Why Fridge Smells Like Dead Animal and What to Do About It
When one opens the fridge, they expect to find fresh food or even something delectable. But what happens when instead of this experience, all that greets you is an unpleasant and decaying smell? The odor can be so overpowering that one may feel like there is a dead animal somewhere in the house. This article will explain why your fridge smells like dead animal and, more importantly how to effectively solve this problem.
A bad smell emanating from your refrigerator could mean more than just an annoyance; it could indicate serious hygiene issues. It is also not just repulsive but can pollute your foods leading to health dangers. Understanding causes of these foul smells will be the first step towards having a fresher fridge.
Reasons Why Fridge Smells Like Dead Animal
The function of your refrigerator is to preserve food rather than produce stinky odors. In cases where your fridge smells like dead animal, it suggests that something has gone very wrong. Spoiled food, mold growth, broken refrigerators, refrigerator not cooling, or sometimes even dead rats stuck within the appliance are common culprits.
Spoiled Food: The Usual Suspect
One of the most frequent cause for a stinking fridge is usually expired foods; leftovers you forgot about, dairy products past their prime or rotting fruits and vegetables. Throwing away expired foods regularly aids in maintaining a refreshing smelling fridge.
Mold and Mildew: Hidden Culprits
Inside your refrigerator moisture could result into fungus or mildew which both can produce offensive odor. Mold grows on edibles such as containers inside fridges due to excess moister content. Regular cleaning alongside proper ventilation reduces chances of mold and mildew developing.
Mechanical Issues: A Less Obvious Cause
At times bad smells are not linked directly with food hence making it hard to identify where they are coming from. Mechanical issues like a blocked drain line or malfunctioning defrost systems cause stagnant water that become the breeding place for bacteria. Maintenance of your fridge to ensure it is in good working condition is important in preventing such cases.
Dead Rodents: An Unfortunate Possibility
In very few and unfortunate cases, a rodent may have crawled into the motor compartment of your fridge and died. Although this occurrence is rare, it leads to an extremely unpleasant smell which cannot be easily avoided. Therefore, one should handle the situation with care if they suspect that this is the case by possibly calling professional help to avoid any health risks.
How to Get Rid Of Fridge Smells Like Dead Animal Problem
Having known what could be behind such smells, let us look at some effective ways of eliminating them.
Conduct a Thorough Cleaning
The first step towards removing the odor is to clean your refrigerator thoroughly. Take out all food items and shelves and then clean all surfaces using baking soda mixed with water. Baking soda acts naturally as a deodorizer and can help get rid of odors. To address this issue:
Method 1: Bleach and Water Solution
Prepare the Solution: Mix one tablespoon of bleach with one gallon of water.
Fridge Cleaning: Take out all content from fridge and wash everything with bleach solution on each surface and shelf. Make sure to clean the surface of things thoroughly.
Rinse and Dry: Rinse the surfaces with fresh water and dry them with a clean cloth to prevent water spots.
Method 2: Vinegar and Water Solution
Prepare the Solution: Using a spray bottle, mix water in an equal quantity with white vinegar.
Clean the Fridge: When spraying it over all surfaces, let it sit for some time then wipe off using fresh cloth.
Rinse and Dry: All surfaces require rinsing with clean water before wiping them dry using a clean cloth.
Method 3: Baking Soda
Sprinkle Baking Soda: Place baking soda all over the inside of your refrigerator to cover its entire spaces evenly.
Leave Overnight: Let this sit overnight so that baking soda can absorb odors.
Vacuum or Wipe: Lastly, you may opt to vacuum or wipe down your surfaces removing any leftover soda as well as smells emanating due to chemical reactions between vinegar with baking soda in your ice box.
Method 4: Ground Coffee
Put Ground Coffee: You can put some open coffee containers (ground) in the fridge so they will absorb smell from your fridge compartment.
Leave for a while; leave for some hours or even overnight if possible allowing coffee absorb odors in fridges. During this period there is no need of washing anything away because these grounds are going to work as natural refreshers inside refrigerators’ compartments.
Remove and Clean: Take away the coffee and clean the refrigerator with a moist towel.
Method 5: Activated Charcoal
Place Activated Charcoal: Place activated charcoal in the refrigerator to absorb any odors.
Leave for a While: Leave for some hours or overnight if possible allowing charcoal before removing it from your fridge.
Remove and Clean: Finally, get rid of it then clean those surfaces by using damp cloth only.
Method 6: Kitty Litter
Place Kitty Litter: You can put kitty litter in the fridge so they will absorb smell from your fridge.
Leave for Awhile; if you keep it inside there even up to next morning (overnight), cat-litter is going to be chewing up all that scent right out of this space. This way no need washing away everything. Because these granules are natural deodorizers (refreshers) as they do not react chemically with things like plastic containers filled with old soup having remnants.
Remove and Clean: Take out the kitty litter and wash the fridge surface using a wet piece of cloth.
