Best way to remove ammonia odor from refrigerator

[Magumba]

Hi,
We returned home yesterday to smell of ammonia in the camper. The cooling unit on our 9 year old Norcold 1201 bit the dust. Good news is our local RV tech can do the job at our site and it's covered on our warranty. Bad news is we need to clean up the ammonia.

We headed down to Wally World to buy a small refrigerator and borrowed an ice chest from the campground owner.

We're keeping the refer doors closed and so far the smell is not too bad, we can live with it but we're faced with the cleanup chore. We'll mask up, open the windows and vents and put the dog outside when do the job.

Does anyone have any hints for cleaning up the inside of the unit?

Thanks for your help and stay cool.

[texnet]

An open bag of non-lighter soaked charcoal does wonders for absorbing odors. Home Depot and others I am sure sell a small mess bag of light color "rocks" that are also used for absorbing odors and may be better than the black charcoal :-)

[TXiceman]

The ammonia smell will dissipate on it's own.

Ken

[mavric65]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman The ammonia smell will dissipate on it's own. Ken

TXiceman is right i had a fridge go out once and the smell went away with no problem.... Put in a new fridge and that solved the smell.... the smell is from a bad cooling unit leaking once changed or new fridge put in it will be all good..........

[Kurmudgeon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavric65 TXiceman is right i had a fridge go out once and the smell went away with no problem.... Put in a new fridge and that solved the smell.... the smell is from a bad cooling unit leaking once changed or new fridge put in it will be all good..........

To add to the above, there will be no mess to clean up. Ammonia boils at about -30 degrees, so it boils off rapidly in normal atmospheric pressure, and there is nothing left once it dissipates into the atmosphere. It doesn't take long once the system looses it's seal, and there will be no residual odor.

JP

[jcthorne]

Open the door and windows, then open the fridge and let it air out. Smell will be gone in a few hours.

[wa8yxm]

I agree with the smell will dissapate on it's own.. Charcoal or Baking soda can also absorb odor. They make a charcoal air filter for refrigerators, fan, battery and charcoal block, any RV store will have them, about 3 times what I think they are worth but then what do I know about prices.

[TXiceman]

I have worked around more ammonia than I can remember over the years and it will dissipate on it's own. There might be a slight lingering odor, that you want rinse with plain water and let it dry.

Ken

[Magumba]

Thank you for your help. We'll have to air out this weekend.