Food spoiled because of the power outage? Here’s how to get rid of the smell in your fridge 🤢

HOUSTON – If you’re one of the millions of Houston residents who had their food spoiled because of the power outages, you might be trying to get rid of the dead animal smell in your fridge.

SEE ALSO: Does insurance cover spoiled food during power outages? | How to get reimbursed for food lost during a power outage without insurance

It’s been a week since Hurricane Beryl roared through Houston and knocked out power to more than 2 million customers. CenterPoint Energy has been working to restore power and those who went nearly a week without electricity (like myself) and had to vacate until then, returned to find everything in our fridge had gone rotten.

My wife and I already tried leaving Baking Soda in the fridge, but the odor wouldn’t go away as quickly as we wanted (immediately).

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it’s not just us so different procedures and remedies recommended to get rid of the odor may have to be repeated several times.

Here are some of the tips the USDA recommends to remove the smell:

• Dispose of any spoiled or questionable food.
• Remove shelves, crispers, and ice trays. Wash them thoroughly with hot water and detergent. Then rinse with a sanitizing solution (1 tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water).
• Wash the interior of the refrigerator and freezer, including the door and gasket, with hot water and baking soda. Rinse with sanitizing solution as above.
• Leave the door open for about 15 minutes to allow free air circulation.

If the odors remain, the USDA recommends these:

• Wipe inside of the unit with equal parts vinegar and water. Vinegar provides acid which destroys mildew.
• Leave the door open and allow to air out for several days.
• Stuff both the refrigerator and freezer with rolled newspapers. Close the door and leave for several days. Remove paper and clean with vinegar and water.
• Sprinkle fresh coffee grounds or baking soda loosely in a large, shallow container in the bottom of the refrigerator and freezer.
• Place a cotton swab soaked with vanilla inside the refrigerator and freezer. Close the door for 24 hours. Check for odors.
• Use a commercial product available at hardware and housewares stores. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Thinking about getting rid of the fridge altogether?

If you’ve got the ability to start over, more power to you!

But before you take your fridge out to the trash, the USDA wants you to remember the following things: some things you need to remember:

• “Childproof” old refrigerators or freezers so children do not get trapped inside. The surest way is to take the door off.
• If the door will not come off, chain and padlock the door permanently and close tightly, or remove or disable the latch completely so the door will no longer lock when closed.

“It is unlawful in many jurisdictions to discard old refrigerators or freezers without first removing the door,” the USDA claims. “Depending on where you live, your appliance will be picked up by your solid waste provider, a recycler, a retailer (if you buy a new unit), or program sponsored by local or regional utilities.”

For additional information, visit the USDA’s website.