Smelly Caravan Fridges

When shutting down your caravan for the winter you will have given your fridge a good clean and hopefully left the doors open for the winter period. Even after carrying out those procedures you might still have an odour to your fridge when you open it up for the first time in the Spring.

Thoroughly clean your fridge

The first thing to do is to have a thorough clean, so take out any removable shelves first and allow them a soak in water with washing up liquid in it. Rinse off with clear water and dry well then spray with some nice smelling anti-bacterial cleaner. Cleanse the fridge itself using a solution of bicarbonate of soda. If something has left a strong odour inside the fridge which washing alone cannot shift, try making a paste out of the bicarbonate of soda and water, and smear this inside the refrigerator and leave overnight. Rinse with warm water, dry and clean - this should cure the problem. Smells can linger on porous materials like the surrounding rubber around the fridge door. Stay away from bleach on the rubber but give a really good clean with the bicarbonate and soda mixture in between the rubber with a soft toothbrush which will remove any congealed grease and stubborn stains. Finally just wipe over with clear water and you ought to get a completely clean fridge. It is advisable to thoroughly clean your caravan fridge every twelve months whether or not it smells or since it helps to keep germs away where drink and food is stored. A recommended product to use when cleaning your fridge is Fenwicks Waste Pipe and Tank Cleaner After cleaning the fridge think about investing in a fridge deodoriser such as the Gem Fridge Deodoriser which should keep your fridge smelling sweet.

Check drain container and exterior vent panel

If the odour persists after you have cleaned the fridge try checking the drain pipe at the back of the fridge and the drain container behind the lower vent on the outside of the caravan. There may be the problem of the drain container overflowing which could cause a musty smell behind the fridge. Next remove the exterior vent panel, as there may be some spilt food lurking there, and clean up if you see some.

Check the smell is not gas!

If the smell persists you should definitely check that it is not a gas smell you have. If you notice any black streaks around the fridge vents that could indicate problems with the burner or the flue. Get your caravan serviced before you take it anywhere to make sure that it is safe to stay in.