How do you get the smell out of a running freezer?

Answer 1

After the freezer has been cleaned out and everything has been washed down with soap and water, use a solution of vinegar and water to wipe down every thing inside. Then take a foil tray and put regular charcoal in it, not the kind with lighter fluid already on it, just plain old charcoal. Change it out every 3 days until the smell is gone.

Answer 2

Fill a bowl with Bicarbonate of soda and leave it in there. It is great for absorbing smells.

Answer

Thoroughly clean the freezer and rinse, using baking soda and water. Then leave a bowl of coffee (grounds, unused) to help diffuse the smell. If you close the door, make sure the freezer is cool.

Answer 3

Try wiping it out with undiluted vinegar. Then leave it open to air for as long as you can (switched off of course).
Or you could try a spray cleaner that has orange oil in it, again airing it as long as poss.

Answer 4

Whether full-size or refrigerator-freezer, you'll need to deal with the source of the odor. First, ALL freezers develop odors. Second, frozen foods can contribute to odors, as can spills.

If possible, get a very clean tall kitchen garbage container. Buy a new one if you have to do so, and be sure to clean it with a mixture of baking soda and water. (Do NOT use kitchen or bathroom cleaners!) ALSO, buy a 5 or 10 pound bag of ice. Put several extra large garbage bags inside of each other... then put ALL into the CLEAN garbage container. Add a layer of ice in the bottom, in the inner bag. Start unloading food from the freezer, heaviest items first. Make sure meat stays nearest to the ice. Put a layer of paper towels or clean towels on top. Then add anything like ice cream, ice pops, etc. Again, place several layers of paper towels. On top, put items like frozen microwaveable foods. Before the container is completely full, dump more ice cubes along the sides of the food and on top. Fold down the excess plastic on top so the food products are covered. Put a folded bath towel on top to keep it closed. Drag that container a few feet away -- and away from sources of heat or sunshine.

Continue unloading the freezer until it is empty. You can use very clean cardboard boxes or other clean and tall plastic containers, with the garbage bags and ice.

Use the knob on your freezer to turn it off. If a full-size freezer, have a board (2 by 4 piece) to make sure the freezer lid won't close on a child, etc. If you do have kids, watch that they stay away during this task just for safety!

If the freezer is not self-defrosting... Boil water on your stove in 1 or 2 large pots (again-- be cautious if you have young kids!). For a regular refrig freezer, you'll need at least 1 large pot plus a couple small pots. The water just needs to start bubbling on the stove. Put the pots of boiled water in the freezer and close the door/lid. Let the heat and steam work to loosen the ice. Check in 20-30 minutes. Remove any loose ice. Dump and re-boil new water as the first water cools. Repeat 2 or 3 times until ice drops or can be removed.

Use a large pot or plastic dishpan/container for all the old pieces of freezer ice; you can dump it outside or down the sink later. (Hint: ice helps clean garbage disposals, followed by baking soda and hot water.) Make sure you wash the pot / container later.

If your fridge is self-cleaning you can skip the above about boiling water.

When ALL ice is removed, take many very clean, non-smelly towels to wipe ALL inside surfaces. Wipe ALL rubber gasket edges and crevices. By non-smelly, I mean, even the smell of those nice dryer sheets or laundry detergent CAN transfer to your freezer! (yuck)

Now, take a large pot of warm tap water. Mix in 1/4th box of baking soda (the yellow boxes). Use a clean rag and wipe ALL surfaces with the baking soda/ water. Get a pot of fresh warm tap water and wipe ALL surfaces again to remove excess baking soda residue. Make sure it's squeaky clean.

With other clean, dry towels, dry the surfaces again. Turn your freezer back on.

This process should take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. If you used plenty of ice in your containers, all of your food should still be okay.

Start unpacking the food, and inspect each as you go... If it is leaking, looks bad, smells bad, or is old and outdated, throw it away! Re-load your freezer. Lastly, open a NEW box of baking soda and remove the lid/top of the box completely. Put the whole box (with baking soda inside the box) in a corner of your freezer, at the back so it's out of the way. You'll need to change this box every 1 to 3 months. Baking soda will help absorb the odors freezers begin to collect.

NOTE: If you have a self-defrosting freezer, check for iced areas and remove using the pot(s) of boiling water. Then follow all the other steps above.

Answer 5

wait till garbage day take what is rotten out to trash put in garbage can with lid do this around 10pm due to thawing out.

Answer 6

Put fresh coffee in a lining bag inside your freezer. That's what Kim and Aggie do on a programme called How clean is your house. For me personally I would use neat bleach.

Answer 7

You put charcoal in it.