Have you ever been greeted by a waft of stinky air on opening the refrigerator? If you have, you are not alone. This is quite common because there are times when ground beef or leftover fish hiding at the back of the shelves for days on end produces a nasty odor that can leave you gasping for fresh air. Here are some tips to banish freezer odors and keep your refrigerator smelling fresh:

• The best way to keep your fridge smelling good is to keep it clean at all times. This may seem a little difficult, but a thorough cleaning of the fridge every now and then is necessary. You can begin by throwing out all items that you do not need or those that may have expired. You can then place the rest of the food in coolers packed with ice and then unplug your fridge before cleaning. A thorough cleaning includes scrubbing all the shelves well, taking out the drawers and washing them separately, and wiping the space underneath these drawers.
• One of the best tips to banish freezer odors is to use natural cleaning agents. Cleaning solutions may be effective, but they are likely to have chemicals that are unsafe for food. Instead, you can use baking soda soaked in warm water to clean the surfaces.
• You can also leave odor removers on the fridge shelves. A box of baking soda kept open can keep away bad odor, and spreading baking soda on a cookie tray helps soak up all odor lingering after cleaning. Some natural odor removers are dried coffee grounds, white vinegar in a cup, oats in a bowl, and charcoal briquettes.
• It is helpful to keep fresh food in front so that it is not forgotten. When you place them on the top shelves, you will notice them every time you open the fridge. That way, the chances of the food being pushed to the back and forgotten reduce, also reducing the chances of food rotting or going bad and releasing a foul odor.
• Another useful tip to banish freezer odors is to soak some cotton balls in a cup of vanilla extract and leave these inside the fridge for a couple of hours. This leaves behind a clean and refreshing smell.
• Placing some slices of lemon also helps as they absorb unpleasant odors inside the refrigerator.
• You can also consider soaking cotton balls in a bowl of essential oil and placing them inside the fridge for a day.
• Using airtight containers ensures that any leftover dishes do not release a bad smell. This way, the food lasts longer and the odors do not mingle, which can create a nasty smell otherwise and greet you every time you open the refrigerator door.
• Finally, it is a good practice to label and date the leftovers so that you do not have to accidentally open a jar and feel nauseous. When you know exactly when the food has been packed away, you are less likely to fall ill because you will know whether or not to eat it.