I Asked 3 Pro Cleaners for Their #1 Tip for a Stinky Fridge

Sometimes, a box of baking soda won’t cut it to keep the refrigerator from smelling bad. I open up the fridge, and I am greeted by some funky smell, regardless. It could be spilled leftovers or maybe an onion way past its prime, but there has to be a better way to keep the fridge fresh.

“The best way to keep your refrigerator from smelling bad is by keeping it clean every day,” says Ann Ziata, chef at the Institute of Culinary Education’s New York City campus. “Doing a little bit every day is better than waiting days or weeks before tidying it up. Stay in the habit of discarding food the moment it goes bad and immediately wiping up any spills.”

Your everyday fridge check should include a daily wipe of the shelves and walls with some warm, soapy water. Then, be sure to look for any food past its prime. “There is nothing worse than holding onto expired food,” says Ziata. “It can spread bacteria, make your fridge smell awful, and can potentially be quite dangerous if accidentally consumed. Don’t wait for garbage pick-up day, toss it immediately.”

To keep food from going back quickly, proper storage is important. Don’t keep liquids or cooked food uncovered. Be sure to use lids that fit tightly or wrap well with plastic wrap and, ideally, label containers with the contents or at least the date.

“A good rule of thumb is to store ready-to-eat foods at the top of the fridge, cooked seafood below, and raw meat at the bottom,” says Ziata. “Raw poultry should be stored on the lowest shelf in your fridge. Many modern refrigerators now have specifically labeled drawers for produce, eggs, and more.”

Prevention Is the Key to Avoiding a Stinky Fridge

Prevention is key, agrees Enrique Martinez, leader in the Nonthermal Processing Division at the Institute of Food Technologists and PhD candidate at the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico.

“When it comes to bad-smelling refrigerators at home, it is most likely that this is caused due to the presence of microorganisms inside the appliance,” Martinez says. He suggests wiping any spills immediately with hot, soapy water and performing a deep clean of the fridge at least every four to six months.

For a deep clean, remove shelves, drawers, and trays and wash them with hot, soapy water, then rinse well. Wipe down the interior of the fridge with hot, soapy water and then rinse by wiping with clean water.

Martinez suggests one extra step when deep cleaning. “Afterwards, apply a bleach and water sanitizing solution following the instructions, generally included on the bleach bottle. Let it sit for 10 minutes with doors open and proper ventilation and remove it preferably with paper towels.”

What About Baking Soda?

There’s a good chance you have an open box of baking soda tucked in your fridge. It really can help keep your fridge from smelling.

“When stored, molecules of baking soda start to move around the fridge due to the air circulation from the fan,” Martinez explains. “As an alkaline (basic) substance, particles of baking soda get to neutralize the acids from odor particles, eventually achieving a clean smell over time.”

You should replace the box of baking soda at least every three months, but it’s even better to replace it every 30 days, says Jessica Ek, spokesperson for the American Cleaning Institute. Make sure you open the box or purchase one specifically for fridge odors. That box usually has more holes in the side.

Ek explains, “The more surface area of the baking soda exposed, the better, as this will help with odor absorption.”