Folks who lose power, after a storm or from another outage, are left with a lingering problem: refrigerator odor.
The smell from spoiled foods can remain even after the food has been removed. A good cleaning might solve the problem.
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Start by cleaning the refrigerator compartment thoroughly. Anne Field of Michigan State University Extension suggests this method: Unplug the appliance, remove all food and removable interior parts and wash the interior with a solution of 1 to 2 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water. Rinse and wipe dry.
Leave the door open and let the refrigerator air out well, with a fan directed toward the inside.
Field suggests washing removable shelves and other parts in a warm detergent solution. Don't put glass or plastic parts in hot water, she cautions. They may crack, especially if they're cold.
Clean the door gasket with a detergent solution.
Be careful not to use very hot water on the plastics used for interior parts of the refrigerator, because they may soften from the heat, Field says. Some household cleaners can damage the plastics, too.
Next, clean the freezer following the instructions from the appliance manual. If you don't have a manual, contact the manufacturer or look online.
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
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WAYS TO ABSORB/REMOVE ODORS
→Spread baking soda on shallow pans and place them on the shelves of the empty refrigerator to absorb odors. Leave the door open and the refrigerator unplugged.
→Spread activated carbon, also called activated charcoal, in shallow pans and place the pans on the shelves. Turn the refrigerator on low and run it empty a few days until the odors are absorbed.
→You can also try the same method with cat litter spread on shallow pans, several ounces of imitation vanilla (not pure vanilla extract) poured into a saucer or fresh ground coffee in cereal bowls. With the coffee method, a slight coffee odor may remain, but it can be removed by cleaning the refrigerator again with a baking soda solution.
→Pack each shelf of an empty refrigerator with crumpled newspaper. Set a cup of water on the top shelf or sprinkle the newspaper lightly with water. Allow the refrigerator to run for five or six days.
→Buy a commercial odor remover and follow the instructions exactly.
If none of the methods removes all the odor, Field says it probably has penetrated the insulation. An appliance service company can remove the liner and replace the insulation, but replacing the refrigerator might be a better choice.
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