Fridge has BAD Odor Smell? Here's Why!

You will find many videos showing you how to control the smell odor from your fridge. The truth is you need to find the source of the smell. This video will help you fix and eliminate the problem for good on any fridge!

[@sheila1208]

Thank you! Very helpful!..... I don't know about anybody else but I consider this a design flaw on Frigidaire that you have to completely empty your fridge and freezer and tip the fridge over just to get the drip pan out!!

[@samuelmarquez3757]

A design flaw puts it lightly. Idiotic design! I have this issue after hurricane Ian. Glad I found the answer!

[@ezzy100]

I totally concur..As @samuelmarquez3757 said, 'design flaw' is a complete understatement..It's ridiculous!...The drip pan should be easily removable like the trays inside the fridge..

[@trevorbenoit9338]

Wow Sam, thank you so much for taking the time to make this video. Four years later it helped me finally get rid of the bad smell in my apartment. Thanks again!

[@freddytv]

Thank you! We have the same fridge and the funky smell was driving my wife and I crazy!

[@brucecindybernakevitch3263]

This is exactly what I was looking for. We cleaned the fridge and wiped all contents with bleach, then again with pure vinegar. The fridge and freezer still reeked of mold. We were not pleased that we would have to replace the fridge! I'm so glad I KZbind this and found your advice. Who are the bozos who gave thumbs down? Refrigerator sales and service people?

[@verotaylor445]

Yes it was definitely the fridge/service repair people who thumbs down this 😂😂😂🥴 I’ve been smelling this for months been driving me crazy!!! I’ll clean fridge mop under/ around smell would come back within 24 hours.

[@nelliemusignac]

@@verotaylor445 lol i have the same problem. Going to try to get the drip pan done!

[@renaissance17]

Job security . Quit hurting our business !

[@DravenThegloriouscat]

We do not thumbs it down I’m beyond happy to see that this is a cause. I never would have thought this is the issue. I can service my customers much quicker now

[@mw7882]

Omg thank you. I will never buy a Frigidaire refrigerator again. They should make this easier to access and clean.

[@cptcrazi3096]

Just cleaned mine out... a awful smell started to linger smelt around and my nose led me to the fridge and I looked back there and I was petrified and what I saw growing back there 😳 the overwhelming stench and what seemed to be eyes looking at me confirmed my fears... so me and that fridge had a battle for the century ⚔️🛡 but in the end i came out victorious!!⚔️ the legends will be told of this fate filled day and glory 😤⚔️ for centuries to come... I just hope no one has to trek through what horrors o had to endure.. but yes I know no one will ever see this comment..... but one day just maybe this will be in the KZbin recommended for a few unlucky travelers 🧳 or just possibly people that will endure the same horrors, but with that I will end my journey and wish you luck with yours! Safe travels my friends🛡⚔️

[@YAHUAHbetheonlysavior.]

Lol! My journey begins today. I have armed myself with a bottle of bleach, a green scrubby, and goggles in case the monster creating this horrid stench tries to take my eyes out. With Yahuah as my guide and my husband by my side, I know we will be victorious! Farewell my friend😏 and thank you for your words of encouragement and humor to help me laugh through this insanity we are about to endure. Yah Bless!😊have a great day!

[@cicadaqueen]

Oh goodness I myself have to go through this I think soon since I think that’s what my smell around my fridge is… I’m glad others could do it it is definitely encouraging as I feel terrified right now lol

[@The_Quili]

THIS❤️‍🔥

[@graceurbina9938]

Thank you!! I have cleaned out my freezer and fridge so many times . There’s no waste food or anything rotting?? Every time I open it it smells awful!!

[@sbx2307]

OMG!!! Thank you!!! I hope this works!!! The smell is so bad I thought there was a dead mouse or something.

[@anthonyramirez9123]

Sam, I came here to thank you. Great video and I was having this issue last night. Of course the smell started 5 minutes before I was about to go to bed. I removed the tray where I found about an inch of water and the smell was very strong. I took the try in the yard, dumped it out, sprayed the tray with my house and cleaned it with bleach. When I woke up this morning the smell was completely gone. I have an old Fridgidaire.

[@jacobcorrigan3871]

YES! Thank You! This design needs a better access to the pan without hoisting it or tilting it.

[@nariah65]

Exactly I hate it. I don't know how

[@mw7882]

Update. Sam you are a blessing. I cleaned the drip pan, no more gross moldy smell permeating from the kitchen. My little apartment feels clean again.

[@tricityterror]

I have this fridge in my nyc apartment. Not sure when it started but got a nail polish like funk in freezer and fridge that affected all my food. Cleaned top to bottom, no results. It was definitely the drip pan and problem gone. They get so funky. Thanks for making the video!

