fridge smell when unplugged?

dada44

hi there, we have an american style fridge freezer, and i've noticed a heavy smell everytime we unplug it and then open the doors after a while. is this normal?

the fridge is completely empty and relatively clean

googler

Whenever I've encountered fridges or freezers left empty and unplugged, I've noted the owners have left the doors ajar, perhaps for precisely this reason.

EDIT

http://www.ehow.com/how_7655937_keep-mold-out-refrigerator-unplugged.html

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060706094412AALatoM

dada44

so, i'm guessing that this means that no smell is meant to be present.

however, it does not really smell of mould - more of what refridgerant would smell like (i imagine)

our old fridge had the same issue

cyclonebri1

dada44 wrote: »

hi there, we have an american style fridge freezer, and i've noticed a heavy smell everytime we unplug it and then open the doors after a while. is this normal?

the fridge is completely empty and relatively clean

So why do you unplug it?

It's a serious question, any bugs/bacteria that create a smell do not survive at fridgerated temps

googler

dada44 wrote: »

so, i'm guessing that this means that no smell is meant to be present.

our old fridge had the same issue

So... your old fridge did the same, the advice on the links is that you should leave the door ajar, because mould can build up if you don't.... and you take this to mean that it shouldn't smell? Where does that come from?

As the previous poster said - why do you need to unplug it (assuming you do so regularly)?

ed110220

It's normal to leave the fridge door open if for some reason you need to leave it empty and turned off. Even if clean they do tend to smell a bit if left closed.

shegirl

It's perfectly normal.It's always advised to leave the door open if it's unplugged,not just due to mould but also the smell!

cyclonebri1

Without suggesting that your housekeeping isn't quite up to scratch, it could be that you have spilt some liquid, either milk or cream are the usual suspects.
There will be a drain at the back towards the bottom. This will allow fluid, normally just condensation, to run out to a drip tray sited over the motor, this evaporates away if it's just water but milk etd will sour

Not unusual to find this drain blocked, poke it out with a pencil.