What is the best way to remove smells from the refrigerator?

Question

My wife and I bought a refrigerator from a lady that thought it was a good idea to put moth balls inside to keep the paint smell out. Unfortunately we can't get the smell out. We tried cleaning it with Clorox but the smell still remand. We put baking soda inside and it still smells like moth balls. If you have any suggestions we are all ears.

Answer 1

However you clean it, turn it off and keep the door open for a few days...

Answer 2

Take the fridge out your front door and leave it on the curb for trash collection, and go buy a new one!!!!!

Answer 3

Nothing is going to kill or counteract the smell of mothballs. The smell will dissipate on its own when left open to the fresh air. Unfortunately this means you can't use your fridge while it's propped open. The only thing to do is to empty out the fridge, wash it well, and leave it out and open until the smell is gone.

Answer 4

clean it real well and buy baking soda - they make boxes just for the fridge. maybe you need more than one...

before you start using it leave it open after its cleaned so it can airate.

Answer 5

Keep what paint smell out? She was painting her refrigerator? I'm very confused.

Oh, yeah, try activated charcoal. I also know of someone who put a tray of clean cat litter in the fridge and that soaked up the smells.

They also sell this packet thing in the Kitchen Collection stores in the mall. It looks like it contains a bunch of small crystals or rocks, and you wouldn't believe how it soaks up smells. I keep one in my basement, and it really works.  

Answer 6

baking soda you can try opening the door defrost it

Answer 7

lol that's funny baking soda works open the box half way on the top and leave it in there it takes the smell away but give it time

Answer 8

remove the body and use alot of baking soda

Answer 9

put a box of b-carb in. just open the little tab and put it at the back

Answer 10

Excuse I don't speak English well I am Brazilian.  

Filter coffee and put the powder still hot inside of the refrigerator in the lowest part, put vegetable coal in the highest part closes the door and the other day the smell will have missing.

The coal will absorb the smell as if it was a sponge.

Answer 11

Baking soda doesn't work well at all.  I read about activated carbon and then tried a product called FRIDGE IT odor absorbers which is an activated carbon odor absorber that is a small purple cube.  Just place it in fridge and freezer and it works really, really well.  So much better than baking soda.  I can't believe all the baking soda comments?

Check out this link I found on you tube - video clip of a food network show comparing baking soda to activated carbon.  Guess which did better?  Carbon!  And the product they show at the end is Fridge It.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIxTW-aAs...

Answer 12

Rinse the  fridge with hot water and vinegar, let it dry  then slice open two lemons leave one half on each rack and then close the door.

It should be gone the next day.  Also put a box of bi-carb in the fridge.  

Answer 13

Put open boxes of baking soda. in the freezer and fridge parts each. Haave the fridge running and the baking soda acts as a odor remover as it obsorbes any odor from food or etc.

Answer 14

use baking soda

Answer 15

baking soda

Answer 16

Well how about you give the fridge back to that lady and say can i have my money back and get a new fridge or ask her to remove the smell.

Answer 17

activated charcoal, put an open bowl of it in there, the smell should be gone within a couple hours or so.

Answer 18

Amonia kills most odors, try that.