491948 Thu Feb 21 12:03:02 -0800 2008 22 41 Cookware 0 3421245 HELP! I have this horrible odor coming from ym refrigerator and freezer. We have taken everythingout of the freezer, cleaned it well, (it's frost-free), and put everything back. The power has not been out, the food in the freezer never defrosted. Nothing that came out of the freezer smelled bad. The refrigerator part is used only for sodas and drinks, no food has ever been stored in there. we have pulled the unit away from the wall to check for the dreaded dead animal (Yuck), and we have flushed the drain with a clorox solution. Having said all that, short of just trashing the refrigerator, can anyone offer any suugestions? The room in which the fridge is in only smells if the fridge is open, so that rules out a dead animal in the wall ( I guess?). My other questions is that I'm having dinner for 16 at my house on Saturday and am serving lasagna. I was hoping to make the lasagnas Saturday morning, then store them (in this fridge as there will be no room in the main fridge) until I cook them Saturday night. Will they absorb this foul odor assuming it's not yet gone? Could it affect the taste? I'm am also making a pastry dessert that I was hoping to also store o in there until I cook it Saturday night. Any suggestions????? Thu Feb 21 12:03:02 -0800 2008 141247 LCSteiner 1 3422634 I'm concerned no one's answered your post and and that you're going to store the lasagnes in the fridge. I don't have any answers to your problem but if the odor is truly horrible, then don't do it. Why risk it? I'm pretty sensitive to food absorbing fridge odors, and even though lasagne is pretty hardy, I'd be afraid to ruin food you were planning on serving to guests. And please, DON'T store the pastry in there. Try calling your friendly neighborhood appliance store and get their input on what's going on with your fridge. Maybe you could store the food in a very good cooler/ice chest or at a neighbor's house. Thu Feb 21 18:36:25 -0800 2008 3421245 123357 charlesbois 1 3422698 My first thought was that there is something (dead) in the space at the bottom of the refrigerator. You might have to take off a panel at the front or back. It's where you go to clean the dust out of the mechanism. The other thought I had is that at some time or other the unit got turned off long enough for something to have gone bad in the freezer. Too bad you don't have a frozen back porch. That's where I'm storing. Thu Feb 21 18:55:47 -0800 2008 3421245 10743 yayadave 2 3423594 Exactly. That happened to my parents once. We had this horrific stench (smelled like bad vomit) for a while by the fridge. They couldn't find anything in it. The stench eventually dissipated. Months later my mom was doing a thorough cleaning of the fridge and took off the bottom panel to clean it out. She screamed as she came up with a dead mouse shell (the body part rotted away). Seriously, take the fridge apart and really do a thorough check. And I find that activated carbon works better for absorbing odors than baking soda. Fri Feb 22 07:11:33 -0800 2008 3422698 10763 Miss Needle 1 3422734 My parents had a problem with a fridge odor, and it ended up being mildew on the coils. They were never able to completely get rid of the smell, and can only keep bottled and canned beverages in there now (they've moved it to the garage now). Call a repair place, and see if they have any suggestions. Thu Feb 21 19:12:32 -0800 2008 3421245 124908 jeanmarieok 1 3422785 Always keep a box of Arm and Hammer baking soda in the fridge, with the lid torn off...if you are trying to get rid of some smells, I would put several shallow bowls of it in there. It works wonders Thu Feb 21 19:34:01 -0800 2008 3421245 12296 steakman55 2 3425009 Baking soda doesn't absorb orders in the refrigerator. I believe the whole idea was perpetuated by Arm and Hammer on the side of the box to sell more baking soda. Fri Feb 22 13:03:32 -0800 2008 3422785 10195 KTinNYC 3 3426361 Oh no, really? I fell for it. There's a box in there now. Fri Feb 22 20:56:29 -0800 2008 3425009 127625 fern 4 3427148 Here is link explaining the science and don't feel bad about falling for the marketing. I'm pretty sure I have a box in my fridge from when I moved into my apartment 5 years ago... http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00388.htm Sat Feb 23 09:16:14 -0800 2008 3426361 10195 KTinNYC 1 3423454 I had the problem of an electrical failure while out of town for two weeks so the rotten food created an odor in the refrigerator that was truly obnoxious. Unfortunately it was told that it gets into the insulation and cannot be removed. I tried everything including the baking soda and nothing worked. After the fact there was one solution I was told might be successful which was too stuff the refrigerator with crumpled newspaper. The ink apparently absorbs odor. Good luck. Fri Feb 22 06:23:17 -0800 2008 3421245 112335 mexivilla 1 3423743 Thanks to all who responded. I have tried taking the fridge apart, no dead animal (luckily). I have tried baking soda, no luck there. I am going to the pet store to buy some activated carbon, then to the grocery to buy coffee gorunds. Surely, between all of that even if the smell