smelly fridge drainhole

iscamaid

my daughter spilt a pint of cream in the fridge and some went down the drain hole. A few days later the kitchen started smelling of gone off milk. I checked and put a straw down the drain hole and it was not blocked and then poured bicarb and vinegar down as an online thread suggested this. Still the kitchen stinks of curdled milk. I have washed the inside of the fridge twice to no effect. any ideas as getting a new fridge seems a bit drastic.

bengalknights

Wait it out it will go away

Aylesbury_Duck

If you can pull the fridge out, you will see that the drain hole leads to a tray above the compressor. Liquid from the drain hole pools there and the heat from the compressor evaporates it. That's why you can smell curdled milk. You have two choices. Wait for it all to evaporate, or pull the fridge out and clean out the drip tray.

iscamaid

thanks, I think this might be the only answer. Husband is already kicking off though, as he will have to remove the worktop end panel and kick board to get in and pull the fridge out (it is an integrated one). Having said that the house stinks and I would rather live with a grumpy old husband for a few days than a house which smells of vomit like gone off milk for weeks on end:rotfl:

Aylesbury_Duck

It's a good opportunity to have a good clean behind the fridge anyway. Cobwebs and dust all over the radiator on the back reduces its efficiency.

iscamaid

thought I would post a quick thank you. Husband dismantled kickboards and pulled out the fridge and cleaned out the tray. It is a Miele fridge and they made it virtually impossible to get in as the back of the fridge was riveted into place and non removable. He did it with a torch, long handled paint pad and a very strong stomach (I hid upstairs). House smells so much better now. thank you.