How to Fix a Smell in the Fridge

Remove expired, outdated, rotten and molded food from the refrigerator. Toss these items into a trash bag. Repeat this process once a week the night before your scheduled garbage pickup.

Set the temperature dial located inside the fridge to the off position. Place perishable items inside an ice-filled cooler to keep them safe during the cleaning process.

Fill a sink with warm, soapy water. Remove shelving inside the fridge and submerge in the soapy water. Scrub stuck on food and grime off the shelves with a nylon scrubber. Rinse with water and wipe dry with a towel.

Pour 1 gallon of warm water into a plastic bucket. Add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and 1 tsp. of clear dish soap. Mix the contents together for several seconds with a long-handled spoon. Pour 1 gallon of water into another plastic bucket.

Dampen a sponge or clean cloth in the soapy mixture. Begin scrubbing the inside of the fridge clean with the damp sponge. Start at the top and work your way down. Rinse the sponge clean in the bucket filled with water when soiled.

Remove the soapy residue with a cloth dampened in cool water. Wipe the inside of the fridge dry with a lint-free towel.

Turn the refrigerator temperature dial back to the on position. Replace the shelving and food back inside the fridge.

Open a new box of baking soda and sit it inside the fridge. The baking soda will absorb odors and help keep the appliance smelling fresh and cleaning. Replace the box of baking soda every 30 days.