such as discarding questionable food and thoroughly cleaning all removable parts with hot water and detergent, followed by a sanitizing rinse. For lingering odors, the article suggests various remedies, including wiping interiors with a vinegar-water solution, airing out the appliance, using absorbents like baking soda or fresh coffee grounds, and employing commercial odor removers. These practical solutions are particularly beneficial for individuals with disabilities and seniors, ensuring a safe and pleasant kitchen environment - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Refrigerator and freezer odors develop when foods are not sealed properly or are allowed to spoil inside the appliances. Sometimes strong scents transfer to other foods as well, affecting both their smell and taste.
Refrigerators and freezers are two of the most important pieces of equipment in the kitchen for keeping food safe. We are instantly reminded of their importance when the power goes off, flooding occurs, or the unit fails, causing food to become unsafe and spoil. The odors that develop when food spoils can be difficult to remove.
Main Content
If food has spoiled in a refrigerator or freezer and odors from the food remain, they may be difficult to remove. The following procedures may help but may have to be repeated several times.
- Dispose of any spoiled or questionable food.
- Leave the door open for about 15 minutes to allow free air circulation.
- Wash the interior of the refrigerator and freezer, including the door and gasket, with hot water and baking soda. Rinse with sanitizing solution as above.
- Remove shelves, crispers, and ice trays. Wash them thoroughly with hot water and detergent. Then rinse with a sanitizing solution (1 tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water).
If Odors Remain Try These Tips
- Leave the door open and allow to air out for several days.
- Wipe inside of unit with equal parts vinegar and water. Vinegar provides acid which destroys mildew.
- Empty the fridge and turn it off then wipe it down with White Vinegar. There is no need to rinse off.
- Place a small bowl of fresh non-scented unused cat litter in the fridge and it will take away the odor.
- Use a commercial product available at hardware and housewares stores. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Place a cotton swab soaked with vanilla inside the refrigerator and freezer. Close door for 24 hours. Check for odors.
- Pour several ounces imitation vanilla (not pure extract) in a shallow saucer, put on shelf and let run empty a few days.
- Clean fridge thoroughly then get a box arm and hammer baking soda and leave it in fridge the baking soda will absorb the odors.
- Sprinkle fresh coffee grounds or baking soda loosely in a large, shallow container in the bottom of the refrigerator and freezer.
- Place an open box of baking soda in the freezer and change it monthly, pouring the old box down the drain and follow it with hot water.
- Pack each refrigerator shelf with crumpled newspaper. Set a cup of water on the top shelf or sprinkle the newspaper lightly with water.
- Stuff both the refrigerator and freezer with rolled newspapers. Close the door and leave for several days. Remove paper and clean with vinegar and water.
- Clean the fridge inside and out with a non fragrant soap and water combination, and let it dry out with doors open for a 12 to 24 hours, with a fan blowing.
- Wash and rinse using a strong soap and bleach 2-3 times and while the interior is still wet coat the inside with baking soda and reseal for 10-15 hours (but don't turn the freezer on).
- Put fresh ground coffee in cereal bowls inside the refrigerator and let run empty several days. A slight coffee odor may remain, but will disappear after washing again with baking soda solution.
- Get a small bag of charcoal and a few small disposable aluminum cooking trays. Unplug the fridge or freezer and let it defrost. Place the disposable trays in the fridge/freezer on the shelves, filled with charcoal. Charcoal is naturally a very good filter, and will completely take all the smells out.
If odors cannot be removed, then the refrigerator or freezer may need to be discarded. If you need to discard the refrigerator or freezer, discard it in a safe manner:
- It is unlawful in many jurisdictions to discard old refrigerators or freezers without first removing the door.
- Childproof old refrigerators or freezers so children do not get trapped inside. The surest way is to take the door off.
- If the door will not come off, chain and padlock the door permanently and close tightly, or remove or disable the latch completely so the door will no longer lock when closed.
- Depending on where you live, your appliance will be picked up by your solid waste provider, a re-cycler, a retailer - if you buy a new unit, or program sponsored by local or regional utilities.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: While the remedies outlined above may seem straightforward, there's something worth acknowledging about the persistence required when tackling refrigerator odors - particularly after a power failure or unit malfunction. The reality is that spoiled food doesn't simply leave behind a smell; it embeds itself into the porous surfaces and gaskets of these appliances in ways that demand patience and repeated treatment. What strikes me most about compiling this guidance is how universal this problem is, yet how often people assume their refrigerator is ruined at the first sign of lingering odor. Before investing in a replacement appliance, it's genuinely worth exhausting these approaches, especially the charcoal method and the vinegar-newspaper combination, which have proven effective even in cases where other remedies failed. For individuals with disabilities or mobility limitations, enlisting help with the physical aspects of this process - the repeated cleaning, the airing out period - shouldn't be viewed as a burden but as a practical necessity that preserves both a major household investment and food safety. The hour or two spent addressing these odors properly can save hundreds of dollars and prevent the environmental waste of discarding an otherwise functional appliance - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.