Dometic Refrigerator old food smell

[weaselbadger]

We went camping several weeks ago and when we got home, we failed to get some sandwich meat out of the refrigerator. We discovered it 2 days ago and have been cleaning since. The fridge still smells like something died in it.
Is there somewhere inside or under or behind the fridge that could have absorbed the odor?

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

We are taking our Excella to the river this weekend and don't want to have this stench follow us.

Thanks

[FCStreamer]

https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Hammer-Fr.../dp/B0029JWW5Q

[rmkrum]

Also try wiping down the interior with a spoonful or two of real vanilla extract on a paper towel, then leave it in the fridge with the door closed.


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[weaselbadger]

We have tried the baking soda already, to no avail.

I'll think about the vanilla.

Thanks

[SteveSueMac]

Some interning reading in other forums - good luck!!


Interesting thread on a pool forum:

http://www.troublefreepool.com/threa...freezer-fridge

Another forum:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf338261.tip.html

RV Forum:

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/ind...?topic=53597.0

[HiJoeSilver]

Wipe everything down with bleach water solution. Cat litter on plates on the shelves for a few days.

[weaselbadger]

Thanks for the links! Some great suggestions on those sites.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

Some interning reading in other forums - good luck!!


Interesting thread on a pool forum:

http://www.troublefreepool.com/threa...freezer-fridge

Another forum:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf338261.tip.html

RV Forum:

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/ind...?topic=53597.0

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by weaselbadger

Thanks for the links! Some great suggestions on those sites.

Thanks!

Ditto on kitty litter inside plus open containers of baking soda.

[PaulnGina]

I used this method to get a horrendous rotten food smell out of a freezer we have. Neighbor had power issues and lost all of the food. He gave me the freezer, thinking it was beyond saving.

After cleaning the freezer thoroughly (including a wipe down with bleach), I bought a pound of ground coffee, dumped it in a pie pan, and ran the freezer for three days. Opened the door: smelled as fresh as new!

I have heard that packing paper, news paper, and charcoal (plain, not fluid-soaked) will also work well.


PaulnGina
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke

Blessed and highly favored

[3wd67rg]

Bag of charcoal for a week.

[rsjmcg]

When ours isn't in use, we always keep ground coffee (not coffee grounds ) in a small bowl or a cup inside both freezer and fridge compartments. Ground coffee smells good all by itself and eliminates the stale-fridge smell and any persisting food odors really well. When we remove, or just cover, the coffee grounds before hitting the road, the coffee smell itself also doesn't linger.

[guskmg]

Try a bowl full of ordinary charcoal. You can use it for a BBQ fire later.
guskmg

[AtomicNo13]

X2 on the pure vanilla extract!

[Protagonist]

When power was restored after Hurricane Katrina, every refrigerator in the city of New Orleans smelled like something crawled into it and died.

The preferred method of odor removal was generally duct-taping the refrigerator shut— to keep the contents from evolving and escaping under their own power— and putting the fridge out by the curb for delivery to a landfill.

But for those few brave souls who wanted to salvage theirs, the preferred method of deodorizing the fridge was to thoroughly wipe it down with white wine vinegar, and then use some kind of odor absorber, such as crushed charcoal in an aluminum pie pan.

[jshotton]

Don't close your refer when the RV is not in use. Prop the doors open.

[weaselbadger]

Thanks for all the responses!

Yesterday, I soaked all the removable pieces in a tub of bleach and water for 12 hours - they smell soooo much better now. I also wiped down the interior with bleach/water solution twice. I have put a pan of coffee grounds in the fridge and the smell was greatly improved this morning.

I'm hoping by tonight, the coffee will have saved us.

Fingers crossed!

Thanks to all!