Nobody wants a smelly fridge. This seems to be one of the most common problems of refrigerators nowadays. Aside from the fact that it’s irritating to the nose, it is most likely unhygienic and unsafe for the food we eat.
LG, one of the top manufacturers of high-end refrigerators, gives us quick tips on how to beat the unwanted smell.
Use activated charcoal. Forget baking soda and use activated charcoal to deodorize your fridge. Activated charcoal helps neutralize unwanted odors. It helps eliminate the bad smell brought about by molds and mildew. Activated charcoal is available on online stores and some local pharmacies.
Wash the removable parts. Some parts of your fridge are detachable. The interior shelves, for example, can be removed from the inside for sterilization purposes. When doing this, make sure to allow these parts to adjust to the normal room temperature before throwing them directly to warm or hot water. Throwing out freezing plastic or glass parts directly into warm water may cause them to break due to thermal shock.
Also, to ensure that the components of your fridge are free from dirt build-up, always follow a strict maintenance routine. Dirty shelves lead to germ growth and may cause unwanted odors.
Use vinegar for fishy odors. For refrigerators reeking with fishy odors, consider mixing parts of vinegar with water and lemon juice. Place the solution in a spray bottle and use it to deodorize the insides of your refrigerator. Vinegar is a good deodorizing agent and is very effective against fishy smells.
Try the old fashion way – newspapers. One classic way to remove odors from your freezer is through the use of newspapers. You can place stacks of crumpled newspaper in vacant sections of your equipment. Change it daily until the odors are gone. It may be a tedious task, but it is effective. Run with the method for a straight week to get the best results.
Be gentle on your equipment. Consider using a mild detergent on your LG refrigerator. Harsh detergents may cause damage to your item. Soft sponges are a good choice for cleaning. Using rough cleaners may cause unwanted scratches in your fridge’s surfaces. Refrain from using steel wool or any type of abrasive cleaners.
Clean the door gasket regularly. If you have noticed, within the frame of refrigerator doors, there is a flexible elastic strip that helps the fridge shut tight. This is called the gasket. The primary function of the gasket is to produce an airtight seal that helps trap the cool air inside the fridge and away from the external environment.
In most cases, gaskets become damaged due to a lack of maintenance. This, in turn, affects the functionality of your refrigerator. Make sure to clean the gasket regularly to ensure a tight seal. You can use a clean sponge to wipe away excess dirt.
Try commercial disinfectants or deodorizers. Commercial disinfectants and deodorizers are readily available in the market. Most are sold online, in the hardware and supermarkets.
Modern refrigerators that are easier to clean and maintain are available in the market. Some of these have features that help you save energy and minimize food spoilage.
Emcor has a number of LG refrigerators that you can choose from, depending on your needs. Click here to view them:
References:
https://www.lg.com/ca_en/support/product-help/CT20098040-1351179562915-maintenance
https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/hardware/refrigerator-gasket-replacement/
https://food.unl.edu/solving-odor-problems-your-refrigerator-or-freezer