How to Stop Your Fridge From Stinking Using Baking Soda

If you’ve had a fridge for a long time, you know how stinky things can get after a while. This is especially common when you have stored different types of food in there without lids. That’s why a lot of fridges come with deodorizers.

But can you use something more readily available in your home to absorb the smells in your refrigerator? More specifically, can you use baking soda? Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about today.

Does baking soda absorb odors in the refrigerator?

Yes, baking soda absorbs odors in refrigerators and other places.

How does baking soda absorb odors in the refrigerator?

Baking soda is scientifically known as sodium bicarbonate. It’s a weak base that sometimes acts like an acid. This unique quality makes it react with both acidic and basic compounds.

So when the particles that cause odors come across sodium bicarbonate, they interact with it and react, getting absorbed.

How do you deodorize a refrigerator with baking soda?

If you want to deodorize your refrigerator, just leave an open baking soda box in it. But remember, the closer you place it to the food that’s causing the odor, the more effective it will be.

If the refrigerator is large or has a lot of foods producing pungent smells, it’s better to pour some of the baking soda on a plate and place it on a refrigerator shelf. This increases the surface area for odor absorption.

You can even take things a step further and place a plate of baking soda on every shelf. Just ensure that you don’t use any baking soda used this way for cooking. Also, if you notice that you have to regularly refill this baking soda to keep your refrigerator odor-free, check if its temperatures are low enough.

High temperatures in the refrigerator could be ruining your food and making it stink. Keep in mind that a box of baking soda that you use to deodorize your refrigerator should ideally last for at least 3 months.

However, your refrigerator’s odors should dissipate after 3 days of placing the baking soda in there.

Can you put regular baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb odors?

Yes, you can use regular baking soda to deodorize your refrigerator. However, you can also use specialized ones like the Arm & Hammer Fridge-N-Freezer baking soda.

A box of this product can absorb and neutralize odors for as long as 30 days.

Are there other things you can use to make a homemade fridge deodorizer besides baking soda?

Apart from baking soda, you can use the following substances to deodorize your refrigerator:

1. Vinegar

White vinegar is effective in absorbing odors. However, you need to use it moderately because of its smell. For a medium-sized fridge, just placing half a cup of white vinegar in there is enough. On the other hand, a large fridge may need an entire cup.

2. Lemon

You can get rid of the odors in your refrigerator using slices of lemon. These have high absorbency. You’ll have to change these lemon slices at least once a week though. Interestingly, you can also add some cloves to your lemon slices to make them more absorbent.

3. Potatoes

Just like potatoes can absorb salt from soup, they can also absorb odors. This makes them great for getting rid of refrigerator odors. All you have to do is peel a potato and place it in your refrigerator. Change it every 2 to 3 days until the odor fades away.

4. Oatmeal

When you place the oatmeal in an aluminum bowl and then place it in your refrigerator, it will absorb the odors in there.

5. Coffee beans

You can scatter coffee beans on different refrigerator shelves to get rid of odors. Also, you can spread freshly-ground coffee beans on a flat surface and then place them in the refrigerator.

6. Essential oil

If you love the smell of essential oils, you can use them to deodorize your refrigerator. All you have to do is soak some cotton balls in your favorite oil and then place them in the refrigerator. Leave them there for a day for maximum effects.

7. Vanilla extract

Another way to get rid of odors is to soak cotton in vanilla extract and add it to your refrigerator.

8. Charcoal

Since charcoal is highly absorbent, it can be used to remove refrigerator odors. All you have to do is place it in a bowl and then leave it in the refrigerator for 3 days. Try not to open the refrigerator door frequently during this time.

Use what you have

When it comes to deodorizing your refrigerator, you don’t need to buy anything new. There are a lot of things you can use right in your home.