Freezer Odor Remedies

Clean the Freezer

• Before you clean your freezer, put all your frozen foods in a cooler with ice. Set the freezer to the defrost setting to remove large pieces of ice. If you do not have a defrost setting, unplug the appliance and place pans of hot water inside. Soak up the excess water with towels when the ice defrosts. If frost remains, scrape it out carefully with a plastic scraper. When you are ready to clean the freezer, combine 1 tbsp. of baking soda with 1 quart of warm water and wipe the interior of the freezer. Allow the freezer to dry and turn the appliance on for 30 minutes before you reload the food.

Coffee Grounds

• When a freezer has a musty or odd odor, you can deodorize the appliance with dry coffee grounds. Simply fill an old container or bowl with the coffee grounds, place the coffee grounds in a location where you will not disturb them and shut the freezer door. The freezer may have a slight coffee scent, but the musty odor will be gone. Once you remove the odor, discard the coffee grounds the following day or replace them weekly to keep your freezer smelling fresh.

Activated Charcoal

• Activated charcoal effectively absorbs odors in the freezer. Always unplug the freezer and remove the stored food before you use the charcoal. Put the activated charcoal in a shallow pan and set it in the bottom of the freezer. It may take three to four days for the charcoal to work, so you may need to store your food in a neighbor’s freezer. Inspect the freezer daily to determine if the odor remains. Once you remove the odor, rinse the inside of the freezer with 1 cup of vinegar mixed with 1 gallon of warm water. Dry the inside of the freezer with a towel and turn the appliance back on for 15 to 30 minutes before you replace the food.

Newspapers

• Newspapers absorb the moisture and smells inside freezers. For the newspaper to be effective, you must turn the freezer off and empty it of food. Crumple sheets of newspaper and stuff them inside the freezer. Fill all compartments of the freezer with the newspapers and shut the door. Once you fill the freezer with newspapers, let them sit in the appliance for up to 48 hours. The addition of baking soda or activated charcoal may make the newspapers more effective at removing the odors.

Contact Manufacturer

• Sometimes foods and liquids can get into the insulation of the freezer and leave behind an unpleasant smell. The manufacturer may have recommendations for removing the smell from the freezer or may recommend a professional who can take the freezer apart and clean it properly. Usually when odors penetrate the insulation in freezers, the appliance needs to be discarded and replaced. If you discard the freezer, always remove the doors or place a padlock around the appliance to prevent children from accidentally shutting themselves inside.