Keep Your Refrigerator Smelling Fresh

It's hard to ignore a sticky kitchen floor or a spill on the stove top but it can be surprisingly easy to ignore the inside of your refrigerator. After all, all you have to do is close the door; out of sight, out of mind. Until, of course, you open the door and the smell knocks you down. In the case of a smelly refrigerator an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here are some easy tips to help you keep your refrigerator smelling fresh.

The main thing to do in order to keep your refrigerator smelling fresh is to keep it clean. Wipe up all spills immediately and use a bleach and water solution to wipe down all inside surfaces. In fact, even easier then bleach and water are the new bleach wipes that are now available. Do this bleach wipe a few times a month to keep your fridge clean and fresh, not to mention shiny clean.

Another thing you can do to keep bad smells away is to be sure and remove and dispose of old food promptly before it turns fuzzy. In fact, for the ultimate bad smells prevention don't save left-overs you know will not be eaten. I know this can be hard to do. I, too, was taught not to waste food but, if it is destined for the garbage can anyway why keep it? Throw it away and save your fridge.

When you do have food you want to save be sure and cover or wrap it well. This is especially important with strong smelling foods such as tuna or onions. I find that keeping cut onions in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid keeps the onion smell out of my fridge. Consider using glass jars for other left-overs with strong smells. Don't forget the freezer compartment. Strong smelling foods kept in the freezer can smell up the lower regions too. Be sure they are wrapped well and don't keep any freezer foods longer than 6 months.

Last but not least always keep an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator and replace it every month or so. A fresh smelling refrigerator is a sweet thing indeed.