KodiakJack Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 Just got back to Arizona after almost 2 months north. Long story short the refrigerator was out when we returned. It was bad...very bad. We have cleaned it through and through with soap and water, vinegar, Clorox and water and all the other disinfectants at hand. I currently have charcoal (BBQ type) setting inside on paper plates and hope to find some activated charcoal in Parker tomorrow along with anything else that might get rid of the smell. I have read about coffee, new paper, vanilla, and various other cures but thought I see what folks here thought might work. Later, J 2012 Landmark, San Antonio 2013 Silverado CC, 3500HD, Duramax, DRW, 4x4 Backup, side and hitch cameras, Tireminder TPMS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiaHybrid Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 Good old baking soda will work over time but the only way I have ever gotten rid of that smell the one time it happened to us was to open it up and set it outside for a month to air out....... 2017 Kenworth T6802015 DRV 38RSSA Elite Suites2016 Smart Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuffMan Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 Whole thread on this topic with what works & what doesn't http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=107578 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjim Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 I don't know if this would work in a refrigerator so consider it well for yourself and maybe some experience people here will comment. I had and issue with a partial package of frozen bait shrimp being left on the floorboard of a car for over 2 weeks with the windows rolled up in the summer in Texas. I tried everything. I was down to cutting out a section of floorboard carpet and even sheet metal and replacing it as I could not afford another car. I ended up putting straight pine oil on it every day for a week. The pine oil masked the smell but was so strong for a while I could hardly deal with it. No windows rolled up and no air conditioning as I didn't want the smell getting into the ductwork of the AC. After a week or two the pine oil smell disipated and the rotten shrimp smell never returned even in the carpet. Of course I was able to mostly keep the windows open to let it air out. I am not sure if this would work inside a refrigerator but I throw this out there as I would think too many options are better than not enough. If you try something like this modified remember that pine oil can remove oil based paint. I have used it to clean paint brushes and keep them soft but have to be rinsed well. Best wishes on this issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmac9 Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 bigjim, there is nothing like finding out you left shrimp or cut shad in the wrong place in the summer heat of Tx!!! I had to throw away a cooler after trying everything I could think of and then just letting it sit outside for a long time...still had that odor!!! Valuable and expensive lesson learned and those are not forgotten!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 Do not forget that your household refrigerators have a drain line from the freezer compartment that goes down into the compressor area somewhere and there is probably also residue in that line which may be a part of the problem. Many years ago we had a similar experience to yours but there was no meat left, it was a can of frozen orange juice which thawed out and spoiled. The smell was so bad that we noticed it before we even got the front door of the house opened. It took Pam a great deal of work to get rid of that odor and she tried pretty much all of the various solutions suggested in the thread, but once she discovered that drain line, there was progress. You will need to pull the refrigerator out so and locate the lower end of the drain so that you can put some sort of catch pan under it to receive the nasty stuff. We also had to find something flexible that we were able to run through the line in order to get everything out of it. I don't remember now what it was that we used to open the line but as I recall the drain line of our present home refrigerator is along the back of the refrigerator and it may be possible to just replace it. I do know that once we discovered that drain we began to make progress in ridding the refrigerator of that odor. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warroland Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 Check with your local power company to see if they have ozone generator to loan you. A friend had this happen and the ozone generator took care of the odor. Alabama/Tennessee Campers On Mission 2002 Fleetwood Revolution 38B2006 Honda CR-V, Air Force One, Blue OX tow bar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skp093018 Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 Best way to remove rotten meat smell and refrigerator....donate '06 Elite Suites, '08 Softail Classic, '06 Softail Deuce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtsara Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 The charcoal will work, ours went out while we were in Sturgis one year, our son still uses the fridge 8 years later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skp51443 Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Old school charcoal NOT the fancy easy-light stuff unless you like the taste of the accelerator they use on your food! One of the odor eliminator products might be of some help, I don't have one to recommend as it has been a while since we used one. A couple Amazon offers to consider: http://smile.amazon.com/X-O-Odor-Neutralizer-Concentrate-32-Ounce/dp/B0002XJ15U/ref=sr_1_5 http://smile.amazon.com/Fresh-Wave-Natural-Neutralizing-Spray/dp/B0016PS3I4/ref=sr_1_6 First rule of computer consulting: Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day. Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mariner Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 When this happened to our outside freezer, we tried everything to no avail. After two weeks of futile attempts we gave up and tossed it. At least it was a simple replacement, not like getting a new fridge. This might be a good time to consider a residential. Fulltiming since 2010 2000 Dutch Star 2009 Saturn Vue Myrtle Beach, SC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 If any liquid leaked down into the insulation, yep,, time to donate it to whoever will accept a smelly frig. 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick & Alana Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 We used fish tank filter charcoal. Rick and Alana Fulltimers 2018 Newmar Ventana 4037 2020 Jeep Gladiator 1997 Jeep TJ 2009 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3 formerly owned 2000 Volvo 770, 600 Cummins ISX,18 speed autoshift, 14 foot "garage" ET,Jackalopee,MaxBrake,Pressure Pro pro www.rickandalanasgreatadventures.blogspot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KodiakJack Posted March 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Short update. The smell from the refrigerator area is now gone. The freezer smell on the on the other hand is still not good but better. Thanks Duff man for the link on the topic. Read through it all. Kirk our freezer does not appear to have a drain. Only the refer portion does and it is connected up to a tray to catch drips from the cooling fins and direct them out. We purchased some activated charcoal for fish tank filters along with some cat litter with this as a component but have yet to try either. At this time anything that goes into the freezer is sealed in plastic bags. We're due to depart today but will continue to seek a solution other than donation when we land for a while. Thanks all for your help. Later, J 2012 Landmark, San Antonio 2013 Silverado CC, 3500HD, Duramax, DRW, 4x4 Backup, side and hitch cameras, Tireminder TPMS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr Fox Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I used to own a auto reconditioning shop and when we got cars in that had been in accidents with lots of blood and the smell was horrible, we shampooed the area and applied a product called Nilodor. I just checked and they are still in business. This took out all the smells. You might try that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KodiakJack Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 I used to own a auto reconditioning shop and when we got cars in that had been in accidents with lots of blood and the smell was horrible, we shampooed the area and applied a product called Nilodor. I just checked and they are still in business. This took out all the smells. You might try that. Thanks for the heads up on Nilodor. I checked their website and they offer many products. So I sent them and email and asked which would work best for eliminating the smell form out freezer. I will post their reply. Later, J 2012 Landmark, San Antonio 2013 Silverado CC, 3500HD, Duramax, DRW, 4x4 Backup, side and hitch cameras, Tireminder TPMS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KodiakJack Posted March 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 Thanks for the heads up on Nilodor. I checked their website and they offer many products. So I sent them and email and asked which would work best for eliminating the smell form out freezer. I will post their reply. Later, J I got a nice email back from Nilodor suggesting one of their products and explaining why. That being Oxy-Force. Thanks to all your help the smell is now almost gone. Later, J 2012 Landmark, San Antonio 2013 Silverado CC, 3500HD, Duramax, DRW, 4x4 Backup, side and hitch cameras, Tireminder TPMS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sr Fox Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Good to hear. Thanks for getting back to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AprilWhine Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Best way to remove rotten meat smell and refrigerator....donate +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerryneal Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Brew a large pot of coffee and put the wet grounds in a plate. Place one in the freezer and another in the frig. Works everytime, plus it doesn't make the frig smell like coffee. Some kinda' chemical reaction occurs the kills the smell. Usually works in 24 hours. Jerry and Joan 2014 Ford F350 with 6.7 turbo, TrailerSaver 2014 40' Heartland Gateway Fifth wheel iLoveRVlife.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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