How to get rid of fridge smell, and keep it from coming back
Published · PRO TECHnology Distribution & Retail
A smelly fridge nearly always has a source you can find. Remove it, clean with the method the US Department of Agriculture publishes, then keep the air clean with an odour absorber or a fridge purifier.
The short answer: throw away anything spoiled, wash the shelves, drawers and door seal with hot water and detergent, wipe the inside with baking soda and water, and leave the door open for about 15 minutes. If a smell remains, wipe with equal parts vinegar and water, then put an odour absorber on a shelf and keep the fridge at 4 °C or colder. This guide explains each step, which absorbers work, and where the Vitesy Deo and Shelfy that PRO TECHnology brings to the UAE fit in.
- Time
- About 1 hour, plus airing
- Fridge temperature
- 4 °C or colder (US FDA)
- Leftovers
- 3 to 4 days in the fridge (USDA)
- Method
- USDA FSIS odour-removal steps
Key takeaways
- Fridge smells come from a source: spoiled food, spills, unsealed containers or a dirty drain tray. Find and remove it first; no absorber fixes a fridge that still holds the cause.
- The USDA method: discard spoiled food, wash shelves and drawers with hot water and detergent, wipe the inside and door seal with baking soda and water, air it for about 15 minutes, and use vinegar and water if a smell remains.
- Baking soda, activated charcoal and fresh coffee grounds absorb odours but saturate and need replacing. Vanilla only adds a scent. No official guide lists lemon as an odour remover.
- Ozone units are a poor choice: the US EPA says ozone is not effective at removing many odour-causing chemicals and can damage the lungs.
- To keep it fresh: 4 °C or colder, leftovers eaten within 3 to 4 days, strong foods sealed, spills wiped at once, and an odour eliminator such as Vitesy Deo or a purifier such as Shelfy.
Why does my fridge smell?
Fridge odours almost always come from food. Samsung's UAE support page names the usual culprits: spoiled food, spills and containers that are not sealed. Bacteria growing on them make the smell, and the cold slows them down without stopping them.
| Smell | Likely source | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Fishy | Fish or seafood: spoilage bacteria turn a compound in fish into trimethylamine, which has the typical fishy smell (FAO) | Discard old fish; store fresh fish sealed and cook it within a day or two |
| Rotten egg, cabbage or sulphur | Later-stage spoilage of protein foods, which releases sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide and methyl mercaptan (FAO) | Find and discard the item; wash the shelf it sat on |
| Sour or musty | Mould on spills, in a drawer or on the door seal, or water in the drain tray | Wash, then wipe with vinegar and water; empty and clean the drain tray |
| Mixed food smells | Open leftovers and uncovered strong foods; USDA notes covered leftovers stop picking up other odours | Cover or seal everything; eat leftovers within 3 to 4 days |
| Still smells after cleaning | Odour that has soaked into the insulation (Nebraska Extension) | Run the fridge empty with an absorber for 2 to 3 days |
Sources: FAO fish spoilage, USDA leftovers guidance, Nebraska Extension.
Check the drain tray too. It collects the water from the defrost cycle, and manufacturers tell you to take it out with the shelves and bins and clean it; Samsung also says to empty any water in it.
How to get rid of fridge smell: the USDA method, step by step
These steps follow the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service guide Removing Odors from Refrigerators and Freezers, which warns that they may need repeating several times for a strong smell.
- Unplug the fridge or switch it off, and move food you are keeping into a cool box.
- Throw away anything spoiled or questionable.
- Take out the shelves, crisper drawers and drain tray. Wash them in hot water and detergent, then rinse with a sanitising solution of 1 tablespoon (about 15 ml) of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon (about 3.8 litres) of water.
- Wash the inside of the fridge and freezer, including the door and its rubber seal, with hot water and baking soda.
- Leave the door open for about 15 minutes so air can circulate.
- If a smell remains, wipe the inside with equal parts vinegar and water; the acid destroys mildew.
- For a stubborn smell, leave the door open to air for several days, or fill the fridge with rolled-up newspaper, close it and leave it for several days.
- Put everything back, switch on, and add an odour absorber on a shelf.
