What can you do to get rid of strong food odors in your freezer?

Answer

Remove all items from refrigerator or freezer. Throw out any spoiled foods. Take out removable parts and wash them and door gasket with mild detergent in warm water. Rinse well and wipe dry.

or

Wash interior walls and door liner with solution of 1-2 tablespoonsful of baking soda to 1 quart warm water, and wipe dry. Leave door open and let it air out well, with a fan directed toward inside, and opened windows if climate permits.

If odor still remains, try one or all of the following:

Spread baking soda out on shallow pans (like shallow glass casseroles, pie plates, or jelly roll pans lined with foil) and put pans on shelves to absorb odors, or on the bottom and in baskets of chest freezer. Leave open and unplugged.

Buy activated charcoal (which is specially treated to remove odor molecules from air) at some department store housewares sections, appliance store, or pet shop. Spread out on shallow pans and put on shelves of refrigerator. Turn refrigerator on low setting and run empty a few days so odors will be absorbed.

Spread cat litter in shallow pan in cabinet, turn on and run empty a few days. If odor is disappearing but is not all gone, replace old litter with fresh litter.

Pour several ounces imitation vanilla (not pure extract) in a shallow saucer, put on shelf and let run empty a few days.

Put fresh ground coffee in cereal bowls inside the refrigerator and let run empty several days. A slight coffee odor may remain, but will disappear after washing again with baking soda solution.

Pack each refrigerator shelf with crumpled newspaper. Set a cup of water on the top shelf or sprinkle the newspaper lightly with water. Allow refrigerator to run for approximately 5-6 days. This method takes a bit longer but has been effective in removal of strong odors.

Buy a commercial odor remover, and follow instructions exactly. Several companies manufacture a liquid concentrate which sells for about $3.00 for 1/4 to 1/2 ounce. A couple drops are put on a piece of cotton and placed in the area to absorb odors, in the cabinet or in a room.

[Info from the Home Maintenance And Repair Database at the Michigan State University website]

Another solution that is perhaps the easiest and will save you time and money. Product called Fridge-IT activated odor absorbers made for this job. The specialized activated carbon and ventilated filter eliminates the worst refrigerator and freezer odors. Available from Innofresh Products at customerservice@innofresh.com . Provides superior odor elimination. Fragrance free.
www.innofresh.com

First answer by JenJJ. Last edit by JenJJ. Contributor trust: 2 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 142 [recommend question]