How to Get Rid of Bad Smells in the Fridge

Have you ever asked yourself ‘how to get rid of smell in the fridge’? Well, you’re not alone. A lot of people want to know how to get rid of the bad smell in the fridge caused by old food, smelly cheeses, or a lump of garlic that’s been festering for weeks.

Don’t worry, if your fridge smells bad we’ve got everything you need to sort the problem out and prevent the build-up of nasty odours in the future. Read our three-step guide to how to clean a smelly fridge. 

Keep an open container of bicarbonate of soda at the back of your fridge to help soak up any nasty smells. Before you do this, though, make sure to remove any bacteria that are lingering inside your fridge with the help of an all-purpose cleaning product like Handy Andy Multipurpose Cleaner.

How to Remove Smell from the Fridge?

Step 1: Have a Thorough Fridge Clear Out

• The first thing to do with a smelly fridge is to go through each item carefully.

• Check for expiry and use-by dates.

• Do the smell test - if it has a nasty scent, get rid of it.

• Make sure to get right to the back of the draws and look on every shelf to prevent anything smelly from hiding at the back.

Step 2: Clean your Fridge out Thoroughly

Right, so you’ve got rid of the culprit, but what if the smell is still there? How to get rid the of fridge odour itself? There are a few different cleaning techniques you can use to remove the smell from the fridge:

• One option is to mix 1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda with 1 litre of warm water and give the fridge a good once over.

• Alternatively, use a disinfectant solution with a pleasant (but not too intense) scent that will mask nasty odours.

• Or you could simply wet an effective cleaner like Handy Andy Multipurpose Cream to give your fridge’s insides a good scrub.

Step 3: Prevent Bad Smells From Ever Coming Back

Now you that know how to remove odour from the fridge, how do you stop it from ever coming back? Here are a few different ways:

• Try leaving an open container of bicarbonate of soda inside the fridge for three months. Bicarb soaks up scents and removes them from the air. Be sure to date it so you know when it needs replacing and leave it at the back of the fridge, but clearly visible so you don’t accidentally knock it over!

• You could also try specialist fridge deodorisers. These can be purchased from kitchen shops and cleaning warehouses. They’re a little like air fresheners for your fridge, designed not to overpower the natural fragrance of the food inside.

No one likes their fridge to smell off. Luckily by following these simple steps, you’ll be able to eradicate any odours and keep them away for good!

• Clean the fridge out thoroughly throwing away anything pungent.

• Give it a thorough wipe-down.

• Consider bicarbonate of soda or a dedicated fridge deodoriser to prevent the build-up of smells in the future.