How to Clean and Remove Odors from a Cooler

When I opened our cooler, the smell was overwhelming. We had made the mistake of not drying the cooler before storing it. Luckily there is an easy way to clean and remove odors from coolers.

Because a cooler is used to transport food, you should not use toxic chemicals to clean a cooler. Also, avoid products with strong fumes, such as bleach or mildew removers. These cleaners can create a toxic environment inside a cooler because of the lack of ventilation.

I recommend using baking soda to clean a cooler. Baking soda is an inexpensive, safe, yet effective cleaner and it can also remove odors from coolers.

Since our cooler is quite large, it is much easier for me to clean the cooler in the shower instead of trying to use the sink. It's also a convenient place to let it dry so we aren't tripping over it.

The first step in cleaning a cooler is to remove all of the water that is puddled at the bottom of the cooler.

If your cooler has a drain at the bottom of the cooler, open the drain and drain out the water. Keep the drain open so you can flush it out with clean water.

Turn the shower on using warm water. If possible, rotate the shower head so all of the sides of the cooler get wet. Turn the shower off once all of the sides are slightly damp.

Sprinkle a light coating of baking soda in the cooler. Use a wet sponge or soft cloth and rub all of the surfaces of the cooler.

If you have stains in your cooler, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply the paste to the stain.

Allow the baking soda mixture to sit for a half hour. This will give the baking soda time to work on the stains and eliminate any odors in the cooler.

Next, use the shower to add warm water to the cooler. Use a wet sponge to loosen up the dried-on baking soda inside the cooler.

Tip the cooler over to drain out the water. Once all of the baking soda has been rinsed out of the cooler turn the shower off.

Dry off the cooler with a soft cloth. Leave the lid off the cooler for a few days to be sure it is dry before putting the cooler in storage.

To clean the outside of the cooler you can use baking soda or any mild non-toxic cleaner with a sponge or soft cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals which may cause the color of your cooler to fade.

If your cooler has a hinged top opening, be sure to keep all small children and pets away from the cooler to prevent injuries.