I recently returned from vacation to find that my refrigerator had broken down while I was away, and everything inside is now rotten and smells really bad. I suspect it has been off for about a week. I unplugged it and plugged it back in, and it seems to be running normally again. However, I'm worried about the bacteria that might have formed due to the spoiled food. Should I deep clean everything and keep the fridge, or would it be safer to just buy a new one?
3 Answers
Cleaning is definitely an option since fridges can be expensive. Just be sure to remove everything and give it a good spray down with bleach cleaner to kill any lingering bacteria. If you still smell something foul after cleaning, it might be time to consider getting a new one.
I've been there before, and honestly, sometimes you just can't get rid of that horrible smell. When I had a similar issue, I tried everything to clean it, but in the end, I had to buy a new fridge. You definitely need to throw out all the rotten food and see if it works first. If there was meat that thawed, that fridge might be a lost cause.
As long as the mess was contained inside the fridge, you can probably clean it out effectively. Just make sure to give it a thorough scrubbing with some disinfectant or bleach. That should help tackle any smell or bacteria left behind.
Totally agree! If the smell lingers after a deep clean, it might be better to cut your losses and invest in a new fridge.