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cleaning stink from a fridge

post #1 of 18
7/13/08 at 11:21pm
Thread Starter 
while I was out of town, we had a power outage that somehow turned off my freezer, that was full of stuff. anyway, the upstairs neighbor called the super because of the stink, and he came a cleaned out the stuff and put a dozen or so boxes of baking soda in the friidge and freezer. but now that we are home, we need to get the final bit of stink out. any ideas?

(labor intensity isn't an issue - our cleaning girl will be doing the work)
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post #2 of 18
7/13/08 at 11:34pm
First off: Get rid of the old smelly baking soda!!
Get some orange scented Fantastik and spray all over(inside of) fridge--wipe clean
Open 2-3 new baking soda boxs--for freezer as well
Repeat untill "stink" is gone...
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post #3 of 18
7/13/08 at 11:54pm
The unfortunate part is that stuff could be growing in the ducting. It's getting to the stuff that's harder than what to clean it with. Heck, water would work if you apply the requisite labor. For ease, however, I clean fridges with ammonia, typically (but you must watch the vapors), as it is basic, it dissolves the organic muck nicely. And leaves it fairly fresh to boot. I'd disassemble anything that can be disassembled, paying especial attention to the drain line, clean, reassemble, then I'd continue with the baking soda. ~ Huntsman
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post #4 of 18
7/14/08 at 12:02am
Get rid of any old food.
Spray a 50:50 mix Fabuloso and Water on interior surfaces.
Buy the fridge version of the Arm & Hammer baking soda boxes. Use at least two and change out often.
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post #5 of 18
7/14/08 at 9:45am
When I moved in to a new apartment and found 3/4 liter of curdled milk in the bottom of my fridge, which had been open for 2 weeks during summer, I used chlorox. Lots and lots of chlorox. I cleaned it several times. The memory still induces a gag reflex. I still remember breaking the surface of the curdled milk... About 1 second after i broke the surface, i had to sprint for the balcony to avoid throwing up. It was NASTY.
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post #6 of 18
7/14/08 at 10:40am
Just last night I had to pull out the 'owners' manual' for our fridge regarding a technical issue. I noticed an admonition that people should empty & unplug unit (w/ doors open) when going on extended vacations or trips. I thought to myself: who would ever bother to go to that trouble?
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post #7 of 18
7/14/08 at 10:43am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by romafan View Post
Just last night I had to pull out the 'owners' manual' for our fridge regarding a technical issue. I noticed an admonition that people should empty & unplug unit (w/ doors open) when going on extended vacations or trips. I thought to myself: who would ever bother to go to that trouble?

next time, me.
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post #8 of 18
7/14/08 at 11:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by romafan View Post
Just last night I had to pull out the 'owners' manual' for our fridge regarding a technical issue. I noticed an admonition that people should empty & unplug unit (w/ doors open) when going on extended vacations or trips. I thought to myself: who would ever bother to go to that trouble?

I don't unplug it, but I do empty it of anything perishable. You only want to clean-up a mess like I did once in your life.
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post #9 of 18
7/14/08 at 11:32am
bleach works really well.
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post #10 of 18
7/14/08 at 11:50am
Vinegar, diluted 50% with water, works very well (of course don't use Modena Balsamic but the cheapest you can find )
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post #11 of 18
7/14/08 at 2:30pm
Once the freezer is cleaned and disinfected, wipe down the inside with vanilla extract. Works like a charm. Also good for coolers.
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post #12 of 18
7/28/08 at 12:47am
I just heard from my wife that the Food Detective show found that activated charcoal from your local pet supply store worked best versus several things that the detective tried.
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post #13 of 18
7/28/08 at 2:54pm
did you store an kimchi in the fridge?

if you did, forget it. consider it a permanent scent.
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post #14 of 18
7/28/08 at 3:01pm
Simple Green is also an effective first round of killing odor... Never tried it on a fridge but I know it can get the smell of cigarettes out of almost anything.
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post #15 of 18
7/28/08 at 7:06pm
Thread Starter 
thank you all, mission acomplished
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