“Cleaning and organizing is a practice, not a project.”
— Meagan Francis
Hey, joyful homemaker!
We’ve all dealt with a stinky fridge at some point. Maybe life got hectic and you forgot about those leftovers hiding in the back, or perhaps you took an unexpected trip and came home to the unpleasant surprise of spoiled food.
Lately, my refrigerator has been the focus of my obsession. Honestly, I hated opening it—seeing all the clutter and catching a whiff of something funky coming from old leftovers (yikes!). That’s when I knew it was time for a deep clean.
So, I rolled up my sleeves and dove into finding natural, effective ways to freshen things up and banish those stubborn odors. And let me tell you—mission accomplished!
If you’re looking for natural, toxin-free ways to clean your fridge without relying on harsh chemical products, you’re in the right place—keep reading!
Causes of Fridge Smells
Before you try to remedy the fridge smell, let’s dive deep into the causes of these funky odors.
1. Spoiled Food
I hope you haven’t forgotten those cheese and onion in your fridge that have been sitting there for a few days now. Otherwise, they’ll stink – if they haven’t already!
Bacteria thrive in spoiled food. When you open the fridge and see something rotting or decomposing and smell that nasty odor, you can almost be sure you’ve left something in the fridge for far too long.
Spoiled and contaminated food is one of the leading causes of your fridge’s offending odor. The most notorious products that get spoiled quickly are dairy products, such as milk and cheese, meat, and certain types of fruits and vegetables.
You must check the products’ expiration dates and consume them before they go bad. Also, store your produce in their proper places. Some of them, such as potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic, bananas, and avocados, are best stored outside the fridge.
2. Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew love cold, damp places—making the inside of your fridge a perfect hangout spot! Moisture from spills or uncovered food containers creates the ideal environment for them to grow. The worst part? They release spores that spread throughout your fridge, causing that unmistakable musty smell.
A moldy fridge doesn’t just smell bad—it can actually contaminate your food. Since mold and mildew feed on organic matter, any spill, leak, or spoiled item can quickly become a source of even more odor. And yes, that also means your food may no longer be safe to eat. Gross, right?
3. Spills and Leaks
Spills and leaks are also culprits that make your fridge smell nasty. Imagine rushing one morning and spilling milk at the bottom of the fridge. You swore you’d clean it when you got the kids out the door. But you got busy with other things and never got to address the spilled milk.
Left unattended, spills and leaks can be more than an inconvenience. Over time, bacteria, mold, and mildew will thrive in them, making the inside of your fridge smell awful. Cleaning the surface won’t work, as those sticky residues can still become a breeding ground for bacteria.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Fridge Smells
Your fridge is a hard-working appliance that works all hours of the day. So when it smells nasty or has become dirty, it’s only fitting to clean it thoroughly and eliminate the stench.
Deep Cleaning The Fridge with natural ingredients
Set aside your commercial cleaners (the bleach, specifically) because you can deep clean the fridge without any harsh and toxic chemicals.
First, unplug the fridge and take out all the contents of your fridge. You can put your meat and other perishables in a cooler with ice to keep them cool while you clean.
Next, take out all the shelves and drawers. Give them a good wash, removing all the spills and stains. Let them dry on a rack, and clean the entire fridge.
Now, prepare your natural, homemade fridge cleaner. Pour equal amounts of water and white vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray the insides of your fridge with this solution. Wipe all the stains with a microfiber cloth or soft sponge and spills until your fridge is clean and pristine. You may need to soak stubborn spills and stains for a few minutes before wiping them.
Alternatively, you can use the powerful cleaning duo: baking soda + white vinegar. Pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle. Sprinkle baking soda over the spills and stains, then spritz with white vinegar. After a few minutes, wipe them down until all spills and stains are removed. Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe down all the residue from the vinegar and baking soda.
Clean the doors, handles, and even the outside of your fridge. You can wet an old toothbrush or cotton swab with the vinegar solution and clean hard-to-reach stains for narrow crooks and crannies.
Finally, assemble your fridge. Return the shelves and drawers to their proper positions. Place your food back into the fridge. Make sure to check the expiration labels and throw away products that have already gone bad.
Check the coils, drip pan and filters
Certain parts of the fridge, such as the coils, drip pan and filters may collect moisture, dirt and dust that also contribute to its offending stink. Cleaning the drip pan should be routinely included when you’re deep cleaning the fridge. Also check and clean the coils and filters every six months and clean them. Dirty coils and filters do not just contribute to bad odor, but also cause your fridge to run improperly. Refer to your product manual to locate and clean them properly.
Use Natural Fridge Deodorizers
Now that you have cleaned your fridge, you’ll want to prevent the nasty odors from returning. You can use several natural fridge deodorizers to absorb foul odors and keep your fridge smelling fresh.
- Baking Soda - this powerful deodorizer effectively absorbs odor inside your fridge. To do this, sprinkle baking soda over a large, flat container (like a baking sheet) and let it sit inside your fridge. You can also sprinkle a few drops of vanilla essential oil into the baking soda to give your fridge an even more wonderful scent. Replace the baking soda every few weeks or as needed.
