5 ways to keep your fridge smelling fresh without using chemicals
Bothered by bad fridge odours that just won’t budge? Here are five natural solutions to keep the bad smell at bay without using harsh chemicals.
Fridge smells can be pretty nasty, can’t they? From ripe soft cheese to leftovers from the Sunday roast, the mix of scents can sometimes make you feel ill.
But help is at hand with our round-up of five all-natural ways to banish those horrible odours for good.
It is vital to first clean the fridge thoroughly before tackling bad smells. Unplug the fridge, wipe down all surfaces inside, check whether the temperature is correct, check whether any food has gone off, and check whether the drainage system is blocked.
If that doesn’t cut it, try one of these…
1. Ground coffee
A bowl of dry, fresh coffee grounds in the bottom of the fridge can help soak up any stubborn smells. Any bad odours should have disappeared within a few days. Not a fan of coffee? This technique also works with a bowl of dry oats or activated charcoal (which can be bought from pet shops.)
2. Baking soda
Baking soda and water makes a great natural cleaning solution and can be used on most surfaces throughout the home. Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge and wipe down the inside of the fridge. Like ground coffee, a small bowl of baking soda at the back of the fridge can also work to absorb odours and only needs to be changed every three months.
3. Vinegar
Like baking soda, vinegar makes a great household cleaner. For easy cleaning, fill a spray bottle with half white vinegar and half warm water and spritz the inside of your fridge. The vinegar will neutralise any bad smells and the acidity is great for breaking down any stubborn stuck-on food. Be sure to wipe down thoroughly afterwards to remove the strong vinegar smell.
4. Vanilla
A sweeter alternative to using vinegar, soak balls of cotton wool in vanilla extract and leave inside the fridge for a delicious scent.
5. Lemon
Place half a lemon face down inside your fridge for a few days (making sure to remove before the lemon goes off.) It will soak up any bad smells and replace them with a fresh, lemony scent! This also works well with orange peel. Alternatively, dab lemon juice onto the inside of the fridge using a sponge.
Keep those smells away for good by storing food correctly – make sure you use airtight containers, clean up any food spills and clean regularly.