How to remove the smell of rotten meat from the refrigerator, how to remove it from the freezer, how to remove dirt and eliminate the unpleasant aroma?

Missing meat is always unpleasant. However, there is a much more serious problem in the form of a pungent odor that is absorbed into the walls of the refrigerator.

It is so persistent that it can persist for several months and even causes spoilage of other products.

Read the article about how to remove the smell of rotten meat from the refrigerator and freezer.

What to do first?

If you feel an unpleasant odor, do not immediately grab a wet rag. The sequence of actions should be as follows:

pack spoiled meat in a plastic bag and throw it away;
Read also: 22 ways to save water consumption in your home. Or how to reduce utility bills.
disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply and leave it to defrost;
remove all food products and inspect them for spoilage;
throw away low-quality products - they may remain fresh, but having absorbed the smell of missing meat, they themselves will become its source;
butter, boiled potatoes, cooked cereals quickly absorb foreign aromas - you need to inspect the entire contents of the refrigerator;
all removable parts: shelves, drawers, containers must be removed and washed with warm water;
rinse and dry the seals - if blood gets on them, they will become a source of odor even after the refrigerator has been completely cleaned.

Particular attention should be paid to the shelf on which the missing product was located, as well as all plastic elements. They are treated using improvised means or specialized household chemicals.

Causes

Even good, attentive owners can discover that meat placed in the refrigerator has become rotten and begins to stink. The product deteriorates not only due to the forgetfulness of users of household appliances. Sometimes meat brought from a store or market is initially of dubious quality. During the process of decay of muscle tissue and fat, anaerobic bacteria begin to rapidly multiply, capable of existing even without access to oxygen. It is their vital activity that causes the unbearable stench.

Microorganisms spread throughout all compartments of the device, so in order to avoid poisoning, you must get rid of all products at once.

How to remove the “aroma” using improvised means?

You don't have to go to the store to deal with the smell of rotten meat. In every home there are means to destroy bacteria that cause a persistent unpleasant odor. These include:

Soda. To prepare the cleaning solution you will need a liter of hot water and 4 tablespoons of soda. Soak a rag in the resulting mixture and wash the refrigerator. After wiping one area, you need to rinse the rag under running water, and only then dip it again in the soda solution. When the treatment is complete, wipe the refrigerator with a clean damp cloth and then with a dry paper towel.
Vinegar. The acid perfectly neutralizes all foreign odors. A weakly concentrated solution is suitable for cleaning the refrigerator (take 1-2 tablespoons of 9% vinegar per 1 liter of water). Soak a rag in it and wipe all accessible surfaces with it. They are then rinsed with clean water.
Ammonia .
To prepare a detergent, 5 drops of ammonia and 1-2 liters of water are enough. Being a source of a pungent odor, such a solution will kill the plume left from rotten meat. Wash off the product with clean water. If after such treatment the refrigerator smells of ammonia, you should not worry; the smell will disappear in 2-3 days.
Alcohol. It not only neutralizes odors, but also disinfects surfaces. To clean the refrigerator, you can use vodka, diluting it with water in equal proportions. To give the solution a pleasant aroma, you can add the juice of half a lemon or an orange. Wipe all shelves with the resulting product, leave for 15 minutes, then wash with plain water.
Potassium permanganate. Based on it, a solution of low concentration is prepared. It should be slightly pinkish. They wipe all the elements with it, after which the remaining product is washed off with water. Potassium permanganate disinfects surfaces well, destroying microbes.
Hydrogen peroxide . This is an affordable recipe that will not only help get rid of the smell of rotten meat and bacteria, but also whiten yellowed plastic surfaces. 3% peroxide is poured into a suitable container, a soft cloth is placed in it and the shelves and walls of the refrigerator are wiped with it. After 15 minutes, treat them with clean water.

Using available means, you need to take care of your own safety. When washing the refrigerator with disinfectant solutions, wear gloves and in a well-ventilated area.

