Has anyone ever dealt with flies and fly larvae in every crevasse of a fridge? We rented a place and they dropped the rent with the understanding we would clean the place up.
The last tenants left food in the fridge with a ton of meat and the electricity was turned off. So there was flies and larvae everywhere. We took to whole thing apart and cleaned it with bleach. It still smells. Any other ideas to clean it? And should we be concerned with larvae in any other areas?
I had the same problem when one of my renters moved out. You could try putting several boxes of opened baking soda in it. You could also try wiping down the entire refrigerator with vinegar, but I would suggest you leave it unplugged and open for a day or two if you do that. Charcoal should work also but with that you would need to keep the refrigerator closed. Good luck!
Check a second hand appliance store for a used clean 'fridge, or the "for sale ads" in your local paper. I am presently selling a really nice one cheap, as I got a new black one cheap. So keep an eye out. Don't use the one you have. It's unsanitary and can make you really sick! Better to spend $50 and scrimp on something else than to get botulism, or worse!
In this case, I'd inform the landlord of your attempt to thoroughly clean/disinfect the refrigerator with no pleasing results. Perhaps they will allow you to get a new or nearly new refrigerator and take it off the rent or they will get one to replace the smelly one.
This pages has been archived 2 times. You can view older posts and feedback below.
Request: Rotten Meat Smell in the Refrigerator (10/14/2009)
We came home from vacation to a freezer full of spoiled chicken and meat. The stench continues throughout the house a week later.
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Request: Rotten Meat Smell in the Refrigerator
Archived on 10/14/2009
We came home from vacation to a freezer full of spoiled chicken and meat. The stench continues throughout the house a week later. We have scrubbed the freezer with bleach and will try the baking soda now. Any more suggestions?
Debbie from Flanders, NJ
Feedback:
RE: Rotten Meat Smell From Freezer
We had a freezer with rotted meat also, we washed it good with bleach water. Then I put a bag
of charcoal in it and cut the bag open and shut the
door. Don't remember how long it took, but it got all the smell out.
I put coffee and charcoal in fridge for a week the smell is still there. Is there something else I can do?
Editor's Note: Check the pan underneath the refrigerator. Take all the racks and drawers out. Any place that water can collect, under the vegetable drawers, in the tubes that help with the defrosting, etc. make sure they are clean by washing down good with baking soda. There may be some place that is keeping the smell in there. (04/23/2007)
By Debbie
RE: Rotten Meat Smell in the Refrigerator
My husband repairs refrigerators and sees this all the time. He uses one of 3 things.
Wet newspapers. Put papers damp in refrigerator and change occasionally.
Cat litter. Buy clay cat litter and set open in refrigerator. Change occasionally till smell gone.
Charcoal. Same as above.
Sometimes, he comes across one that is totally hopeless. If those three things don't work you probably will either live with smell or buy a new one. (08/27/2007)
By DebraJ.
RE: Rotten Meat Smell in the Refrigerator
Clean the fridge with vanilla extract and water mixed together. That will get rid of the smell. (02/28/2008)
Request: Refrigerator Broke Down - Rotten Meat and Fish Smell
Archived on 09/25/2006
How do I get the smell of rotten meat and fish out of the air. The fridge died while I was out of town.
Natalie from Ruston, LA
Answers:
RE: Refrigerator Broke Down - Rotten Meat and Fish Smell
I would wash it with a water and bleach solution and then after it dries put some fresh ground coffee in a bowl on several of the shelves to absorb the odor.
Close the door completely and check til you get results! I used this method with an old refrigerator and after about a week the smell was gone. (05/23/2006)
By Brenree
RE: Refrigerator Broke Down - Rotten Meat and Fish Smell
I had that problem once and the only thing that helped was to get some charcoal from a pet store that's used for an aquarium and put that in dishes in the fridge and freezer. It really works great. (05/23/2006)
RE: Refrigerator Broke Down - Rotten Meat and Fish Smell
I went through Katrina in MS. I was able to save my fridge so far. A refridgerator man told me to never use bleach but to always use orange juice (like you drink mixed with water) to clean your fridge and then I put charcoal and coffee in small bowls, it worked great. (05/23/2006)
By boo_baboo@yahoo.com
RE: Refrigerator Broke Down - Rotten Meat and Fish Smell
Burn matches or use other sulfur to remove odor from the air. (05/23/2006)
