Salvaging Refrigerators and Freezers

If you have an odor in your refrigerator or freezer that you can not eleminate, it is probably the built in drip pan, in frost free refrigerators and freezer there is a line that drains into a pan, in some cases these pans can be removed and cleaned others you may be able to flush… you will have to remove the back of the unit and feel around for it… a warning, if blood has dripped into it, it will be nasty. I know because before the storm we had accidently had the power off of our freezer for a week. My husband had cleaned it and still we had odor… finally he found the pan.

The following info helps too, we had good results using charcoal as described below:

If food has thawed in your refrigerator or freezer, you are probably facing an odor problem that hangs on even after the spoiled food is gone. Getting rid of this odor is likely to take time, patience and a combination of techniques.

Empty, clean and disinfect

Remove all food, unplug appliance and take out all removable parts. Empty the defrost water disposal pan (if it has one). Wash each part thoroughly with hot water and detergent. Rinse with a disinfectant solution (1 teaspoon chlorine bleach for each gallon of water). Wash the inside, including doors and gaskets, with a solution of hot water and baking soda. You can also try a solution of one cup vinegar or household ammonia to a gallon of warm water. Rinse.

Leave the door open for at least 15 minutes to air out. If you had a long power outage, this probably won’t be enough.

Disaster Information Series

Removing Odors From Your Refrigerator and Freezer After a Power Outage

If odor remains, repeatedly heat and ventilate the inside walls. Warm the inside walls with a portable convection heater (one that blows warm air), hair dryer or hot air popcorn popper. Do not use a heat source that can damage, and do not leave the heater unattended. Then turn off the heat and ventilate with a portable fan until the inside walls are cool. Repeat this process for several hours or until the odor is almost gone. If some odor remains, activated charcoal filters or a tray of loose activated carbon will absorb persistent odors. Look for it at drugstores, appliance service companies and hardware stores. If you can’t find activated carbon, you can use crushed charcoal (the kind used for barbecue grills), but it will not be as effective. Large servicing companies may recommend chemical deodorizers that are stronger than charcoal and last several months. Foods should be covered if such chemicals are used. Spread about 3 ounces of the fine powered charcoal on a sheet of aluminum foil or in a shallow pan, and place on the refrigerator or freezer shelf.

Odors--Refrigerator/Freezer If possible, run your freezer with nothing but the carbon in it for a couple of days. After 6 or 8 hours, heat the pan of loose charcoal in a moderate (350 degrees F) oven to reactivate the carbon so it can be reused. Put the charcoal back in the refrigerator and freezer. Repeat the process until the odor disappears.

Store food in sealed containers or wrappings Foods can be kept in the cleaned refrigerator with the charcoal. Even if traces of the odor remain, sealed food will not be affected. Refrigerate and freeze all food in sealed containers or secured freezer wrappings. When you take out a package, remove wrappings as soon as possible, and dispose of them immediately.

If nothing works If all these efforts don’t seem to help much, there may have been seepage into the walls of the freezer or refrigerator. If the insulation has gotten wet, the appliance may have to be discarded eventually because it may not only have persistent bad odors, but may also run continuously or frost up on the outside because of the ruined insulation. In some cases, it may be feasible to replace the wet insulation, but for most, a new energy-efficient refrigerator or freezer may be more cost-effective. For more information, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service office, listed under local government in the telephone directory.

Author: Dr. Claudette H. Reichel, Associate Specialist, Housing Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, H. Rouse Caffey, Chancellor Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, Jack L. Bagent, Vice Chancellor and Director Pub. 2527-Q (10M) 10/96 Rep.

And to quote an email I recived... this info:

"Take your fridge outside before you open it. It will be full of insects that will fly out to fill your home with misery. If you can't do that close the door to the kitchen. Personally I am buying new ones you never get rid of the smell no matter how hard you try."