The freezer is a useful invention that keeps food fresh for 3 to 6 months. Meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and berries are stored in special drawers at minus temperatures long enough without losing their taste and nutritional properties. But here, too, from time to time, trouble happens. One of them is the appearance of a stinky aroma. To understand how to remove the unpleasant smell in the freezer, it is necessary to find the cause of its appearance.
Why there is an odor in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator
The first and main factor in the occurrence of unpleasant odor in the freezer compartment is the stored food. And as strange as it may sound, low temperatures are not a guarantee of 100% freshness. The specific aroma appears in the following circumstances:
Failure to meet expiration dates. Chicken carcasses or fish that are stored in the unit for a long time will deteriorate over time, causing a stench
Storing uncooked food in containers that are not hermetically sealed. This is especially true for food with a persistent and pungent odor, which gradually fills the entire compartment, mixing with other flavors. Therefore, individual packages and tightly closing containers are a must. So-called commodity matching – sorting different foodstuffs according to their properties
Power failures provoke the thawing of supplies. Meat and vegetables defrost and re-freeze several times if the appliance is regularly disconnected and reconnected to the mains. This causes water to accumulate in the freezer, resulting in stench and spoilage of the food
The smell of plastic coming from a new freezer is a frequent cause of complaints from owners. Therefore, to ensure that the provisions do not have a plastic stench, it is necessary to thoroughly wash and dry the inside of the appliance before using it.
Ways to eliminate the unpleasant odor
There are several ways to eliminate unpleasant odors in the freezer. To do this, you need to take out and conduct an audit of all the contents. Thoroughly review all packages and preparations. Dispose of the spoiled food, and sort the good ones into separate containers.
You should also unplug the freezer and let it thaw. It is advisable to remove all trays, drawers, and shelves beforehand. Next, it is necessary to wipe the inside of the freezer with special solutions, which will be discussed below.
Purchased remedies
Clean the body of the freezer should be cleaned with a dishwashing detergent, previously added to a basin of water. Remains of food, dirt, and with them the unpleasant smell can be easily removed with a sponge or a soft cloth soaked in a soapy solution. For greater effectiveness, it is allowed to add 5 ml of alcohol. Then the refrigerator is wiped dry and left open for some time.
Important: In the process of cleaning, attention is paid not only to the inner surface but also to the sealing rubber. It, too, can accumulate water and dirt, which exude an unpleasant odor and can cause mold and mildew.
Do not use laundry detergent as a cleaner. It contains surfactants that are harmful to health. If the solution is not thoroughly washed away, the substances remain on the surface of the cabinet, then get onto the frozen semi-finished products and subsequently into the human body, causing food poisoning.
Purchase products in hardware stores, and be sure to pay attention to the label.
There is an alternative option – the purchase of an Ozonator. This is a special device that fights stale odor.
Folk methods
If there is no desire to use chemical compositions and expensive ozone generators, you can do with folk methods, which by efficiency are not inferior to the professional means.
The most popular are recognized acetic and citric acids. Solutions based on them perfectly remove the remains of provisions and disinfect surfaces.
Other well-known and readily available remedies will do the job just fine:
– Citrus fruits: slices and peels
– Ground natural coffee
– Spices: cloves, cinnamon, ginger
– Peeled heads of onions
– Rice Kernels
– Slices of rye bread
– Soda and salt
– Tea bags
– Activated charcoal.
Preventive odor control
Warned means armed. Therefore, it is better to have preventive measures every 2-4 months than to spend the whole day cleaning the freezer to eliminate the disgusting aroma in it. Here are a few tips to keep your freezer clean at all times:
- keeping track of expiration dates of food supplies
- Storing food only in containers with a tight-fitting lid
- Sorting provisions. Foods with a specific, pungent odor (fish) should be packaged particularly carefully. Extra plastic bags or cling film may be used.
- Place special odor-absorbing devices inside the freezer, to be replaced as needed
Timely contact the specialists in the service department if the camera ceases to perform its functions. For example, the unit started to freeze badly, or an ice coat formed inside. It is not possible to store food in such conditions. Moreover, it is very dangerous, because the malfunction can provoke a short circuit and fire.
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