Freezer nightmare

Agutka

Help!
I have just come back from my honeymoon to a strange smell in the house. And some mouldy patches on the carpet round the freezer. And when we opened the freezer door...
The freezer had been unplugged! I don't even know for how long - one or three weeks.

Having emptied the freezer (oh the stench) I washed it out with washing up liquid, even sprayed it with air freshener :eek: , just so I could physically stand to be near it. I have now placed some baking soda inside, vaguely remembering something...

Now I need your help - either methods or links please... I can't stand the smell for much longer!

Anne_Marie_2

Had similar problem years ago, freezer switched off when on a weeks hol. It was disgusting.
I would wipe everything with either straight vinegar or lemon juice, leave freezer door open for a couple of days.
Problem will be your carpet and possibly floorboards underneath - bound to be some tips on this board.
What a shame to come back from honeymoon to this.

Congrats on getting married.

annie-c

Bicarbonate of soda is good for removing smells from carpets. Sprinkle it in liberally, leave overnight and then hoover it all up (sort of like Shake n Vac from the 70s, but more natural...)

Congratulations on the wedding btw!

Agutka

Okay, kitchen now covered in bicarb. Fortunately there was not much area of carpet ruined, but don't want to think about floorboards. Shame I hate the smell of vinegar too... But anything will be better.

And the comment about you personally smelling is so true - I seem to be carrying it about! Eugh...

Just talked to my brother - he had the same experience and was not too hopefull... or helpful!

Do you want to hear something gross? My doggie, freshly picked up from kennels, was intrigued by the smell - and I had to physically drag her away as she started to lick :eek: the sludge on the bottom shelf!! If she is sick I will not be feeling sorry for her.

mhendo

Its not a nice smell, The exact same thing happened to my my parents a few years ago, Dad has mistakenly switched the freezer off instead of the washing machine.

After coming back 2 weeks later from a nice hot holiday, we had returned to a hot house stinking..... Unfortunatly flies had managed to get in and maggots formed under the freezer. Nothing mum and dad tried to get rid of the smell.

Dad refused to chuck the freezer out but after mum nagging for a few years, he finally gave in. I found that the freezer smelt funny years later.

Sorry it doesnt help much. Hope the smell goes!

annie-c

The important thing will be to remove all traces of the meat fluid from the freezer asap. If you do this, plastic shouldn't smell forever. Kim and Aggie's book has loads of great tips for this sort of cleaning. I think one tip is to make a paste of bicarb and lemon juice and scrub clean every little crevice using a toothbrush - especially the rubber door seal that will hold no end of gunk.

I think the worst part will be getting the carpet freshened up... but hopefully the bicarb will help!