Stubborn, unpleasant smells coming from your refrigerator can be more than just a nuisance; they can taint your food and make every kitchen visit unpleasant. While it's easy to overlook this essential appliance during a cleaning spree, maintaining its hygiene is crucial for food safety and freshness.
Professional Cleaner's Top Four Smell-Busting Hacks
Fortunately, tackling these lingering odours doesn't require expensive products. A professional cleaner from Zapatas Cleaning Services, known as Kellsie, has shared her four favourite tricks to combat bad smells around the home in a TikTok video. She insists these methods work far better than masking scents with candles or sprays and are quick fixes you can try immediately.
Kellsie stated: "As a pro cleaner, these are four tricks I swear by for smelly spots in the home. They work way better than candles or sprays and they're quick fixes you can try today."
Fridges are prone to spills and forgotten leftovers, and if shelves and interiors aren't cleaned properly, persistent odours can take hold. If simply removing spoiled food doesn't solve the problem, a thorough deep clean is the next step. This involves removing all shelves and drawers for a proper wipe-down.
The Secret Weapon: Vanilla Extract
Kellsie revealed that her secret weapon against fridge smells is a common baking staple: vanilla extract. Her method is simple: mix two tablespoons of vanilla extract with one and a half cups of water in a spray bottle.
Use this solution to wipe down every interior surface with a kitchen towel or microfibre cloth, but crucially, do not rinse it off. "Vanilla keeps deodorising, so your fridge smells fresh long after you're done cleaning," Kellsie advised. However, experts like Nielsen-Massey, a food extract producer, caution that vanilla extract is primarily for baking. They suggest using just a few drops on a sponge for a more potent fragrance if using it for odour control.
Natural Alternatives for a Chemical-Free Clean
For those who prefer to avoid any specialist products, there are effective natural alternatives. The experts at Delish recommend a combination of lemon, baking soda, and salt.
Their advice is: "If you open a box of baking soda, let it sit in your fridge and it's not absorbing those aromas, slice some lemon and sprinkle it with baking soda and salt, and let them sit on a plate in the fridge. That should do the trick."
This works because baking soda is a powerful, alkaline odour neutraliser. It chemically reacts with acidic smells, altering their pH and creating a less smelly compound. Lemon, rich in citric acid, complements this by cutting through grease and bacteria, acting as a natural antibacterial and bleaching agent. Together, they offer a versatile, eco-friendly cleaning solution.
By incorporating these simple hacks from cleaning professionals, you can ensure your fridge remains odour-free, hygienic, and your food tastes exactly as it should.
