Why does our new fridge smell so awful?

[PatterofaMinion]

We got a new fridge/freezer at the beginning of December but didn't use it till about a month ago as we hadn't moved in.

It's brand new (though manfctr tells me it was delivered to the shop in May 2012 ) and is a Miele so I thought it would be great,

however it pongs. Every time I open the door it's a very strong smell and the food that isn't covered also tastes of it. It smells like an old fridge that hasn't been aired in a while. Or maybe a sort of chemical/plastic smell.

Any ideas welcome as I don't like it and it's making me cross

did you give it a wipe out before using it? I think the recommended way to clean a fridge is using bicarb of soda - sounds like a smell from the packaging. Did you try leaving it open for a couple of days before using it? If unsure I would speak to Miele - although it sounds as if you might have done this already.

Thank you,

I didn't actually clean it before use as it was straight from the shop and didn't smell until it was switched on. And I am lazy

I have spoken to Miele and they want to send an engineer out to check it over, but they want me to show the receipt and unfortunately I have no idea where it is. Also I'm not sure it's worth an engineer coming out to it.

Maybe it would be worth taking the food out and leaving it open for a few days - perhaps it's the plastic components giving off something and will gradually get less noticeable.

When it is in use, I think that the defrost will gradually absorb the smell and it will be piped outside to the evaporation dish.

You could try sponging the lining with washing-up liquid, which will leave traces of WUL that you can wipe away next time you clean it. I use pink grapefruit-flavoured WUL from Aldi but your taste may differ.

If you paid by credit card, Miele will probably accept the credit card statement. Or if you ordered it online, you may have the order confirmation, or you can print a copy of the order history for about a year from online retailers like John Lewis or Debenhams if you signed in with a password. I try to fold my receipts into the instruction books.

Miele probably want to check that the refrigerant gas is not leaking. If it is you might get it replaced.

Take out all the food etc., clean it and then cut open an apple and place it in the fridge with your food. (Don't cover the apple). That should do the trick.

Also: always always ALWAYS clean new appliances before use. Same goes for textiles. Always always clean/wash them. You never know what nasty stuff is still in there (either from the factory or from hundreds of people touching it before you bought it).

If it was delivered to the shop in 2012 how do you know it has not been used in the shop for display purposes or was it packaged up ? if it has been used there is every chance it has been left to defrost when the door where closed and the insides have absorbed the smell from any defrosting,let the engineer come out it will cost you nothing and if all not right with it you will get a new one under the warranty.