Never mix bleach with vinegar or other cleaners: use them on separate days or rinse well between them.
What can I put in the fridge to absorb smells?
USDA lists baking soda and fresh coffee grounds in a large, shallow container, a cotton ball soaked in vanilla, and commercial products. Nebraska Extension adds trays of activated charcoal and suggests running the empty fridge for 2 or 3 days with them inside. The difference between them is what happens to the odour.
| Remover | What it does | Upkeep | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baking soda | Absorbs odour molecules | Replace when it stops working | Cheap; use a wide, shallow dish |
| Activated charcoal | Traps odours on a large surface | Replace or regenerate when saturated | Strong for persistent smells |
| Fresh coffee grounds | Absorbs odours; adds a coffee smell | Replace every few days | A short-term fix after cleaning |
| Vanilla on cotton | Adds a pleasant scent | Replace after a day | Covers odour, does not remove it |
| Lemon | Adds a citrus scent | Replace often | Not listed by USDA or Nebraska Extension as an odour remover |
| Vitesy Deo | Catalysis breaks odour molecules down into CO₂ and water | None; Vitesy rates it for 10 years | One unit covers 1 to 2 m³; no power |
| Shelfy | Fan and photocatalytic filter break down odours, bacteria and ethylene | Recharge every few weeks; rinse the filter monthly | Also slows produce spoiling (Vitesy) |
| Ozone generator | Releases ozone gas | Varies | US EPA: not effective at removing many odour-causing chemicals; can damage the lungs |
Vitesy figures are the manufacturer's own; see the Vitesy page for its test reports.
Do fridge air purifiers work?
It depends on how they work. Ozone-based units are the ones to avoid: the US EPA says that at levels within public health standards ozone has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants, that it is not effective at removing many odour-causing chemicals, and that no US federal agency has approved ozone generators for occupied spaces.
Shelfy, by the Italian company Vitesy, works differently: a small fan draws the fridge air through a ceramic photocatalytic filter lit by a blue LED, with no ozone and no UV. In Vitesy's published test report it reduced bacteria by 99%, odours by 80% and ethylene by 56% in 14 hours, which is why it also keeps fruit and vegetables fresh for longer. It runs on a rechargeable battery for up to three weeks in Eco mode, and its washable filter needs a rinse about once a month.
Choose Deo if you only want the smell gone with nothing to maintain, and Shelfy if you also want produce to last longer and an app that shows the fridge temperature and door openings. Both arrive in the UAE by 20 November 2026 through PRO TECHnology, Vitesy's exclusive distributor in the Middle East.
How to stop fridge smell coming back
- Keep it at 4 °C or colder, and the freezer at −18 °C, as the US FDA recommends. A fridge thermometer, or Shelfy's app, tells you the real figure.
- Eat or freeze leftovers within 3 to 4 days, and refrigerate cooked food within 2 hours (USDA).
- Seal strong foods such as fish, cheese, onions and garlic in containers with lids.
- Wipe spills at once and do not pack the fridge so tightly that air cannot circulate (FDA).
- Clean the drain tray and door seal when you clean the shelves.
- Keep an odour eliminator on a shelf rather than reacting after the smell is back.
- Store produce where it lasts: see how to keep fruit and vegetables fresh longer, since produce going off is a common source.
If the smell survives a full clean, several days of airing and an absorber, USDA's last word is that the odour may have reached the insulation and the fridge may need replacing; Nebraska Extension notes the same.
Coming soon · by 20 November 2026
Reserve Vitesy Deo or Shelfy
Vitesy's first shipment reaches Dubai by 20 November 2026. Choose a product and quantity; the Distribution team contacts you to confirm price and delivery as the stock lands. No payment is taken online.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of a bad smell in my fridge?
Throw away spoiled food, wash the shelves and drawers in hot water and detergent, wipe the inside and door seal with baking soda and water, and leave the door open for about 15 minutes. If a smell remains, wipe with equal parts vinegar and water and add an odour absorber. This is the US Department of Agriculture method.
How long does it take for fridge smell to go away?
