Salvage 2005 16'Bambi International Help!

[petemoss]

We purchased at 2005 salvage trailer out of Alabama. Left front end crunched when it hit, it seems a tree or pole) pushing it in and slightly off-squaring front end. Severe left and center window damage and panel damage in and out. This will be project for retired teacher and wife. All looks good on inside other then the front end. Electrics are up and running, seems there is no damage to anything except top cubby ( over table)the table and left seat. But....the freezer had food waste in it and upon cleaning I discovered it was full of maggots. I cleaned with clorax, then sprayed with denatured alcohol...maggots gone, but still it stinks, more than likely food product leeched into all the crack and crevices. What to do? Should I remove, dismantle and clean? Any suggestions that would be less work? Would appreciate any suggestions. Thankyou Carol

[DanB]

Carol,

I wish I could offer you good news, but I'm afraid that won't be the case.

I worked with the Red Cross Disaster team last year in New Orleans. During my trip, I encounter vast amounts of refrigerators such as yours. Prior to evacuation, the residents were told they would only be out a couple of days. We all know what happened.

When they returned, everyones refrigerator was ruined due to spoiled food.

I visited a freind in the french quarter, she returned to find her 2 month old Jenn Air ($1,800) maggot infested. She cleaned it with everything that could be thought of. She ended up throwing in out with the hunderds of others down Buobon Street. In Ohio, it is common practice (legally) to remove the door when disposing of the unit. In New Orleans, duct tape was the standard proceedure to reduce the stench.

Be aware that the smell get in to any ice maker plastic, waterlines, and other hidden mechanicals and insulation. One unique trick to try is to put a stack of newsprint in the unit. That did seem to work in some less than extreme cases.

If it dosen't, I would attempted to completely dissasemble the unit in an effort to isolate the smell. You may then try to soak it for a long duration, or you may call the manufacturer for a replacement shell. That probably will not be an economical solution though.

Sorry for the bad news, but it sounds like a great project trailer!

[carnegie1935]

I read in a magazine to put wet (used) coffee grounds in a open container to remove bad odors from a refrigerator. So far it has worked great for me even spoiled meat odors from a freezer that was accidently unpluged fot several days. I just kept adding used grounds each time I made a pot of coffee and in a few days the odor was gone

Hope this will work for you.

Kay

[Jim Clark]

Originally Posted by DanB

Carol,

I wish I could offer you good news, but I'm afraid that won't be the case.

I worked with the Red Cross Disaster team last year in New Orleans. During my trip, I encounter vast amounts of refrigerators such as yours. Prior to evacuation, the residents were told they would only be out a couple of days. We all know what happened.

When they returned, everyones refrigerator was ruined due to spoiled food.

I visited a freind in the french quarter, she returned to find her 2 month old Jenn Air ($1,800) maggot infested. She cleaned it with everything that could be thought of. She ended up throwing in out with the hunderds of others down Buobon Street. In Ohio, it is common practice (legally) to remove the door when disposing of the unit. In New Orleans, duct tape was the standard proceedure to reduce the stench.

Be aware that the smell get in to any ice maker plastic, waterlines, and other hidden mechanicals and insulation. One unique trick to try is to put a stack of newsprint in the unit. That did seem to work in some less than extreme cases.

If it dosen't, I would attempted to completely dissasemble the unit in an effort to isolate the smell. You may then try to soak it for a long duration, or you may call the manufacturer for a replacement shell. That probably will not be an economical solution though.

Sorry for the bad news, but it sounds like a great project trailer!

I am from New Orleans, and I can backup the above comments. Time for a new box. Some of the boxes are still around.

Jim

[moosetags]

Try the coffee. If it doesn't work, cut your losses and replace the refer. Your time is worth something.