Got a problem

Bugster2 wrote:I have a problem: the inside of my refrigerator stinks. I have pulled everything out and done the sniff test. I have pulled out all the drawers and shelves and washed the interior down but there is still a stink in there. I have opened a new box of baking soda and that has not helped. The only thing left is the water filter inside the fridge. Could that stink? Any ideas would be appreciated.

LisaSD wrote:One time, we stayed at a beach rental and my sister had brought home some leftover lasagna from a local restaurant.  We cleaned out the fridge at the end of the week and noticed a sour smell.  Everything was out of the refrigerator and it still stunk.  We pulled out the refrigerator and nothing but dust balls was under or behind it.  Finally, I pulled off the front grate at the bottom of the fridge and there was a tray (for evaporation or freezer?  Jimmy will know).  Anyway, that was the source of the stink.  I guess some lasagna cheesy juice had made its way down there.  It looked like it had never been cleaned.  Problem solved...

Crybaby wrote:

LisaSD wrote:One time, we stayed at a beach rental and my sister had brought home some leftover lasagna from a local restaurant.  We cleaned out the fridge at the end of the week and noticed a sour smell.  Everything was out of the refrigerator and it still stunk.  We pulled out the refrigerator and nothing but dust balls was under or behind it.  Finally, I pulled off the front grate at the bottom of the fridge and there was a tray (for evaporation or freezer?  Jimmy will know).  Anyway, that was the source of the stink.  I guess some lasagna cheesy juice had made its way down there.  It looked like it had never been cleaned.  Problem solved...

That is also the place where you need to be aggressive about vacuuming, too.  We have a cat who must have a shed button.  She is super, super soft -- the softest cat we've ever had, as she feels like fine velvet -- and when you pet her, you see the freaking hair fly off.  At any rate, dust woofies are created quickly from cat hair and if that front grate is not vacuumed regularly, it will block up and break the whole darn thing.  Is this correct, Jimmy?  

I'm laughing here, as anytime anything breaks in our house, I immediately think of asking Jimmy about  it!  No lie.  I don't always do it, though, as our clothes washer (15.5 years old) broke almost two weeks ago -- it filled with water and just stopped.  Since it was so old, I decided to get a new one rather than have someone come out for $100 to show up and tell me it wasn't worth it.  New one (top load, as we have no room for front load PLUS no one seems to like them anyway) is being delivered today between 4 and 8 pm.  Funny, as he's got to do the haulaway, and then install the new one.  If he comes close to 6 pm, it's dark already.  But we really do need to do laundry.  

Uncle Jimmy wrote:It's funny...today I had to change the water filter on the whirlpool refridge.  I wanted to vacuum the underneath condenser coil because with three kitty's it seems tat coil gets matted with dust bunnies really quick.
That is something I had to put off because it is raining, and my knees are swollen and ache from the arthritis. hahahahahahaha
It's on my to do list.

Crybaby wrote:

Uncle Jimmy wrote:It's funny...today I had to change the water filter on the whirlpool refridge.  I wanted to vacuum the underneath condenser coil because with three kitty's it seems tat coil gets matted with dust bunnies really quick.
That is something I had to put off because it is raining, and my knees are swollen and ache from the arthritis. hahahahahahaha
It's on my to do list.

Jimmy, I just bought one of those thick foam "kneelers" that garden centers/catalogs/websites sell so you can use them while gardening.  While I'm sure we'll use it there, too, I really got it for kneeling on the darn ceramic tile floor in the kitchen.  Brian was tickled and plans to use it for both locations.  Tina is a much better shopper than I am so you can put her on to the task of finding a good one for a good price.  They really do help.

Uncle Jimmy wrote:Thanks Michelle. I use the couch cushions. I take three, and stuff them in a plastic bags, and use them to lay and kneel on.
I need a chair near bye so I can use it to get up off my knees.
It's so funny, and my Daughter says,"Dad, what the heck are you doing, sleeping in the kitchen?"

Crybaby wrote:

Uncle Jimmy wrote:Thanks Michelle. I use the couch cushions. I take three, and stuff them in a plastic bags, and use them to lay and kneel on.
I need a chair near bye so I can use it to get up off my knees.
It's so funny, and my Daughter says,"Dad, what the heck are you doing, sleeping in the kitchen?"

I guess that's the professional in you, Jimmy!  I know what you mean about a nearby chair.  I make sure Brian is around instead (grin, 6'4" and able to help pull me up)!

Bugster2 wrote:Well, it isn't the cheese 'cause the fridge still stinks. A food odor, not mold. Like an over-ripe romano that has gone south. I pulled off the front grill and pulled out a big ball of grey fuzz. A combination of dust and cat hair. I might have my DH pull the fridge out and see if there is a pan. The odor is coming from the inside though. I hate having to re-wash the inside but I prolly will have to. I will follow your directions Jimmy.

thesweetestpea wrote:We once bought a fridge that was a "return" at a furniture store and it was stinky when we opened it and the clerk said they'd clean it for us.  Well, they didn't and I found dead green beans under the produce drawer and other icky stuff.  Couldn't get the smell out after cleaning or a week with baking soda in it.  Read somewhere to use a charcoal filter or finely crushed charcoal from the natural foods store.  I put some in a cup inside the freezer and fridge and in a few days the smell was gone.  I kept the cups in the back of each area and it stayed fresh smelling.