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Housekeeping

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Help - Toxic fridge/freezer

6 replies

serialgrannie · 06/02/2019 09:56

Long-time lurker here. I really hope someone can advise me. We came home from holiday a week ago to find we had had a power cut and our trip meter had tripped out, causing all the food in our American style fridge freezer to rot. There was lots of fish and seafood in there and the smell was appalling, made worse by the fact the house was at 26deg. as the boiler was going flat out (electric control had stopped working). We have scrubbed the freezer to within an inch of its life with Zoflora, bicarb of soda, etc. We have placed dishes of bicarb and Lakeland fridge odour absorbers inside, but there is still a lingering tainted smell. We left the doors open last night and the kitchen smelt horrible this morning. Our insurance will not cover the cost and I think we are probably going to have to replace it. (It is 11 years old but cost ££££). Before we order a replacement has anyone got any advice as to what else we could do to try to get rid of the smell. I think the smell of rotting fish/meat is yet another reason to go veggie!

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CinnamonToaster · 06/02/2019 16:38

Ugh. I've scrubbed out a few mouldy fridges in my time and it's grim.

My go-to is Milton sterilising fluid. Soak cloths in a strong solution of Milton, cover the surfaces with a the cloths and leave them to sit for at least 15 mins, preferably longer. Submerge any shelves in the bath with a solution of Milton. Don't use on metal though, and test a small area first.

Somuchroom · 06/02/2019 16:48

Used coffee grounds might be worth a go?

MyCatIsAPsychopath · 06/02/2019 16:55

Use equal parts vinegar and water, then wipe the all areas with a cloth soaked in this mixture. Hope you manage to get rid of the awful smell.

Rememberyourhat · 06/02/2019 17:00

A few tips here but tbh yours sounds too far gone

www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/07/how-to-remove-odors-from-a-refrigerator-after-a-power-outage/index.htm

serialgrannie · 07/02/2019 15:00

Many thanks for the replies. We think the smell is getting a bit better and am off to buy some distilled white vinegar to wipe it all down again. Will report back if we are successful.

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serialgrannie · 27/02/2019 11:01

Update: We tried everything (bicarb in all its forms, lemons, white vinegar, Zoflora, bleach, disinfectant etc). Smell was much better but still lingering. Then we tried putting dishes of untreated charcoal in for a few days with the doors closed and it seems to have worked. The first time we did this the smell was greatly improved the second time with fresh charcoal it seems to have absorbed the smell. Am now leaving the doors open and getting lots of fresh air in but I really think we might have cracked it. Result! Thought I would share in case anyone else has similar disaster.

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