Refrigerator Smell

[komac]

I have a 2010 class A. We had to leave it at a Florida repair center last summer for over a week in the hot parking lot, waiting for a engine control module that had gone bad. We had fresh vegetables in the refrigerator. Thinking that the repair would be made in a couple of days, I left the refrigerator on and the windows open. Unfortunately, we had to leave town on a family emergency in our tow car. I called the repair facility a few days later to tell them to turn the refrigerator off and distribute the food as they saw fit. They called back a day or two later and told me that the refrigerator had been turned off for some reason and that the food was rotten. Instead of taking the food out of the refrigerator, they left it in with the door closed! It took at least a day to clean that refrigerator, but we've never gotten the smell out. I've tried all I know to try: thoroughly cleaned several times with mixtures of alcohol or pine sol or baking soda or bleach. Nothing seems to work, although the odor is much better. I also keep fresh open boxes of baking soda in the refrigerator when the door is closed. When we're not using the MH, I keep both refrigerator doors open, and the smell seems to go away. However, if I have the doors closed even for a short time, the smell comes back. Does anyone have another idea that I might try? I'd appreciate any help. Komac

[Route 66]

This works on coolers.

Wipe the interior with paper towels soaked in natural vanilla extract and leave the soaked paper towels in the fridge for a day or longer. Imitation extract doesn't work.

[GaryKD]

Hi komac,
Dirk has a proven suggestion. Also, consider Googling "refrigerator oder removal". There are many choices to read up on and try.

[dforce1]

If you wash the inside with a good house hold cleanser first and then go back with a good rinse down with a good vanilla extract added to the rinse water. That will give you a clean and a good smelling refrigerator without harm. Hope this helps...

[jeepfreak]

Boy can I relate to that. We've had charcole and baking soda in our freezer all winter since finding the frozen hamburg that was left in the freezer for two weeks after returning from a trip. If the smell is still bad when the weather warms up we'll give the vanilla thing a try. And for the rest of you DOUBLE CHECK YOUR FRIDGE after EVERY trip. Rotten meat , well, there is no way to discribe that smell.

[bldrbob]

I read a couple times to place a plate of ground coffee to absorb odors.No personal experience.

[Its Paid For]

I had that situation once. I used a cleaning wipe that I believe had bleach and smelled like oranges. It both cleaned great, quick, and no lingering odor. I did rinse and dry after though as the wipes had cleaning agents.

I did not have meats, but the veggies were necrotic lol.

[okmunky]

After cleaning out my home frig before the last long distance move, I placed a small bag of charcoal briquettes inside -- top and bottom -- then taped the doors shut. Smelled fresh when plugged in.

Kitty litter might help get rid of your squid stink.
Barb

[Navy Techrep]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66 This works on coolers. Wipe the interior with paper towels soaked in natural vanilla extract and leave the soaked paper towels in the fridge for a day or longer. Imitation extract doesn't work.

I have used this method a couple of times with great results, give it a try.

[komac]

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. I'm going to try the vanilla extract idea today. I got the "pure" extract yesterday at the local grocery store. I didn't realize how expensive it was for a small bottle, but a clean smelling refrigerator is well worth the price. Komac