Step by Step Guide to Removing Fridge Odours
Empty the fridge, bin anything past its date, then wash every shelf, drawer and the door seals with warm water and a splash of white vinegar. Dry thoroughly, wipe out the drain hole at the back of the fridge, and leave an open box of bicarbonate of soda inside. Most fridges smell fresh again within a couple of hours.
That covers the quick fix. If the smell keeps coming back, it usually means the odour has soaked into something porous, like a plastic drawer or a rubber seal, or there’s a blockage further back in the fridge you haven’t reached yet. This guide walks through both the fast clean and the causes people usually miss.
What you’ll need
– White vinegar
– Bicarbonate of soda (a full box, plus a spare for later)
– Washing-up liquid
– Warm water
– A microfibre cloth and an old toothbrush
– Cotton buds or a pipe cleaner (for the drain hole)
– A bin bag and kitchen roll
Why does my fridge smell even after I’ve cleaned it?
Nine times out of ten it’s the drain hole. Every fridge has a small drainage channel at the back of the interior, usually behind the salad drawers, that carries condensation down to a tray under or behind the appliance. Food debris and spilled juice trickle down there too, and once it’s blocked the water sits and turns rank. You can wipe the shelves every week and never touch the smell because the source is out of sight.
The other common culprit is porous plastic. Drawers and door bins are made from a slightly softer plastic than the shelves, and they absorb odours from things like onions, strong cheese or fish. A quick wipe won’t shift a refrigerator smell that’s soaked in over months.
How to remove fridge odours: step by step
1. Empty the whole fridge onto a worktop or table, checking use-by dates as you go. Bin anything sour, slimy or past its date straight away, ideally outside in an external bin rather than the kitchen bin.
2. Take out every removable part. Shelves, drawers, door bins and any dividers all come out on most models. Wash them in the sink with warm water and a squeeze of washing-up liquid, then rinse and leave to air dry completely before they go back in.
3. Wipe the interior walls and ceiling with a cloth dampened in a mix of one part white vinegar to three parts warm water. Vinegar neutralises odours rather than masking them, and it’s food-safe once wiped down.
4. Clean the door seals with an old toothbrush dipped in the vinegar solution, working into every fold. Mould and food residue collect in the rubber gasket more than anywhere else, and a mouldy seal will make the whole fridge smell musty no matter how clean the shelves are.
5. Find and clear the drain hole. Look behind the salad drawers for a small hole or slot in your refrigerator, sometimes with a channel running to it. Dip a cotton bud or pipe cleaner in warm water and gently work it through to dislodge any blockage. Some water may run through into the drip tray underneath or behind the fridge, so have kitchen roll ready.
6. Dry everything properly before reassembling. Damp surfaces in your refrigerator breed the bacteria that cause smells in the first place, so don’t rush this step.
7. Put the food back in, checking nothing leaking or unwrapped goes straight back onto a clean shelf. Wrap strong-smelling items like cheese or leftovers with a sauce in an airtight container.
8. Leave an odour absorber inside. An open box of bicarbonate of soda works well and lasts about a month before it needs replacing. A small bowl of used, dry coffee grounds or a handful of plain porridge oats in an open container does a similar job if you’d rather use what’s already in the cupboard.
My fridge has been switched off for a while and it reeks. What now?
This happens a lot with static caravans, second homes or after a house has been empty for a week or two over the holidays. Follow the same cleaning steps above, but before you plug it back in, leave the door propped open with the bicarbonate of soda inside for at least a full day. If the smell is still strong after that, wipe the interior again with the vinegar solution, then leave a few sheets of scrunched-up newspaper inside overnight. Newspaper is surprisingly good at pulling stubborn smells out of an enclosed space. Only switch the fridge back on once it’s completely dry inside.
How often should you do this?
A full clean-out every four to six weeks keeps most fridges and freezers smell-free, with a quick wipe of shelves and any spills as soon as they happen. Check the drain hole every time you deep clean, since it blocks quietly and you won’t notice until the smell returns. If you store strong foods like fish, garlic or ripe cheese regularly in your refrigerator, replace your bicarbonate of soda box monthly rather than leaving it until it stops working to avoid bad smells.
Mistakes to avoid
Don’t mix bleach with any other cleaning product, including vinegar, as the combination can release harmful fumes. Avoid scented sprays or air fresheners inside the fridge; they mask the smell temporarily and the fragrance chemicals can taint food, especially butter and soft cheese. Don’t scrub door seals with anything abrasive, as a torn seal lets warm air in and makes the fridge work harder, which can shorten its life. Finally, resist the urge to skip drying the interior of your fridge before switching it back on, since trapped moisture is exactly what caused the refrigerator smell to begin with.
Frequently asked questions
Does baking soda actually work for fridge smells?
Yes, but only as an ongoing absorber rather than an instant fix. Bicarbonate of soda pulls odour molecules out of the air over hours and days, so it’s best left in an open box after you’ve already cleaned the source of the smell, not used on its own to solve a strong existing odour.
Can I use bleach to clean my fridge?
Diluted bleach can be used on hard, non-porous surfaces if you rinse thoroughly afterwards, but most people find white vinegar does the job just as well without the risk of lingering chemical taste on food. Never mix bleach with vinegar or any ammonia-based product, as this produces dangerous fumes.
Why does my fridge smell like rotten eggs or gas?
This is worth taking seriously. A strong sulphurous or gas-like smell can mean spoiled food such as eggs or dairy, but it can occasionally point to a fault with the appliance itself. If a thorough clean doesn’t shift the smell within a day, get the fridge checked rather than continuing to use it.
How do I stop my fridge smelling after a power cut?
Clean it as you would for a fridge that’s been switched off, focusing on anything that may have spoiled during the outage. Bin any meat, dairy or leftovers that were above 8°C for more than two hours, since food safety matters more than the smell itself here.
What’s the fastest way to freshen a fridge before guests arrive?
Wipe down the shelves and door seals with the vinegar solution, empty and check the drain hole, then leave a bowl of fresh coffee grounds inside for an hour with the door shut. It won’t replace a full clean but it will noticeably freshen the air in under an hour.
If your fridge, and the rest of the kitchen, could do with more than a quick freshen-up, our guides to cleaning a washing machine and tackling a burnt pan cover two more kitchen jobs people put off for too long. Or if you’d rather hand the whole kitchen over to someone else for a few hours, search your postcode to see who’s available near you.