If a few days after the procedure the smell appears again, the treatment is repeated, paying more attention to hard-to-reach places.

How to store meat without smelling

Meat should not be stored hermetically sealed in plastic, but wrapped in parchment paper and a napkin soaked in saline solution.

It is kept fresh and soft in a cool place if wrapped in a napkin moistened with vinegar.

Meat washed and rubbed with lemon juice can also be stored for a long time. And if nettle grows in the yard, then you need to cover the piece with its leaves and wrap it in a damp napkin. At the same time, the product will remain fresh for a long time.

It happens when the smell of meat appears not because of improper storage, but because it was purchased not very fresh. If you pierce stale meat to the bone with a heated knife, an unpleasant odor occurs. Of course, going to the market or store with a hot knife to check the quality of the product is, to put it mildly, inconvenient. You can check the meat you have already purchased and cook it quickly if you have any doubts about the freshness. The only way to check at the time of purchase is to press the meat with your finger. If a hole has formed and immediately leveled out, it is fresh, which means you just need to store it correctly.

How to eliminate using household chemicals?

In departments with household chemicals you can find various products that are designed to eliminate unpleasant odors in the refrigerator. To make the right choice, you need to navigate the assortment, study the composition and principle of action of the detergent.

What to pay attention to:

Adsorbents. They come in the form of small plastic containers that are attached to the wall of the refrigerator.
Inside there are adsorbents, for example, a mixture of activated carbon and gel. Such devices are able to absorb foreign odors for 2-3 months. You can use them to get rid of the smell of rotten meat, but only after first cleaning the refrigerator.
Liquid cleaning compounds . They are available in the form of sprays. With their help, you can not only get rid of the unpleasant odor, but also wash the device. Most of these products do not require rinsing.
Ozonizer. This device destroys odor-causing microbes and helps eliminate mold. Oxygen destroys harmful flora and slows down the processes of food spoilage, increasing their shelf life. You can use the ozonizer, but only after thoroughly washing the refrigerator.

To be sure to get rid of a persistent odor, it is recommended to use several means at once: wash the shelves with a specialized composition, and then place an absorber inside.

Top 3 best

The smell of rotten meat is very persistent, so only the most effective compositions can cope with it, which include:

Spray 500 ml HG for hygienic cleaning of the refrigerator . The liquid is easy to spray and does not require rinsing. It is applied to contaminated surfaces, left for a few minutes, after which the residue is removed with a dry cloth. Price – 280 rubles. Read reviews here.
Refrigerator cleaner Wpro 500 ml . A spray with a pleasant lemon aroma not only removes all types of dirt, but also eliminates unpleasant odors. The formula is designed specifically for surfaces in contact with food. The composition can be used to wash the main section and freezer. Price – 390 rubles. Read reviews here.
Barrier. Odor absorber for refrigerator . It is used after washing the shelves, placing the compact device on one of the walls. Average service life is 3 months. Price – 200 rubles. Read reviews here and here.

Cleaning devices for odor control

Installing air purifying devices is a quick method of removing odor. Compact devices remove the odor in 15-30 minutes and extend the shelf life of products by a week (the composition and taste of the products are preserved). The air in the freezer or refrigerator passes through electrostatic, carbon or HEPA filters, on which bacteria, fungal spores, and microparticles of dirt settle.

Then the air in the ionizer receives a negative charge and enters the ozonizer. In this section, air masses are enriched with active oxygen. Ozone is a natural disinfectant that kills spore cells, bacteria and other pathogens. The sterilizing effect extends to internal surfaces, air, and products.

Additional Information! Before installing the device, the refrigerator is defrosted, washed and dried.

How to remove amber from the freezer?

Features of cleaning the freezer:

turn off the freezer;
remove frozen foods;
open the door and wait until the ice melts on its own - do not use heating objects to speed up this process;
collect all the melt water;
wash the freezer using detergent - it is better to choose those compounds that have an antibacterial effect, for example, hydrogen peroxide;
clean the drain channel;
treat seals;
rinse off the product with clean water, wipe all elements dry;
leave to ventilate for 8-12 hours.

