Smells in the Refrigerator

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Spoiled food, especially diary products, are a common cause of fridge odor, as well as nonspoiled food with a pungent smell, such as fish or garlic. Sometimes spilled food or liquid underneath your fridge is your problem. The fans underneath the appliance blow the smell from the spill upward into the food storage area. Check underneath your fridge for a drip pan, which is a metal pan meant to catch water from the appliance, to make sure the pan is clear of old food and mold.

Your refrigerator is an enclosed, airtight space, so bad odors penetrate and taint the other items in the fridge. Breads easily pick up the scent and are inedible as well as open containers and other partially-covered items. Your groceries' scent and taste is affected by the odor's presence, wasting your money.

Not only is your food ruined and the opening of your fridge an unpleasant experience, but you may not catch a bad odor from a food you normally prep quickly, like some meats. Eating spoiled food makes you and members of your family sick from food poisoning.

Your fridge itself can be the problem. The insulation between the fridge walls may mold if you have a deep crack and moisture seeps in or if the chemical coolants leak. You must contact a professional if you suspect the bad smell is a problem with the fridge itself.

Keeping an open box of baking soda helps with fridge smells as the powder is a natural deodorant. Wash inside your fridge with a mix of baking soda and vinegar or an equal-parts vinegar and water solution. Vinegar is a deodorant that disinfects your fridge, and the smell from the vinegar usually does not linger. Empty and unplug your fridge if you wash the inside so you can air the unit out after to avoid trapping moisture and inviting mold. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends cleaning all of your shelves and drawers with a solution of bleach and water, but only use 1 tbsp. of bleach for every gallon of water.