by Ann Marie Dwyer

Created on: September 26, 2007

The age old smell of old age! Freezers and refrigerators that have been unplugged and allowed to stand or have been defrosted by accident have an unmistakable aroma that is likely to gag a maggot. Never fear! Smell abatement that will not harm your foods or freezer is on the way!

Begin by thoroughly washing away any debris that you can see inside the freezer with a mild dish detergent and water, taking care to rinse away all soapy residue. Once the big pieces are gone, if the smell remains...

1. Evenly layer the bottom of the freezer with one pound of baking soda. Seal freezer for 24 hours. Add 1/2 pound salt to baking soda and two cups white vinegar. The mixture will foam. Use the foam/paste to clean the interior walls (and the exterior, if it is dirty). Rinse away with warm water. The natural odor absorption of the baking soda will take away the odors you do not see and the salt will bleach away the source of the odor.

2. To eliminate the pungent smell of seafood or fish from a freezer, place plain (not pre-soaked with lighter fluid) charcoal briquettes in a large zipper bag and close half-way. Leave charcoal in the freezer until the odor disappears, normally no more than two days. Remove the charcoal to the grill and burn away! This may be done while food is in the freezer.

3. Mildew odor can be removed by most chemical agents, but abrasives will harm your freezer and some chemicals will produce a poisoning hazard. The natural way is to use ammonia. Place 16 ounces of warm (above room temperature-microwave for 15 seconds) ammonia in a glass baking rectangle inside freezer and seal. Next day, remove rectangle and wipe the interior with a clean dry towel to remove ammonia. Wash interior with 2 tablespoons baking soda to each pint of water. This will prevent ammonia from contacting foods placed in the freezer.

4. Mist interior of freezer with real lemon juice and seal. Allow to dry. Remove lemon juice with soda/water mixture from #3.

5. Place 1 quart boiling water in the base of a double boiler. Place one cup of ground coffee in basket filter in top of the double boiler. Seal in freezer for 12 hours. Wipe interior with soda/water mixture from #3.

To keep a freezer or refrigerator from getting the smell in the first place, try one of these methods:

1. 4 ounces baking soda in a small zipper bag, sealed, with ten holes poked with ice pick or toothpick just below the zipper. Change bag each month.

2. 2 ounces ground coffee in glass container with eight to ten ice pick holes in lid. Discard and replace grounds each month.

3. 2 charcoal briquettes in small zipper bag, half sealed. Exchange briquettes every month. Briquettes need not be discarded, but can be burned as directed. Do not use briquettes that have lighter fluid in them as the fumes are toxic and can harm food in freezer.

4. 20 sheets of newspaper unfolded to fit bottom of freezer. Change paper each month or more often, if necessary.

5. Keep all foods in your freezer well-packaged and leak free. Wrap more pungent items (wild game, very spicy foods or fishes) in 1 layer of aluminum foil and 5 layers of newspaper. Note that this will protect your food in the event of a power outage for an additional hour.

It is not necessary to leave home to obtain most of the ingredients listed here. So, here's to the sweet smell of success!

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