A light smell usually goes after one clean and 15 minutes of airing. For a strong smell USDA says the steps may need repeating, with several days of airing or rolled newspaper inside, and Nebraska Extension suggests running the empty fridge with an absorber for 2 to 3 days.
What can I put in the fridge to absorb smells?
Baking soda or fresh coffee grounds in a wide, shallow container, or trays of activated charcoal. They absorb odours until saturated and then need replacing. A catalytic odour eliminator such as Vitesy Deo breaks odours down instead and is rated for 10 years.
Does baking soda really get rid of fridge smell?
Yes, it absorbs odours and USDA recommends it, both in the cleaning water and as an open container on a shelf. It works best after the source is removed, and it needs replacing once it is saturated.
Does a lemon get rid of a smelly fridge?
A cut lemon adds a citrus scent, but neither USDA nor Nebraska Extension lists lemon as an odour remover. Remove the source and use baking soda, activated charcoal or an odour eliminator instead.
What can you put in a fridge to make it smell nice?
A clean fridge should smell of nothing. USDA mentions a cotton ball soaked in vanilla, which adds a pleasant scent for about a day, but scents only cover odours. To remove them, clean and use an absorber or an odour eliminator.
Why does my fridge smell like fish?
Fish spoils quickly: bacteria turn a natural compound in fish into trimethylamine, which smells fishy even in small amounts. Discard old fish, wash the shelf, and store fresh fish sealed and cooked within a day or two.
Are ozone fridge deodorisers safe?
The US EPA advises against relying on ozone: at levels within health standards it does little to remove indoor contaminants, it is not effective at removing many odour-causing chemicals, and inhaled ozone can damage the lungs. Choose an absorber or an ozone-free purifier.
Do fridge air purifiers work?
Ozone-free ones can. Shelfy uses a fan and a photocatalytic filter, and Vitesy's test report shows 99% fewer bacteria and 80% fewer odours, with fruit and vegetables lasting up to twice as long. Ozone units are not recommended by the US EPA.
Where can I buy a fridge odour remover in the UAE?
Baking-soda fridge deodorisers are sold in UAE supermarkets. Vitesy Deo and Shelfy arrive in the UAE by 20 November 2026 through PRO TECHnology in Dubai, and you can reserve one now on the PRO TECHnology website with no payment online.
كيف أزيل ريحة الثلاجة وأمنع عودتها؟
ابدأ بإزالة المصدر: تخلّص من الطعام الفاسد، واغسل الرفوف والأدراج بالماء الساخن والمنظّف، وامسح داخل الثلاجة ومطاط الباب بالماء وبيكربونات الصودا، واترك الباب مفتوحاً نحو 15 دقيقة. وإذا بقيت الرائحة فامسح بالخل والماء بنسب متساوية، ثم ضع مزيل روائح الثلاجة على أحد الرفوف وحافظ على حرارة 4 درجات مئوية أو أقل.
يمتص بيكربونات الصودا والفحم النشط الروائح حتى يتشبّعا، بينما يفكك Vitesy Deo جزيئات الرائحة بالتحفيز من دون كهرباء، وينقّي Shelfy هواء الثلاجة ويحافظ على الخضار والفواكه طازجة لمدة أطول. يصل المنتجان إلى الإمارات بحلول 20 نوفمبر 2026 عبر PRO TECHnology.
Sources
Methods and figures come from the pages below, read on 3 November 2026. Vitesy figures are the manufacturer's own test results.
- USDA FSIS: Removing odors from refrigerators and freezers
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
- US FDA: Are you storing food safely?
- Nebraska Extension: Solving odor problems in your refrigerator or freezer
- FAO: Changes in fish after death (spoilage and trimethylamine)
- Samsung UAE: How can I get rid of the bad odour in my refrigerator?
- Samsung India: How to prevent odour in a refrigerator
- US EPA: Ozone generators that are sold as air cleaners
- Vitesy Deo test report (September 2025)
- Shelfy test report (Rev. 1, November 2023)
Keep the fridge fresh without thinking about it
Vitesy Deo and Shelfy arrive in the UAE by 20 November 2026. Reserve yours, or read more about the range.