Community Forums

kelly63 · 10-02-2020, 06:21 AM

Refrigerator smell.
We unfortunately had a breakdown in June 6 weeks later after returning to the motorhome to bring her back home from South Carolina. We found we left a pound of hamburger in the freezer which was the worst smell ever. We have sense tried all kinds of chemicals and products to get the smell out we have use Clorox and bleach and let it soak for days and then wiped back out. But we still have the odor in the freezer. Anybody have any good ideas and how to get this odor out of there besides replacing the unit?

Jyrocharlie · 10-02-2020, 07:24 AM

An ozone generator may be a good way, some small air cleaners include one built in. Before you condemn the fridge, turn it on and let it freeze, the smell may be greatly reduced when it's cold. Something like these, put it in the fridge, plug it in and close the door. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ozone+gen...83&ref=sr_pg_2

Mnoel · 10-02-2020, 07:39 AM

I used coffee grounds when we had a similar issue with salmon. I covered the bottom of the freezer with the grounds, especially the corners and changed them out every other day for a week. After the week, the odor was gone.
Mike

Ray Lenning · 10-02-2020, 08:06 AM

Try baking soda . Look for Arm & Hammer Fridge -n-Freezer . I would put four boxes in there and give it a few days .

Domo · 10-02-2020, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jyrocharlie

An ozone generator may be a good way, some small air cleaners include one built in. Before you condemn the fridge, turn it on and let it freeze, the smell may be greatly reduced when it's cold. Something like these, put it in the fridge, plug it in and close the door. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ozone+gen...83&ref=sr_pg_2

+1

You may also try your local ServPro service and/or crime scene services/undertaker - you basically had a dead body aging in the fridge and they may have solutions to the issues...

Old-Biscuit · 10-02-2020, 05:06 PM

YEP...coffee grounds (fresh unused LOL) will absorb the smell

Bleach solution will disinfect/sanitize ...lightly spray/wipe down/rinse

Ray,IN · 10-02-2020, 08:47 PM

Blood probably ran into cracks and joints. Use Hydrogen Peroxide, just pour some onto the floor of the freezer and let sit for a day. Wash all other surfaces with H202 also.
A side benefit of eliminating the odor, everything is also sterilized.

johnmontgome · 04-23-2021, 09:22 AM

This seems to be the bane of all rv campers as tome point and I've found the solid and easy fix.
First the compartment has to be clean. The smell comes from decaying matter and if that's not gone the smell won't be either.
Next Go to the internet and purchase one small UVC bulb you can screw into a drop light. Put that light in the compartment and shut the door leaving it ajar for the cord. Leave it for an hour or maybe less. Then take it out and expose all of the area up to and including the seal by slowly moving the light around the area.

Job done.
I did this and thought I had maybe just got lucky but two years later a friend of mine had the same problem and I put him onto it and it worked for him too.

This has the same effect as taking your frige out of the rig and letting the sun shine inside to kill odor.

Outbound · 04-23-2021, 12:53 PM

Ditto on baking soda.

Jandcinok · 04-25-2021, 08:28 AM

Pack it (loosely) with newspapers, and close the door. After a couple of days, you may need to remove and replace the newspaper . Often times it will absorb the smell.