- Activated charcoal - This effective deodorizer is also used in other applications, such as water filtration systems and aquariums. Activated charcoal is pure carbon, a porous substance that absorbs organic molecules in the air. Place activated charcoal inside an open container and put it inside the fridge. Over time, activated charcoal will trap odor-causing molecules inside your fresh and keep it smelling clean.
- Coffee Grounds - Do you love the smell of coffee? You’re in for a treat because you’ll enjoy this aroma when you open your fridge. Coffee is another natural odor neutralizer you can safely use inside your fridge. Just like activated charcoal, coffee grounds work by trapping odor-causing molecules. Simply put coffee grounds on a dish and place it inside the fridge. It should have deodorized your fridge overnight so you can take out the coffee grounds and use it as a fertilizer.
- Citrus - Lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruits contain acids that break down molecules that cause unpleasant odors inside your fridge. Not only are citrus excellent deodorizers, but they also have antibacterial properties that help inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria. Simply put sliced citrus in a dish and place it inside your fridge for a clean and fresh scent. Discard old and dry slices and replace them with new ones as needed.
- Oatmeal - Using oats is another fantastic way to deodorize unpleasant fridge smells naturally. Oatmeal absorbs excess moisture in the fridge, making the environment less humid, which also helps in preventing molds and bacteria. Oatmeal releases a mild scent that masks nasty odors. Simply pour oatmeal into a mesh bag or sprinkle it on a plate and place it inside the fridge.
- Vinegar - Our favorite natural cleaning product, white vinegar, also does a great job in freshening the fridge. Its acidic properties help neutralize odors inside the fridge. Soak cotton balls or a clean cloth in distilled white vinegar and place them inside the fridge. Initially, vinegar’s smell is pungent, but it dissipates over time and freshens the fridge over time.
- Newspaper - Using newspaper to get rid of fridge smells may be a less popular method, but it’s nonetheless effective. Crumple up old newspaper into balls that put them in between shelves and drawers. Let the old newspapers sit there overnight, allowing them to absorb the stench. For severe fridge smells, you may have to redo this process a few more times until you’ve gotten rid of the bad odor.
How to Prevent Nasty Fridge Odors
Keeping your fridge away from offending odors needs effort. If you practice these regularly, you’ll settle into a routine that prevents fridge odors from recurring.
1. Deep clean regularly
Your fridge is a hardworking piece of equipment in your house, so show it some love by giving it a deep clean every couple of weeks. Always clean the drip pan to remove any moisture build-up that causes foul odors. Return to our fridge deep-cleaning procedure above, and use natural or homemade cleaners only.
2. Discard expired products / spoiled food
Regularly take inventory of your fridge and discard expired products and spoiled food. Wilted vegetables, rotten fruits, and leftovers that look bad or smell must be removed. Doing this routine also helps you catch food products that are near their expiration date, giving you the chance to use or consume them before they go bad.
3. Set the correct temperature
Putting your fridge at the correct temperature can prevent mold and bacteria. You can set the temperature to four degrees Celcius or below to be safe. However, specific food products need specific temperatures to preserve their life shelf. Read this article for your reference.
4. Keep your fridge organized
A messy fridge can make it prone for you to knock things down accidentally, causing leaks and spills. It is best to organize your items together according to type. Also, do not keep your fridge too crowded, as it restricts airflow.
5. Store food properly
Practicing proper food storage is critical in preventing foul odors in your fridge. Store your leftovers inside airlock containers or sealed bags. Portion your meat and store it in sealed bags before putting them in the freezer to prevent leakages. Always ensure that caps and lids in condiments and drinks are all tightened.
6. Clean spills right away
Cleaning spills as they happen can prevent a bigger mess from happening. Spilled juices, milk or condiments that’s left for too long allow for mold and bacteria to thrive in them, causing nasty smells. Apart from the bad odor, the spores from mold and mildew may float inside the fridge and contaminate other food.
Giving spills a quick wipe prevent them building and caking inside the fridge. Once these stains are hardened up, they become tougher to clean. So instead of turning a blind eye to those spills, clean them up promptly to save yourself from bigger trouble down the road.
7. Use freshening agents
Putting natural fridge deodorizers like baking soda, citrus slices, and ground coffee inside your fridge effortlessly drives foul odor away and keeps your fridge fresh-smelling!
Key Takeaways
A clean, fresh-smelling fridge really does make a difference—not just in your kitchen, but in how you feel every time you open it. It might seem like a small task, but staying on top of it (even just once a month!) can save you time, money, and unnecessary stress.
Remember, you don’t need fancy products or harsh chemicals to keep your fridge in tip-top shape. With a few natural ingredients and a little effort, you can easily banish bad odors and enjoy a fridge that looks—and smells—amazing.
So if your fridge has been on your mental to-do list (like mine was for weeks!), take this as your sign to finally tackle it. Trust me, once it’s done, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
You’ve got this—and your future self will thank you.
“Cleaning and organizing is a practice, not a project.” — Meagan Francis
