Many years ago, my son unplugged my well stocked freezer to plug in his stereo. Unfortunately, he did not plug the freezer back in when he finished listening to his CD. I didn't realize the freezer was unplugged for close to a month. You have no idea how sickening the smell and sight was when I opened that freezer door that morning. It was absolutely horrible! I had just bought a hind quarter of beef and had frozen tomatoes and other vegetables for the winter. Everything was gone.
It wasn't easy, but somehow I was able to clean out and dispose of everything. Cleaning with bleach, baking soda, ammonia, and vinegar did nothing to rid my freezer of the horrible odor. We finally gave up and decided to just take it to the dump.
The very day our friend was due to come over and help load the freezer into the truck to go to the dump, my dear aunt told me she knew a way to rid freezers of smells, use 'pure' vanilla. She said to take a large bottle of 'pure' vanilla and put it in a bowl and then put the bowl in the freezer and close the door. Leave the freezer closed without opening it for 3-4 days.
I was skeptical, but figured why not. I had nothing more to lose. We canceled the dump run and purchased the largest bottle of pure vanilla we could find. Four days later, I opened up the freezer to find absolutely no smell lingering from the rotted meats or vegetables. Absolutely amazing. It was just as fresh as ever.
We lost a ton of meat and produce that day, but we used the freezer for another 5 years.
Source: My dear aunt
By Bayliner from Perry Hall, MD
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Thanks for the tip. I love the smell of vanilla. Your story happened to me only my plug malfunctioned, so I totally understand the loss and shock. Another thing that works is coffee grinds. This was given to me from my "moving company" trucker brother. A client told them about it and from then on he recommended people to do that if they were moving, going on vacation or whenever their refrigerator or freezer would be empty for any length of time. I like vanilla better so I'll try this next time.
I'm hoping that the vanilla works for ridding the ice cubes in my dispenser tray from their off taste. Will try it. Why do the ice cubes taste so bad?
That happened to my friend also. The freezer was full of meat, mostly venison and elk. What a tragedy to lose that food. It was so bad that they just dug a huge hole in the back yard with a backhoe. (They lived in the country, not in the city.
Interesting, I will try this, thanks!
My freezer smells as you describe. Sounds like great idea. Question is: What is "pure vanilla"? Is that vanilla extract?
Hello Bayliner,
I have just done close to the same thing this past week and it has only been one week so can only begin to imagine how yours was after a month! I haven't yet given it alot of time but have tried, lemon, disinfectant, vanilla essence but not pure vanilla, coffee grinds, anything absorbent such as flour and have been starting to think I have permanently ruined the fridge as the smell seems to be so well worn into the plastics and this, like yours , is a smell with legs and then some.
After several days of washing, we're going to try this vanilla idea as a solution to our problem. Should the freezer be turned on first, or should we just close the doors on an unplugged freezer?
My daughter put a box of flowers from her wedding in the freezer and all packaging on the meat took on the odor of the box material. If I try the vanilla do you do it while freezer is plugged in or un plugged
I have the same question. Freezer on or unplugged for 3-4 days with vanilla in it??
should it be plugged in or not?
Do you have freezer on or off after putting pure vanilla in ? I've tried lots of different things to get rid of smell from my freezer without success
Should the fridge be running or just let it turned of?
Should the freezer be plugged or unplugged during those 3-4 days?
Did you put the bowl in the freezer while it was plugged in or not plugged?
Thank you. Was the freezer on or not when you had the vanilla in it?
When you add the vanilla do you plug in the freezer again or leave it unplugged for a few days. Thanks. Came back from a nine day trip and thats what we came home to yuck!
Thankyou sooo much I've had exact same issue mine was brand new and went to Fiji turned off cooker which freezer was plugged into What a stink I've tried everything except vanilla !!! ON IT NOW
Thank you for your story, I was just about to throw my freezer in the city dump, Vanilla extract please help Im ready to move out
When you mention leave the freezer door closed for 3to4days is this with the freezer on or off?
Thank you
Did you plug your freezer back in or leave it unplugged
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