Even the cleanest and most tidy housewife sometimes spoils food in the refrigerator. This can happen not only through negligence. Power outages are often the cause. Especially quickly, the meat spoils, starting to exude the stench of rotten meat. It is absorbed into plastic and rubber parts and spreads to surrounding products. But if you know how to get rid of the smell in the refrigerator after rotten meat, you can save all the supplies and avoid changing equipment.
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What to do if meat is dry in the refrigerator?
Rotten meat exudes an unpleasant stench. Its peculiarity is that it quickly spreads, eats into surrounding objects. This is caused by anaerobic bacteria that multiply when meat products are spoiled. At room temperature, the meat begins to deteriorate in a day. The higher the temperature, the faster bacteria multiply. Then the hostess has to think about how to eliminate the smell of rotten meat in the refrigerator.
The reason for its appearance may be:
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- non-observance of the shelf life of meat products;
- pieces that have fallen on the shelf and uncleared;
- purchase of expired meat;
- forgetfulness;
- malfunction of the refrigerator;
- power outage in the absence of owners for a long time.
The stench spreads throughout the refrigerator, absorbs into other foods, and can be felt in the kitchen. Therefore, you need to immediately begin to eliminate the consequences.
Before removing the smell after rotten meat from the refrigerator, you need to carefully examine all the products. If there are any traces of stench, they must be eliminated or thrown away. After all, eating food contaminated with anaerobic bacteria is dangerous to health.
After that, all good products need to be packed, put in the cold. Unplug the refrigerator and wash it. It is recommended to remove all shelves and other parts. They must be cleaned separately, after soaking in water with any detergent. Pay special attention to plastic containers, rubber seals and the shelf on which the spoiled product lay. The washed and dried refrigerator should be left open for 10-12 hours.
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If the smell has spread throughout the kitchen, you should open the windows. Treat floors and other surfaces with a bleach solution. If that doesn't work, you can put a lemon peel or salt in a hot pan.
Household chemicals for proper cleaning of the refrigerator
Nowadays, in any hardware store, you can find many products that will help get rid of the smell of rotten meat. They contain detergents, disinfectants, and fragrances. These products are safe, many of them are not rinse off. Available as a spray, liquid or gel. There are several that are most effective.
- OdorGONE is a professional spray treatment for refrigeration equipment. Possesses cleansing and disinfecting properties. Effectively removes the smell of missing meat. It is necessary to process all surfaces and close the refrigerator for a day. Then wash and ventilate.
- Luxus cleans well, disinfects, gives a pleasant aroma. The tool is able to wash off dried stains and old dirt.
- The Refrigerator Cleaner creates a thick foam that lingers for a long time, even on vertical surfaces. Eliminates bacteria, unpleasant odors.
- Tortilla Eco washes away dirt, destroys bacteria, neutralizes odors. Easy to wipe off with a dry cloth.
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You can also use chlorine-based detergents. They effectively remove bacteria and unpleasant odors. Their disadvantage is that you need to thoroughly wash, and then ventilate the refrigerator for at least a day. Otherwise, the smell of bleach will remain in it, which will be absorbed into the plastic of the walls.
If the meat is rotten in the refrigerator, and you could not buy a special product, you can wash all surfaces with ordinary dishwashing gel. But after that, it is recommended to put an odor absorber inside for a few days. Better to buy ready-made - Top House, Frau Schmidt, Filtero. They neutralize odors and have an antibacterial effect.
How to remove the stench from spoiled meat with improvised means?
You can also get rid of the smell of rotten meat in the refrigerator with the help of improvised means. There are many popular recipes for cleaning surfaces and neutralizing stink. They are commercially available, usually found in any kitchen. Most often, it is recommended to use mustard, potassium permanganate, vinegar solution, ammonia and lemon juice.
The disadvantage of these funds is their low efficiency in comparison with industrial drugs. The surfaces may need to be treated several times. After all, removing the smell of rotten meat from the refrigerator is not an easy task. The rotten aroma is one of the most persistent, so you need to use several means until it goes away.
Vinegar
The best way to eliminate the smell of rotten meat in the refrigerator is ordinary table vinegar. It must be diluted 1: 1 with water, thoroughly wipe all surfaces. You can use 6 or 9% acetic acid, apple cider vinegar or grape vinegar. They have disinfecting properties and neutralize odors.
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After such processing, it is necessary in 15 minutes wash the refrigerator clean water and ventilate. To eliminate the smell in the refrigerator, if it is very persistent, you can put a cloth dipped in vinegar on the shelf where the meat was lying. It should be left for 2-3 hours.
Citric acid or lemon
You can also remove the smell of missing meat with citric acid. Dissolve the sachet in 500 ml of water, then rinse the refrigerator. But regular lemon will be more effective. There are several ways to use it:
- cut it in half, wipe all surfaces in halves;
- squeeze out the juice of 1 lemon, moisten a sponge in it and rinse the refrigerator;
- quickly remove the smell from the refrigerator you can use a solution of lemon juice with vodka.
After processing, you need to leave the solution for 15 minutes, and then rinse with clean water.
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Mustard
Dry mustard will also help remove odors from the refrigerator. It should be diluted with hot water until a thick paste is obtained. The sharper the aroma of mustard, the better it will work. Such a solution destroys bacteria, eliminates odors. It is applied to all surfaces and left for half an hour. Then the refrigerator is washed with clean water. After such processing, it will no longer stink of rotten meat.
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Potassium permanganate
A solution of potassium permanganate will help remove the smell from meat. This product disinfects, cleans. Only you need to dilute a weak pink solution so that the surfaces (especially plastic) do not stain. For this, just a few crystals are enough. Moisten a sponge in the solution, wipe all the shelves. Pay special attention to the one on which the meat is rotten. Leave the product for 1-2 hours, then rinse with clean water.
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Other means
You can also get rid of the stench in the refrigerator by other means.
- Grate with laundry soap and prepare a thick soapy solution. Wipe off all surfaces, rinse with water after half an hour.
- Add 10-12 drops of ammonia to 1 liter of water. Process the refrigerator, leave for 2-3 hours. This solution even helps with the strong smell of spoiled meat.
- You can rinse all the shelves and walls with a baking soda solution. 3-4 tablespoons are required per liter of water.
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Odor neutralization
After the device has been washed with any of the products, it is recommended to put a neutralizing agent in it. The most popular scavengers are activated carbon and soda. But there are several more popular recipes:
- cut the bread into pieces, arrange on the shelves;
- pour ground coffee on a saucer;
- decompose lemon or orange peels.
It is recommended to change such funds every 2-3 days. Only then will a pleasant scent of freshness develop in the refrigerator.
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If such a nuisance happens, and the meat is rotten, it will be difficult to remove its smell. With a small aroma, folk recipes will help. But if the stench is strong, only special industrial means will cope with it.