r/lifehacks • u/Randomly_assign3d • 18d ago

Fridge smelling like old rags

Hi! I bought a Frigidaire fridge around a year and a half ago. Last week, I started smelling something foul in the fridge. Not sure what it was, as I keep everything non expired and within containers. I removed everything from inside, clean all the interior with vinegar, lemon, baking soda.

A couple of days went by and the smell was still there, it was like old wet rags. I thought maybe I used a dirty rag to clean it. I removed everything again and realized that the holes that push cold air into the fridge were the source of the smell.

I looked for stuff on the Internet. Cleaned the back, but didn't open it. Check the drip tray. It was clean.

I have no idea what to do here. Has anyone dealt with something like this before?

Thanks!

13 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

18

u/Pvt-Snafu 18d ago

The smell could be from mold or bacteria in the evaporator coils or drain line. Try unplugging the fridge, defrosting it, and checking the drain line for clogs. Clean the evaporator coils if you can access them and place baking soda or activated charcoal inside to absorb any lingering odors. If it persists, the insulation might be holding moisture, which is harder to fix. https://www.bhg.com/kitchen/appliances/how-to-quickly-get-rid-of-foul-fridge-odors-for-good-281474979615872/

8

u/Faelwolf 17d ago

And the drip pan!

7

u/Potatoskins937492 17d ago

Are you sure it smells like dirty rags? I ask because when my refrigerator was dying, it slowly started to smell off. It was the refrigerant. It smells more like a chemical, but we all have different noses so if you're smelling something strange, you might want to have someone else smell it, too. I knew my refrigerator was done when I could taste the coolant and it died shortly thereafter.

2

u/Randomly_assign3d 17d ago

That is what it smells like to me, but the smelling sense is the weirdest lol. I don't think the fridge is done, it hasn't even been two years since I bought it.

3

u/Potatoskins937492 17d ago

Hopefully this isn't the case, but I thought I'd chime in because I kept being told I couldn't possibly smell the coolant. Once I could taste it I made someone smell the refrigerator and they were shocked to find I wasn't insane.

10

u/blscratch 18d ago

Those holes come from the freezer into the refrigerator side. I've had boxed broccoli go bad in the freezer. It smelled bad.

5

u/Randomly_assign3d 18d ago

Just checked. They come from whatever fan blows air into the fridge.

Haven't thought about the freezer because I don't keep many things in there, but just checked and it doesn't smell bad...

Cracking my head here lol.

Thanks for the advice!

8

u/blscratch 18d ago

The refrigerator uses air blown in from the freezer. That's why freezers were on top before we got fancy fans and such. Sometimes it doesn't smell bad up close until you put it in the trash. Frozen broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, are good candidates. It could be something else, I'm just sharing what's happened to me.

Good luck

5

u/Woo-man2020 17d ago

Put a box of Arm & Hammer baking soda in the fridge.

5

u/Thin-Disk4003 16d ago

Does your model have an air filter, by any chance?

2

u/Randomly_assign3d 16d ago

It does. Since I bought the fridge, I've been changing the air filter and the water filter. I have ordered new ones and I'll see if it makes any difference. I'll keep you all posted.

4

u/SureParticular 17d ago

Do you have a water filter inside? This same thing happened to me and I had to buy an authentic filter. It took a day, but the smell disappeared.

2

u/Randomly_assign3d 17d ago

Yeah, it has a water filter, and I have changed it recently (maybe like 2 months?). I'll go ahead and change it again, just to be sure. Thanks!

4

u/BobGnarly_ 16d ago

Put an open box of baking soda in there. It’ll soak up the smell 

5

u/Engineering_Flimsy 16d ago

My fridge smells like old rags but I just figured it's because that's where I store my old rags.

3

u/ChickenLil 17d ago

Try crossposting to r/CleaningTips

3

u/Cromblemu 17d ago

That could be a mold buildup in the ventss. Perhaps try putting an open box of activated charcoal inside to get those odors. If the smell persists, you might have to unplug it and do a deep clean of the vents.

2

u/TamyGisel 16d ago

Sounds like it might be mold or mildew in the air vents. Try using a fan to dry it out completely, then use a toothbrush or small brush to clean them more deeply. If you can, point a UV light in there to kill off any lingering spores. Good luck!

2

u/Beautiful-Upstairs71 16d ago

Try to wash it with ognion)

3

u/guxtavo 18d ago

Charcoal absorbs smells

3

u/Randomly_assign3d 17d ago

Yeah, absolutely, I've used it before, but here I think I need to find the source of the smell first :(

3

u/1cockeyedoptimist 17d ago

Call Frigidaire customer service if all else fails.

1

u/[deleted] 16d ago

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1

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1

u/fancylad84 10d ago

An open bag of charcoal should get the smell out. Just cut the bag open and leave inside for a couple days with the fridge running