Food safety is incredibly important and keeping foods at the proper temperature is one of the top ways to keep your food safe. When odors develop in your fridge or freezer due to spoiled food it can affect the smell of the entire appliance. It’s important to clean up foul odors rather than closing the door and simply ignoring the smell. 

What Causes bad Smell in Fridge?

First, it’s important to know what causes these smells. The main reason you’ll find a foul odor in your fridge is due to bacteria growth. Bacteria growing in a fridge thrive in a humid environment. If you’ve left food sitting too long in the fridge, it could start to grow into a stinky mess.

1. Clean & Deodorize Your Fridge 

In order to safely clean your fridge thoroughly, you’ll want to turn off the appliance and empty everything out. If there is still some salvageable food, make sure to store it in a cooler or mini-fridge if possible. Soaking shelves with dry soapy water and wiping down the entire fridge with soapy water mixed with vinegar can really help to eliminate odors. Once you have dried all shelves and surfaces you can safely place everything back and turn it on. A lot of people use an open container of baking soda in the fridge to soak in the smell. Make sure to remove it after the smell is gone.

2.Set the Temperature Correctly

If your fridge temperature isn’t set at the correct number, it could become a hazard. According to Angie’s List, the perfect temperature to store your food is between 37-41 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it’s set to the proper temperature, it should prevent bacteria growth and help keep your food fresh and safe. If you want to make sure your fridge is working properly you can always put thermometers in different spots throughout. This helps ensure airflow is circulating and everything is being kept at the correct temperature.

3.Throw Out Old Food

Life can get busy and cleaning out old shelves might feel like the last thing you want to do. Unfortunately having food with growing mold and bacteria can be dangerous to your health. This makes it crucial to go through your food on a regular basis and throw out anything old. Check for signs of mold and expired foods and get rid of them once they aren’t safe to consume anymore. If you are proactive about cleaning, you’ll not only help eliminate any current foul odors but also help to prevent future ones.

4.Make Sure to Store Food Properly

Airtight containers can be your best option when it comes to storing foods properly. Take your leftovers out of their cardboard and disposable containers when you get home and repackage them into clean Tupperware containers with a tight seal. This will help keep your food safe and fresh longer and avoid any odors from prepared food that may escape into the fridge. If you eat a lot of leftovers you might want to add a label and date to their package. Restaurants often use the rule of thumb FIFO which stands for first in, first out. This makes it so you always have fresh, delicious, and safe food to eat. It’s also helpful in rotating through foods without forgetting anything and causing foul odors.  

If the smell in your kitchen is coming from more than just the fridge and might be presenting you with health dangers and biohazards, it could be time to bring in professional help. Xtreme Cleaners specializes in providing expert cleaning assistance with discretion and care. If you or someone you know needs help with a bioremediation or extreme cleaning situation in Louisiana, call Xtreme Cleaners at (800) 524-9591.