11 Oct 2019 3 mins read Commercial Refrigeration
Sometimes, a refrigerator or commercial cool room develops nasty smells, especially after long use. These should not be ignored, as bad odours could indicate potentially dangerous bacteria lurking around.
Opening or walking into your fridge should never make you convulse in disgust. This article will explain a few ways to eliminate bad odours from your refrigerator units.
1) Deep clean
Oftentimes, the smell in your unit might result from a lack of cleaning. It can be hard to determine the exact source of bad smells. And even if you find one, there may be other perpetrators.
Firstly, determine whether you can turn off your machine without damaging the items in the fridge. If you are, then turn off the fridge.
If you need the items to remain cold and don’t have a cooler or second fridge, then compartmentalise the items so that you can clean sections of the fridge whilst everything remains cold.
Secondly, once you determine how the items in the fridge will stay cold, remove the shelves and clean them thoroughly. Use warm water with some baking soda or vinegar added to it. This will help clean but also fight the smell.
Ensure any removable parts are disconnected and washed, wiped and dried. Bacteria can form in unlikely places. If all parts that can be cleaned are dealt with, it increases the chance of complete odour removal.
Lastly, depending on the material, the floor and the walls may be wiped or mopped. If you notice any mould or bacteria, target those areas.
2) Use deodoriser
Smells can stick even after deep cleaning. Using items that absorb odours is a great idea.
Baking soda has no smell in and of itself, but it is awesome at neutralising odours. Place an opened box or container of baking soda in the back of a few of your shelves, and it should absorb any unpleasant smell.
You can also use liquids like apple cider vinegar mixed with water and boiled. This is especially effective in freezer units.
If you have more time and can afford not to have your fridge for a few days, ground coffee beans are great too. Just spread ground coffee on trays and place them on the shelves of your fridge. It takes a few days for odours to be removed, which is why this is only feasible if you have more than one fridge.
3) Avoid the smells
Being proactive, like labelling and dating items correctly, throwing away old items, keeping shelves organised and clean and ensuring items that fall are picked up, are some of the best ways to keep away bad odours. By staying clean and tidy, smells are less likely to form.
4) Place a non-harmful fragrance
Sometimes, no matter what you do, smells persist. Placing a non-toxic fragrance or natural odour can help if there is no avoiding it.
A bag of charcoal mixed with lavender or rosemary may help. Or local stores may have chemical-free substances that could be used. Either way, a persistent smell may be hard to eliminate but easy to cover up.
Having a clean, fresh-smelling commercial cool room or refrigerator is key. Bad smells can leech onto items or be a sign of worse things.
If you are having trouble with your fridge or want an expert opinion about your unit’s smell, efficiency or maintenance, then contact JD Refrigeration at 0404 840 296.
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