doesn't subside I will have filled it with enough good smelling stuff to overcome it. And thanks about the advice on the lasagna and pastry. I was very worried about that, so I think I will follow your advice and just not store it there. I can put some of the stuff from the regular fridge into coolers so I will have room for the lasagnaa and dessert. I will let you know how the carbon and coffee work. Keep your fingers crossed! Fri Feb 22 07:59:15 -0800 2008 3421245 141247 LCSteiner 2 3425435 Triple wrap the lasagnes (all the way around, bottom too) with heavy duty plastic wrap AND then a full wrapping of aluminum foil. You will not have odors on the food if you do that. Fri Feb 22 15:01:20 -0800 2008 3423743 28006 Jennalynn 2 3426094 Make sure you let us know how things turn out????? Have yu tried unplugging the fridge and letting it thaw out? With coffee grounds inside? Or carbon....Whatever.... Fri Feb 22 18:52:46 -0800 2008 3423743 49815 troutpoint 1 3423758 This happened to me once, and the source was actually a loaf of bread (an artisan loaf with less preservatives) that had gone mouldy while sitting on the counter. My husband unknowingly threw it in the freezer thinking we'd use later for something or other. The mould spores permeated the freezer and the fridge due to the circulation. We had the hardest time figuring out what it was, because the bread was in a brown paper bag, and is not a usual suspect. Everything we put in the fridge picked up the smell. Baking soda didn't really help. What worked was *multiple* wipings of all fridge interior surfaces with a bleach and water mixture. And time. I think it took a few weeks to get back to normal. Ugh. Fri Feb 22 08:05:21 -0800 2008 3421245 14721 Tara9000 1 3425211 You might try putting several charcoal briquettes on a paper plate or disposable pie tin into the fridge--more effective than the baking soda trick. Fri Feb 22 13:54:03 -0800 2008 3421245 164177 Erika L 1 3425366 Remember to clean the gasket thoroughly, too. Some fridge gaskets have pleats in them that can harbor stinky stuff quite easily. Fri Feb 22 14:43:02 -0800 2008 3421245 13700 ricepad 1 3425419 Many fridges have trays that collect condensation (and spillage) mounted underneath the fridge. Have a look to see if its contents have gone moldy and gross. Fri Feb 22 14:56:48 -0800 2008 3421245 145820 fmed 1 3426124 I've found that putting some charcoal pieces in a brown paper bag left open in the back of my fridge has been the best way to eliminate odors. Even when I stuff my fridge with food (onions too!) as long as I have my charcoal packet in there it doesn't smell at all. Good luck! Fri Feb 22 19:05:47 -0800 2008 3421245 46458 empecot 1 3426288 have you checked where the light bulb is? Fri Feb 22 20:18:05 -0800 2008 3421245 11290 jfood 1 3426417 ym is MY reversed. Fri Feb 22 21:32:37 -0800 2008 3426337 10797 beany 1 3426365 Does the odor smell like amonia? Maybe there is something wrong with your refrigerant? Fri Feb 22 20:57:58 -0800 2008 3421245 11583 ipsedixit 1 3433055 If the stench only is noticeable when the fridge door is open that gives a big hint as to where to concentrate your efforts. My guess is that something has spilled down into a hidden area of the fridge. If you take all the shelves out you will find that the drawers/bins can also be removed. Every fridge that I've seen has some odd spaces under/behind these bins. Often there are panels that hide things like the light bulbs and/or water cooling loops (for Ice & Water through the door). There are ducts and fans that move the cool air from the freezer to the top or bottom of the fridge. If a spill gets blown into such a duct it takes much effort to remove the grates and access the source of the problem. There can be a condensate drain that may be plugged. If even regular old milk/cream gets spilled into there it'll get transformed into something not unlike Limberger cheese. You have to disassemble all that hardware and wash the whole area out with a diluted bleach solution. Be sure to DRY the entire interior or the left over moisture will be a nightmare to deal with. Once everything is spotlessly clean I'd leave the shelves and bins out but shut the door with the unit set to cool for a few hours -- that will be the trial to verify that nothing was missed in a hidden duct or behind a service panel.' Good Luck! Mon Feb 25 12:09:19 -0800 2008 3421245 87093 renov8r 1 3434691 Have you already solved the mystery smell? Not sure what kind of fridge you have, but a friend had a similar situation. Turned out that she had some very lovely cheeses (can't remember the types) that had never smelled up the entire fridge and room when door was opened before. The fridge had individual compartments for produce, cheese, meat, etc. A visiting relative had turned the temp in the cheese drawer so that entirely too much humidity was happening in there, and placed some of the produce in there as well. That combo appeared to have caused the smell. My friend re-adjusted all the temps and separated the produce and cheese and voila! smell gone. And I can attest, everytime the door was open before she tried this, the smell was HORRIBLE. Mon Feb 25 19:35:30 -0800 2008 3421245 153308 souvenir