desperate housewife seeks help to end pongy freezer smell!!

thifty

Hope someone can help, we have just come back off holiday to discover that our 2 year old has turned off our freezer at the socket. The house stinks to high heaven. We have cleaned it twice, left it closed over night with a huge packet of sodium bicarb in it(as it said on the packet) but it still smells. Has anyone got any tips for me or will i have to buy a new freezer?:eek:

wendym

One of the taint-free safe-with-food sprays like Dettox?

Lots and lots of lemons?

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there
I had this happen to me a while back...stocked up freezer before going away..thinking "ahh nice relaxing time when i get back"...yep and hubby switched it off at the socket....mmmm smelt lovely..rotting prawns, salmon and allsorts...
I wiped the inside over with comfort/lenor (mainly cos i was gagging)... then i left the door open a litle bit and switched it on over night (not energy efficient - but needs must ehh?)..the following morning i wiped it again with neat comfort, shut it up and left it for the smell to fade a bit so it didnt taint new food..and it was fine..the plus point being that when you next come to defrost it ...it will take a fraction of the time..as the ice wont weld to the sides.... 2 jobs in 1...woohooo...good luck

grannybroon

Mrs M

What a good tip about the comfort - one of my pet hates is the defrosting lark but I do cheat and use a hairdryer. Are you sure the comfort smell doesn't taint the food (I know it is packaged but we do decant into bags to maximise space.)

GB

lil_me

Check behind it and under it for any lurking manky water or fluids.

Dettol or similar would probably do the trick, need to get rid of the bacteria causing the smell.

Sorry to hear about it anyway, something I always fear and have happened before. Check with your house insurance policy to see if it's worth claiming.

MRSMCAWBER

Hi grannybroon
I have never had a problem with it tainting anything..i only tried it as i say because my hubby switched it off...at least thriftys wee one is only 2!!!
i couldnt stand near it without gagging..so wiped it over with neat comfort...and once it had frozen back up again and then i left it for a couple of hours the smell had all but gone..just a wee smell of comfort left.... then when i defrosted it (on purpose this time:-)..the ice just came away in sheets...but i have never had anything pick up the smell....hope it works for you too...
i now defrost and resort the freezer every month - sad i know - but it only takes minutes...woohooo
if you dont have the smell problem you can always wipe the inside over with glycerine (cake section of most supermarkets)..this will stop the ice from freezing solid, just the same..but without any smell....
regrds jill

grannybroon

Hi MrsM

Thanks for advice. Might just go for the smell free glycerine but a very good tip.!

GB

Nicki

I had this problem recently when the freezer packed up completely. I cleaned it thoroughly, then wiped it out with a solution of Milton, diluted as to its instructions. Smell went completely. Hope this helps

thifty

well have tried the milton and wiped it down with ecover lemon cleaner and switched it on. I haven't got any lenor! Will try soda crystals if it still stinks tomorrow. Thanks for all your tips and suggestions:T