Fridges will be clean and free of unpleasant odours when wiped with 1 baking staple

Foul odours can be extremely off-putting and when they're coming from the fridge, they could eventually ruin the flavour of your food. Appliances are sometimes neglected during cleaning routines, yet hygiene remains crucial for maintaining food freshness.

Nevertheless, to tackle any persistent smells, a professional cleaner known as Zapatas Cleaning Services has revealed four of her top methods to eliminate bad odours in a TikTok video. One technique employs a baking essential to disguise awful smells, reports the Express.Kellsie explained: "As a pro cleaner, these are four tricks I swear by for smelly spots in the home. They work way better than candles or sprays and they're quick fixes you can try today."

Refrigerators can become grimy easily from spillages and food remnants. When the shelves and interior of the appliance aren't properly cleaned, you might face lingering smells which can be unpleasant.

Should you discover that the smell persists despite removing rotten food, a comprehensive deep clean will be necessary. Remove all shelves and drawers from the refrigerator, cleaning them thoroughly.

Kellsie disclosed that the key to eliminating those nasty odours is vanilla extract.

Combine two tablespoons of vanilla extract with one and a half cups of water in a spray bottle.

Clean every surface with the mixture using kitchen paper or a microfibre cloth, but avoid rinsing. Kellsie noted: "Vanilla keeps deodorising, so your fridge smells fresh long after you're done cleaning."

Nielsen-Massey, a food extract producer, has advised caution when using vanilla extract to combat odours, as these extracts are primarily intended for baking. They recommend applying a few drops directly onto a sponge for a more potent aroma.

For those keen to avoid chemical products when cleaning fridge shelves, natural alternatives exist. Culinary experts at Delish suggest using lemon, baking soda and salt.

Delish elaborates: "If you open a box of baking soda, let it sit in your fridge and it's not absorbing those aromas, slice some lemon and sprinkle it with baking soda and salt, and let them sit on a plate in the fridge. That should do the trick."

Baking soda can be an effective weapon against unwanted smells by neutralising acidic scents. As an alkaline substance, baking soda reacts with acidic odours to neutralise them.

The chemical reaction between the baking soda and the acid either neutralises or produces a less pungent compound. This alters the pH level, aiding in the eradication of unpleasant odours.

Lemon is also beneficial in eliminating unwanted smells by providing citric acid to combat bacteria. It serves as a natural antibacterial, antiseptic, and bleaching agent, capable of cutting through grease, removing stains, and killing bacteria, making it a versatile, eco-friendly alternative to commercial cleaning products.