Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

BLEACH in a fridge??

118 replies

Talkabtit101 · 24/02/2025 04:39

Bought a second hand fridge yesterday off marketplace, just moved home and couldn't afford one brand new, came delivered all was well, I opened the fridge and my nose burned from the chlorine smell, I asked if they'd used bleach in it and they said " we have to use something to stop it from smelling "

Fair enough this is absolutely fine, but how on earth do I get rid of the smell of bleach, I understand I have to clean it but how many rinses would one have to do with dettol and hot water to ensure there is 0 residue left behind.

I wouldn't usually mind but this fridge has a water dispenser, so the use of bleach in the fridge has got me a little wound

Aibu to think they could've possible not used bleach on the bloody fridge, surely there would've been another alternative, with the way it smells too, it isn't even diluted bleach, just as though they've poured from a thick bleach bottle right on it.

AND how do I now remove it

OP posts:
SaltedPotato · 24/02/2025 08:31

When our fridge had a smell I bought a large syringe off Amazon. Sucked the water out the water tray at the back (disgusting). Then flushed water with Milton through the drain hole at the back and then took back from the tray. As fter a few rince throughs it was fine

mnreader · 24/02/2025 08:25

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

ThejoyofNC · 24/02/2025 08:16

BeTwinklyKhakiPanda · 24/02/2025 08:04

I emptied and cleaned my fridge once. It was an interesting experience in observational biodiversity

You cleaned it once?

I just don't understand people who don't regularly clean their fridge out. That's where you store your food, surely you want it clean and safe to eat from? Yet people are crying over bleach. I'll gladly take bleach fumes over germs and bacteria.

TheignT · 24/02/2025 08:15

SorrowsPrayers · 24/02/2025 05:55

Leave a dish of bicarbonate of soda in it. It absorbs smells. I think coffee grounds do the same ( but then it would smell of coffee for a while )

Yes I second bicarbonate of soda. Magic stuff.

MsVi · 24/02/2025 08:07

LovelyLeitrim · 24/02/2025 06:33

Are you sure you’re not? I mean it must be lethal!

Of course it isn’t. I remember the cook at my children’s school in France telling me they had to wash lettuce three times in a weak solution of bleach to prevent food poisoning.

BeTwinklyKhakiPanda · 24/02/2025 08:04

I emptied and cleaned my fridge once. It was an interesting experience in observational biodiversity

Mischance · 24/02/2025 07:57

Wipe down eith bicarbonate of soda.

BlumminFreezin · 24/02/2025 07:49

We gave away a 7 year old fridge a few years ago. We're clean people. Clean the fridge out regularly with an odorless antibac kitchen spray. Store food properly etc.

I unplugged the fridge. Emptied the contents into the new one. Gave it a really thorough clean inside straight away, let it air dry. It was sparkling. Then the fridge got pushed into the dining room and stood there for two weeks awaiting BIL collecting it.

On the morning he was coming, for some reason I opened the door. It looked and smelled like the inside of a fucking dirty bin in summer heat. It was black and green with mould over more than half of the inside surfaces. Honestly, it looked like a fridge that hadn't been cleaned in years, it was horrific. I had to bleach the fuck out of it to get rid of the mould and the smell 🤢

It really made me realise that whilst I thought our fridge was clean before it was actually just the low temperature holding whatever bacteria at bay 🤢

KrisAkabusi · 24/02/2025 07:48

What a fuss over nothing. Just leave the door open for the smell to go.

Strictlymad · 24/02/2025 07:37

What are people doing to the fridge that it needs bleach in it! Maybe don’t leave rotten food and spills to stink? I give mine a quick wipe with zoflora

Tomorrowisanewday · 24/02/2025 07:36

I let a friend's son stay in my flat for six months while I was on a secondment, flat was immaculate when I came back, apart from the smell in the fridge. I wiped it out with boiling water, left it switched off with the door slightly ajar, and had a wee bowl of bicarbonate of soda in it, and it was fine after a few days

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 24/02/2025 07:34

Nameynameynamename · 24/02/2025 07:29

I've always thought combining bleach and dettol or bleach and vinegar was dangerous? I'd just use warm water to wipe it over a few times. I don't suppose it's going to do you any harm but the smell of bleach isn't something I would want around my food either

Yes, it is, it makes chlorine gas!

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 24/02/2025 07:33

Bicarb in water is all you need to clean a fridge. Bleach shouldn't be anywhere near food.

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 24/02/2025 07:31

Togglebullets · 24/02/2025 07:06

What the hell are people doing to and in their fridges that makes them think they need bleach to clean them? Are you storing shit in them? What's going on??

🤣🤣🤣

EnjoythemoneyJane · 24/02/2025 07:30

WTF were they keeping in there that made it smell so bad? Human heads?! Were they just slapping raw chicken straight on the shelves? If you understand basic food hygiene you shouldn’t have to bleach your fridge 😂

Agree that bowls of bicarb, white vinegar & cut lemons should help, plus leaving it switched off & open for a few days if you can.

As per @PyongyangKipperbang though, I’d be concerned about the seals if they’ve been bleached regularly - and if they’ve gone, it might explain why stuff in there was smelling.

Nameynameynamename · 24/02/2025 07:29

I've always thought combining bleach and dettol or bleach and vinegar was dangerous? I'd just use warm water to wipe it over a few times. I don't suppose it's going to do you any harm but the smell of bleach isn't something I would want around my food either

EleanorReally · 24/02/2025 07:28

dont use bleach in a fridge
the smell taints the food
use Dettol, odourless

CatCaretaker · 24/02/2025 07:27

Bleach kills germs (not that I'd ever use bleach in a fridge) and Dettol does the same thing ... how would Dettol help this situation?

Greenwallpinkwall · 24/02/2025 07:26

I reckon wash it down again with hot water and then just leave the door open for a couple of days

Mymanyellow · 24/02/2025 07:25

Just a quick wipe down with the racing post is all you need.

NamelessNancy · 24/02/2025 07:25

Whilst bleach may not be necessary it's the jump to "how much Dettol do I need to fix this?" which I loved!

TourangaLeila · 24/02/2025 07:23

If your putting bleach in hot water, then its just a pointless waste of time. Hot water breaks down the active ingredient in bleach.

Gov.uk department of health link.

PyongyangKipperbang · 24/02/2025 07:19

Oh and bleach isnt great in a fridge as it can make the seals rot, so anyone who is using it should really stop. Hot water with a touch of washing up liquid in is all you need to clean it.

PyongyangKipperbang · 24/02/2025 07:18

You dont need bleach to stop a fridge smelling, you need to stop keeping stuff in there so long that it starts to smell!

Sounds like they needed to clear it out more often than bleach it! But yes a dish of white vinegar. The smell isnt great but it wont hurt you.

Togglebullets · 24/02/2025 07:06

What the hell are people doing to and in their fridges that makes them think they need bleach to clean them? Are you storing shit in them? What's going on??

Swipe left for the next trending thread