What Causes Refrigerator and Freezer Odors — How to Eliminate Them

Refrigerator and freezer odors are a common household problem caused by molecules coming from stored food. It could be from cheeses, such as Parmesan cheese, or foods with a vinegar base. Vegetables, such as green beans, or lunch meat that’s gone bad can all contribute to a smelly fridge.

But sometimes it has nothing to do with food going bad. In fact, even food that’s only a day or two old that is perfectly good to eat can cause a stinky smell. That’s because moisture has been released from the food inside of it. The molecules migrate to the surface and are released into the air, causing a smell.

For years there have been all sorts of wives’ tails about ways to eliminate refrigerator and freezer smells. They range from the good-old-fashioned cleaning out the fridge and freezer every Friday and scrubbing every corner and crevice, to actually putting kitty litter (yes, kitty litter, the same thing FiFi uses every morning after breakfast) to eliminate the stench.

Other strange methods people have tried for getting rid of smells in the kitchen include baking soda and charcoal. Although these methods seem a little bit more promising, and less outrageous than kitty litter, homeowners still complain that they cannot rid their fridges of hot spaghetti.

One method that few people know about, and this one may surprise you, is newspaper. Yes, newspaper—that thing that’s delivered to your door daily. Household newspaper is perhaps the most productive, successful way of eliminating refrigerator and freezer odors for good.

Here’s how you do it: All you have to do is crumble up multiple pages into large balls. You then stick these large balls in your freezer. You don’t need to put it where fresh food is in the fridge since all air will circulate throughout. The newspaper acts as a filter to catch food molecules as the air circulates. Think of it as an air filter for your car or home. When you change it, you can actually smell some of the food particles the newspaper catches.

You should change the newspaper and repeat this about once every five days. You should not rely on this as the only means of eliminating odor. You should regularly clean out your fridge and freezer, scrubbing throughout. Also, be sure to throw out old food to ensure there is no risk of mold or bacteria growth.