It may be from a spill you missed or a box of takeout that overstayed its welcome.

Either way, no one wants to deal with a smelly refrigerator.

But were here to help.

Person wiping down and placing a bowl of baking soda into fridge

The Spruce / Danielle Holstein

Cleaning a stinky fridge is actually pretty easy and there are plenty of ways to do it.

Meet the Expert

Why Does My Refrigerator Smell?

There are a lot of reasons why your refrigerator might smell.

takeout and leftovers in fridge

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Want more cleaning and organizing tips?

Toss old takeout or see to it to eat it before it goes bad.

The smell of coffee might linger (which we wouldnt mind one bit) but will disappear quickly.

hands cleaning fridge with sponge and spray bottle

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Crumple newspaper into balls and spread them throughout the fridge.

Leave them there for a few days to soak up the odors and you have a smell-free fridge.

Put a bowl of oats in the refrigerator and let it sit overnight.

black fridge in white kitchen

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After a few days, the fridge smells will be removed.

We recommend using lemon essential oil for that extra fresh citrus smell.

Scrub with a sponge and wipe with a cloth.

open fridge with food

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If temperatures rise, it could cause food to spoil and bacteria to grow and cause odors.

Clear out old food, move food to another fridge or locational, and unplug your refrigerator.

Clean shelves, walls, crispers, and drawers.

bowl of baking soda

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cup of fresh coffee grounds

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hand holding lemon

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activated charcoal in wooden spoon

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crumpled up newspaper

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bowl of uncooked oats

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cat litter in litter box

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bowl of baking soda and bottles of essential oils

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fridge drawer with produce

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cleaning fridge stain with sponge

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bottle of vinegar and cleaning cloth

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thermometer in front of fridge

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sponge cleaning empty fridge

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fridge with open doors

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