Method 7: Chlorine Dioxide (CI02)
Use Chlorine Dioxide; Use chlorine dioxide (CI02) that targets refrigeration odor elimination. For instructions on how to use, refer to manufacturer manual.
Leave for A While; just let’s CI02 remain in your freezer during recommendable time span required removing all smells coming out of it.
Remove and Clean: Take away CI02 and wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth.
Examine for Spoiled Food and Throw It Away
Look at all the food in your fridge. Any expired or spoilt food should be gotten rid of immediately. Also, ensure that you check other hidden areas such as corners where tiny stuffs are easily forgotten and rot.
To start with, examine your refrigerator and freezer for any expired or spoiled food. Discard anything that is bad to avoid contamination and smells.
Keep your freezer arranged nicely so you can easily find whatever you have left out. This will assist in identifying decomposed items early enough.
Clean the Drain Line
A clogged drain line can harbor bacteria growth because it provides stagnant water which is responsible for the odor when it gets to its final stage of decomposition.
To remove smell of dead animals or decaying meat from refrigerators, perform these procedures:
- Make sure that before starting this process there is no electricity connected to it by unplugging refrigerator.
- Identify the drain line, usually found at the bottom of the fridge or behind the back panel.
- Use a soft cloth or brush to remove any visible debris from the draining line.
- Mix equal amounts of water and white vinegar in a bowl. Submerge the drainage tube in this mixture and let it soak for some hours or overnight.
- Take a hosepipe or wet cloth to flush out all the vinegar solution from inside the drainage pipe.
- Dry off all moisture using a clean towel so that there’s no more water trapped within which could cause further problems with your unit.
- Examine your drain line for any signs of leakage or damage, you may have to consult an expert if necessary.
Possible Mechanical Culprits
A horrible smell similar to that of a dead animal coming from your refrigerator should be taken seriously. The following provides details on how one would check for mechanical issues which might explain their smell:
Defrost Drain Clog: This is where food particles and mold grow in ice defrost drains causing melted ice not to pass through them. This will make stagnant water that breeds bacteria and smells bad.
Evaporator Fan Failure: When working properly, an evaporator fan moves cold air around throughout your refrigerator, creating a kitchen that you love. In case it fails, temperature increases leading to spoilage of food as well as foul odors developing.
Frozen Drain Line: A frozen drain line can be responsible for melted ice not flowing down properly in frost-free refrigerators; hence causing problems similar to those experienced when one has blocked pipes.
Defective Condenser Coils: Contaminated/damaged condenser coils are not good for proper cooling of fridge and may lead to rotten foods as well as smelly ones too.
Sealed System Leak: Leaking refrigerant is also dangerous because apart from its strong fumes, it also affects cooling (leading to decay).
Inspection Steps:
Safety first! Before doing any inspection unplug refrigerator and empty its elements.
Find the drain hole at the back of your fridge, normally located towards the bottom. Look for a small plastic tray or pan that collects condensation.
Remove the drain pan and any visible debris. You may have to use a long pipe cleaner or turkey baster in order to clear a deep clog.
Find and open evaporator fan compartment (usually behind crispers). Look for damaged fan blades, dirt build up or any other form of debris on this part. Attempt spinning fan blades if they move freely when you push them they should be okay.
Check out how warm your drainage tube is around its compressor area (if accessible); it shouldn’t feel cold.
The condenser coils are usually located on the back of the fridge, either at the bottom or near the top. Check for dust, dirt or debris. Your vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment can help you clean them up
Important Notes:
Never attempt to repair sealed system leaks yourself – call a certified appliance repair technician!
If you aren’t sure about anything mentioned above then speak to an expert in appliance repairs.
Besides, even after a mechanical correction, several other cleaning steps and odor elimination procedures may be necessary.
Preventing Future Odors in Your Fridge
The moment you have been able to remove the smell, it’s important that you put some measures in place so that it does not come back again.
Regular Cleaning Schedule
It is important to set up an order for cleaning your fridge regularly. At least once a month clean shelves and drawers with mild soap and water to avoid mold and bacteria accumulation.
Proper Food Storage
Ensure all foodstuff are properly kept. Use air tight containers to prevent any spills or spoilage. Keep leftovers labelled by dates so as to know when they are still fresh or not; moreover throw them away in case there is need.
Monitor Temperature and Humidity
Maintaining your refrigerator at the right temperature and humidity can help deter spoilage and growth of mold. Most refrigerators should maintain 40°F (4°C) or lower for food safety reasons.
Conclusion
Smelling a refrigerator like a rotting corpse is definitely off-putting but this condition can be managed as well as prevented if handled correctly. Keeping a regular maintenance routine, extensive cleanliness, and proper food storage will keep your refrigerators smelling fresh without any smell. If you follow the above procedures, your fridge will always be its cool self free from stench where food remains safe from spoiling which could harm you too because of contamination.
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