The smells coming from your kitchen when you enter your home can transform the atmosphere and mood. When we sell our homes, we’re often encouraged to bake bread or brew coffee to create a special first impression. It proves that all of us are sensitive to odours, and we can all be put off by a bad smell.
In the kitchen, unpleasant smells can be a sign of poor hygiene, and one major culprit of dubious smells is the fridge. Whether it’s left over food or a splash of spilt milk, the smells can linger on for days if not dealt with.
Unfortunately, the source of bad smells can be hard to track down. Here are some simple tips to help you keep your fridge smelling divine and rid those unwanted smells for good.
Treat Yourself to New Tubs
New tubs and baskets really help keep the fridge clean and tidy. Using inexpensive plastic containers, you can organise different products and control the odours coming from within. Baskets will prevent food slipping down the back of the fridge and decaying.
For stronger smelling foods such as cheese, use tubs with lids so that you can seal in smells that otherwise might escape when you open the door. You are also more likely to catch any accidental spillages or crumbs in the tub rather than on your fridge shelf, making it easier for your cleaners. As an added benefit, a good tub helps keep your foods fresher for longer.
Get Organised
If you organise the foods in your fridge, you can ensure they are stored at the optimum temperature and are kept fresh – and smell-free – for longer.
Contrary to popular opinion, you should not keep your milk, cheese or other dairy products in the door. That’s because the fluctuation in temperature can cause food to decay very quickly.
Additionally, make sure your foods have room to ‘breathe’; a tightly packed fridge will cause food to rot more quickly as the air cannot circulate around it.
Store meat on the bottom shelf and make sure meat products are always tightly wrapped or stored in a sealed container.
Make an Odour Absorber
Baking soda it is ideal for absorbing unwanted smells, and it’s also very inexpensive. If there’s a smell in the fridge that you can’t track down, baking soda will help to remove it until your cleaner’s next visit.
Make a simple homemade absorber by putting some baking soda in a cup or pot, covering with a lid or cling film and popping in the door of the fridge. The lid needs to have a few holes in it so the powder can get to work and absorb any smells.
For really strong smells, add some vanilla or lavender to the powder to create a pleasant smell when you open your fridge.
Cleaning the Fridge
At Efficient Cleaning London, we always recommend that fridges are cleaned once a week. That’s easier said than done. However, if you book a regular clean with us, we can add a full fridge clean to your cleaning plan.
Inbetween, if you need to clean yourself, we recommend mixing equal parts white vinegar with water and wiping the shelves gently.
For more information – or to get help with those challenging pongs – get in touch with Efficient Cleaning London. We provide domestic cleaning services all over London and Surrey.