Following this algorithm will ensure that you get rid of the smell of rotten meat.

Reviews

Galina Mikhailovna Chelyabinsk
It’s better to throw away such meat immediately. It wasn't enough to feed a family like that.

Semenovich P.S. 46 l
Everything is correct. Why scatter food? What difference does it make, everything will be digested there.

Svetlana T. 25 years old, Kirov region
There is another way to treat with sour milk. In general, everything is correct. Sometimes you can’t see it, but it leaks and the smell starts. I will know now what to do.

(Visited 617 times, 617 visits today)

Helpful information

Tips for removing unpleasant odors from your refrigerator:

To better get rid of the smell, after washing with any product, the refrigerator needs to be ventilated. It is left open at least overnight.
Do not use powder for cleaning. Even undiluted soda can cause scratches on the surface of the plastic. Bacteria and aromatic molecules will be absorbed into them much faster.
For washing use soft rags or sponges. Brushes are not suitable for cleaning your refrigerator.
Before you begin cleaning, all products must be removed. Using household chemicals when the refrigerator is full is unacceptable.
To care for the device, do not use aggressive compounds, such as bleach or bleach. When ingested, they have a toxic effect on the body.

You will find methods and means for eliminating odors in the refrigerator in this section.

Prevention

Now you know how to remove the unpleasant smell of spoiled meat. But it’s still better not to allow food to spoil in the refrigerator.

Conduct regular inventory inspections. It is optimal to do this once a week.
Do not keep the refrigerator doors open for a long time so as not to damage the thermostat.
Place only cooled food into the chamber.

Reanimated meat may have foreign tastes and smells or may not have them, but we can say for sure that its taste will not be the same as that of fresh meat.

Wash compositions

If rotten meat has been lying in the chamber for a long time, professional household chemicals will help quickly eliminate its smell and kill germs. The following tools are popular:

The foaming emulsion is applied to the surface and wiped off with a soft cloth after 30 seconds. After treatment with EdelWeiss there is no chemical smell left.

EFSTO - chlorine derivatives in this drug kill putrefactive bacteria that cause an unpleasant odor.

Refrigerator cleaner is an economical foaming product that leaves behind a light aroma. Does not require rinsing with water.

Stain, odor and bacteria removal kit, consisting of cleaning liquid and cloth .

Limpiya is a cleaning foam with a deodorizing and disinfecting effect.

Denkmit Feuchte are disposable wet wipes that can freshen both the internal and external surfaces of household appliances.

Professional preparation Odorgon , designed to eliminate the consequences of storing rotten products in household appliances. This product is often used in production to remove odors from spoiled cheese, milk, fish, eggs and semi-finished meat products.

Fresheners and absorbers

In the household chemicals department you can find special absorbers of unpleasant odors. They are divided into several varieties:

Egg-shaped . They cope with the stench and act as a temperature indicator.

Ball . Round plastic boxes filled with silica gel granules. They absorb excess moisture and absorb odors. This is the most budget option for air fresheners.

With dispenser . Devices with carbon filters that need to be replaced every month.

Battery powered ionizers . They not only refresh, but also disinfect the air in the compartments of the device. The effectiveness of the devices has been confirmed by users, but such devices are not cheap. To maintain freshness, it is enough to place the ionizer in the chamber for 10-15 minutes every day.

Absorbent gel . Quickly absorbs and eliminates stench. The absorber is installed on one of the shelves of the refrigerator door or attached with Velcro, provided in some models.

Products with chlorine

"White"
"Nithinol"
"Pemolux"

Plus: quite effective. Minus: they stink of chlorine. May whiten surfaces.

Household chemicals

"Fairy"
"Domestos"
"Mr. Proper with Lemon"

Plus: very effective. Disadvantage: needs to be washed thoroughly.