16 best ways to help remove smells from your refrigerator

From storing and organizing your family’s favourite foods to keeping ingredients fresh for when you need them, your refrigerator is an essential part of everyday care. Often overlooked is that this vital appliance must look and smell fresh to do its job of keeping your food fresh.

This guide will introduce you to some of the methods you can use to get rid of common refrigerator smells, including basic cleaning, maintenance and using natural cleaners like baking soda or lemons.

What causes a refrigerator to smell?

The first step to eliminating an odour in your refrigerator is to figure out the source. Common potential causes of refrigerator odours are: 

• Mould
• Bacteria
• Leaking containers
• Food spills
• Expired items

Steps to clean a fridge that smells

Eliminating smells in your refrigerator doesn’t have to be a challenging task. You can remove most unpleasant odours with only a few easy steps and some natural deodorizers. 

Use this step-by-step guide to get your refrigerator smelling the way it should.

Replace your refrigerator air filter regularly

Select Whirlpool^® Refrigerators have an air filter that can reduce food odours by as much as 15 times more effectively than baking soda. You should regularly replace your refrigerator’s air filter as directed in your refrigerator’s owner’s manual to help eliminate or even prevent odours.

Throw away all spoiled food

Your refrigerator’s odour may be from expired or spoiled food. 

First, discard any item that has expired or spoiled. Next, organize your refrigerator and freezer compartments to ensure that food is easily accessible and won’t get lost behind other items.

Thoroughly clean the interior of your refrigerator

To start removing unwanted odours from a refrigerator, you should thoroughly clean the interior. First, unplug your refrigerator and carefully take out all the food and removable drawers and shelves. Next, wipe the inside with a solution comprised of dish soap and warm water. Lastly, use a clean towel to dry the surfaces. 

Please note that you should not clean any refrigerator parts in a dishwasher.

Clean the drawer and shelf channels

Use warm, soapy water to clean a refrigerator’s drawer or shelf channels and then rinse them completely. Thoroughly dry the channels using a soft microfiber cloth, and then return the drawers and shelves to the refrigerator.

Spillovers can cause the crisper bins or shelves to stick. To clean spillover, take out each removable part and clean the spill with a soft cloth dampened in warm water and mild dish soap. The next step is to wipe clean the fridge frame. If the spillover is particularly bad, you may have to perform some additional cleaning.

Clean the gasket

A refrigerator’s gaskets are the seal on the interior of the door. They are usually rubber and keep air from escaping to help eliminate and prevent odours. 

To clean the gaskets, wash them with a clean sponge or soft cloth and mild detergent mixed with warm water. Once clean, rinse them well and wipe them dry with a clean, soft cloth.

Clean the drip pan

Cleaning the drip pan regularly is a great way to help prevent or eliminate odours. 

To clean a refrigerator’s drip pan, carefully remove it from the bottom of the appliance and rinse it with dish soap and warm water. Make sure it is completely dry before returning it to its proper place.

For extra freshness in your refrigerator

For extra refrigerator freshness, unplug the appliance and clean the interior with baking soda. Next, air it out by leaving the door open for at least a day and then plug it back in.

Natural remedies to remove refrigerator smells

Baking soda

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that can help absorb and eliminate odours. After thoroughly cleaning a fridge, put a box of baking soda on one of the shelves where it won’t get in the way. You can also place baking soda in your freezer for the same result. 

Lemons

Soak a towel in lemon juice and then wipe down each shelf after cleaning your refrigerator. To achieve maximum absorption, leave lemon slices in a bowl in the fridge for a few hours or up to a week for especially potent smells.

Activated charcoal

Put activated charcoal into two paper bowls. Place one inside the refrigerator and the other in the freezer. If you’re dealing with a powerful odour, try using multiple bowls in each compartment.

Coffee grounds

The nitrogen in coffee grounds is proven to have a neutralizing effect on odours. To remove an odour, place a small bowl of coffee grounds in your fridge compartment. It may be able to help absorb the odour and replace it with fragrant traces of coffee.

Breath mints

Put a dampened breath mint on a paper plate and place it on the refrigerator's center shelf.

Newspaper

Scrunch newspaper pages into paper balls, put them on a paper plate and add a drop of cooking vanilla to each ball. It’s recommended to put a plate on each shelf in the refrigerator and freezer compartments and leave them for a few weeks. This will allow the carbon in newspaper ink to help absorb any unwanted odours.

Vinegar

Vinegar can effectively get rid of many stubborn odours. To use vinegar as a cleaning agent, make a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar and then wipe down the refrigerator’s interior.

Oats

Pour uncooked oats into an uncovered container and then place it inside the fridge. This can help naturally deodorize your refrigerator.

Why does my refrigerator smell bad even after I clean it?

Particularly strong odours may take a few weeks or months to remove. Certain smells may have been absorbed into your appliance’s insulation. If you’re having extreme trouble eliminating an odour, you may have to replace your fridge with a new model. If you opt for this route, ensure you discard the old refrigerator safely.  

Another cause of a lingering smell could be dirty evaporator coils. Evaporator coils, which are all exposed, are at the back of your freezer and generate cold air for both compartments. These coils can get clogged with dirt and dust and cause your appliance to produce an unpleasant odour and not run as it should.

How to keep a refrigerator smelling fresh

Use these tips to help keep your fridge smelling fresh:

• Set your fridge to the correct temperature. This will help prevent food from prematurely spoiling.

• Tightly wrap or cover all food or place it in a container.

• Properly organize your fridge and freezer so you don’t hide or forget about food before it expires.

• Discard all rotten or spoiled food.

• Clean spills right away before they set and start to smell.

• Clean both compartments monthly.

• Clean the area underneath your refrigerator regularly.

• For refrigerators with an air filter, regularly replace the filter according to the indicator tab.

Explore Whirlpool^® Refrigerators

Whirlpool^® Refrigerators are available in various styles and finishes. Select models come with impressive features like spill-proof shelves to contain spills, simplify cleanup and help prevent liquids from leaking and dripping. With a refrigerator from Whirlpool brand, you can store your items with purposefully designed storage spaces, helping you maintain your fridge’s organization even when life gets busy.