Smelly/moldy dorm refrigerator

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Okay, wise CC parents. I ams seeking your advice as to what my son should do regarding his dorm refrigerator. Apparently, as a first-semester freshman, he was unaware that he shouldn’t leave his refrigerator door closed over winter break. The electricity was turned off and he returned to a smelly/moldy refrigerator. He’s cleaned it out with Lysol and a bleach solution, and it now looks clean but still has a really foul odor.</p>

<p>Should he unplug it and open the door to air it out? He said it smells awful when the door is open and it’s pretty cold where he is to keep his window open. Should he just get some baking soda or activated charcoal to absorb the smells? Is it safe to use? I remember all the people who threw away their refrigerators after Hurricane Katrina?</p>

<p>It’s a rented refrigerator, so he wants to make it workable.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>He should get several small boxes of baking soda and leave them open in the fridge, with the door closed, for a few days. Then see how it smells.</p>

<p>Maybe after that treatment, it’ll be OK to leave it open for a few days to let it air out.</p>

3

<p>Lay the boxes on their sides to cut them open maximally, rather than just one top opening.</p>

<p>Recently I found some baking soda boxes sold espeically for this purpose, with two mesh openings along both of the larger sides.</p>

<p>Given his situation, he could take a huge bowl- as for serving potato chips-- and fill that with several boxes of baking soda. The whole idea is to maximize the part open to the refrigerator air, isn’t it? I could be missing something here in the logic.</p>

4

<p>You’re correct, p3t. I agree with your logic.</p>

5

<p>The OP also wondered if it was safe to use. I’m thinking yes, because the bleach killed the germs and mold. VH, do you think this freshman should also re-bleach it and be sure to go under gaskets and so forth? </p>

<p>Blackeyedsusan, we are your pit crew here!!</p>

6

<p><a href=“http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Removing_Odors_from_Refrigerators_and_Freezers.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Removing_Odors_from_Refrigerators_and_Freezers.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Here is some info from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Hope it helps!</p>

7

<p>Thanks, all! Yes, this one has me stumped.</p>

8

<p>When I’ve been faced with a similar situation, I’ve used SoftScrub with Bleach. And Yes, for sure, go under all the gaskets, in all those little crevices where mold can hide. Use a Q-tip if necessary.</p>

<p>No guarantees, but at least you (he) will have given it your (his) best shot.</p>

9

<p>It is small , after cleaning stuff it with newspaper and close it for a day. Take out the newspaper and repeat until smell/moisture is gone.</p>

10

<p>^Neat! Do you crumple up newspaper pages to fill all the airspace, or put it all folded and stacked on a shelf?</p>

11

<p>Crumble for max surface area. Works for wet smelly shoes and boots, too.</p>

12

<p>After Ike hit here and we went without power for 9 days, shrimp and chicken rotted in the fridge. YUK. The only thing to take out the smell was old fashioned clay type kitty litter. Use the same way as baking soda- maximize surface area for absorption. It really worked well. Baking soda and crumpled newspaper couldn’t touch the smell.</p>

13

<p>I use white vinegar, heated up in microwave until hot to clean, sanitize and remove the smell. When the vinegar is hot, dip a cleaning sponge or rag in the vinegar. Wipe down surfaces.</p>

<p>It seems counterintuitive, but the smell neutralizes after it dries. It’s also cheap and non-toxic.</p>

14

<p>Vinegar will work. Another option is to put some coffee grounds (not used) in an open container for a day or two.</p>

15

<p>Never tried it, but I hear the coffee grounds does wonders. You may need to repeat.</p>

16

<p>make a thick paste out of baking soda/water and cover all the inside surfaces, leave on for awhile, wipe off.</p>