[@gilbertvallian559]

Thank you sir. That's exactly where my smell was coming from! You earned a subscriber today.

[@TheCAG1976]

Amazing! I didn't think I would actually find my issue on a KZbin video, but here it is! This is exactly the problem I have and now I know how to fix it. At first I was wondering where the smell that I was smelling was coming from until I sniffed around and the stink got stronger under the fridge. Then I stumbled across your video. This is my problem. Short story... In my apartment the original refrigerator stopped working so maintenance came in an replaced the fridge with, well, obviously a very used one probably in a different apartment, and as soon as I got the word that it had been replace, I was happy until I came in and smelled the awful odor which has been bothering me every day since. Now just to carefully pull out the drip pan and clean it and place it back under the thing somehow. Thanks again for the video!

[@samstevens6544]

Tremendous. Thought I was going to have to Chuck the fridge out as I couldn’t find the source. This is the most helpful video, thanks.

[@mikesexton3829]

Moved into a new apartment (seen it on the day the guys were repainting the kitchen). Noticed bad smell faintly after move-in; over the course of about 10 days, my nose traced the funk to the bottom of the fridge--same Frigidaire as shown in vid. Tipped it over liked described and drip pan looked almost exactly the same--GROSS! Cleaned it out and stank is GONE!! Also of note is the massive amount of dust and fuzz around the bottom coils. Sweep all that funk out. All smells are gone from the apartment and I figure my fridge is operating in a more efficient condition as well! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VID!

[@mikesexton3829]

After reading the comments, I'd like to additionally add a comment on how I would describe the original smell coming from the fridge drip pan... I would describe it as similar to BO--body odor. That's what it smelled like to me. So glad to be rid of that. Frigidaire should be ashamed!

[@angelicapetra4112]

Thank you so much!!! Me and my husband have been going crazy trying to see where this smell was coming from

[@MC-bp1dm]

Me too! I was frustrated. The smell forces wascluke a funky fruity smell! Its hurts my nose and eyes!

[@NicoLynn330]

Can u please tell me if your food was taking on this smell. This smell is extremely strong & it comes & goes but it’s not old food. It’s a chemical like smell. Did yours smell like that???

[@angelicapetra4112]

@@NicoLynn330 yes it did it was all over the fridge and food!

[@honeyofoats5619]

@@angelicapetra4112 I have a old house water smell coming from inside of the back of the freezer and it is a fume strong smell but, the refrigerator haves to smell but not so much.

[@ghostclouds2557]

Musty with a hint of rotten bananas / fruit is what it smelled like here on my end. 😂

[@albinasolo8867]

Thanks a LOT! our house smelled like a dead animal for a week!!! You’re the only guide that actually helped!!!

[@sroczka9]

I’m having a similar issue with my whirlpool fridge. I just had trouble accessing the tray but thanks to this video we will attempt to tilt it back to get to the drip pan. Thanks!

[@amberfurby9331]

Very helpful! Our fridge wasn’t getting cold/freezer wasn’t properly freezing. A couple days after replacing the relay, the smell popped up. It was the drip pan. Thank you!

[@retropee229]

Very very helpful 💯😁😃😃thank u so much I thought something died in there had taken the fridge outside thank u for Savin me money 😁

[@MazdaBonez]

THANK YOU for this!!! i happen to be vacuuming under neath my front fridge and noticed with a light there was gunk, stuck my hand in there and felt the slime. mind you this is a brand new Frigidaire not even a year old yet. i ended up jamming my hand in there and wiping it all out via disinfecting wipes then used Lysol and let it air dry 3x. i wish there was a way to make it fully removable with the fridge in the up-right position to be a serviceable part of the unit.

[@ella4804]

Thank you! 2 years later & this video helped me! Thank you so much for posting this! The smell was driving me crazy..!!

[@ghostclouds2557]

THANK YOU!! This was 100% absolutely what was happening. I think I have the bigger model and there were 2 screws under there and it was NOT easy. This is a 2 person (minimum) job. Do NOT do this yourself, especially with the bigger model and DO have something to help prop the fridge up. I cleaned the pan out with bleach - tbd on what happens when the fan kicks on next time.

[@leeleekennedy1260]

Thank you so much! This is the second... I had to sleep in another room because the smell is just so loud... A old sour milk!

[@sreynolds6352]

Thanks so much for posting this! I was literally going crazy! I cannot believe they make it so hard to clean!!!

[@TheBusyfaith]

You are an absolute genius!! I too thought a mouse had died behind the fridge. Thank you!!!! :)))

[@tommiebrooks8573]

I thought the same thing!

[@brydgeo007]

I have the exact fridge and had a power outage for 8 days. My fridge drain pan is gross because I could see some maggots on the tray. I pour vinegar and water in freezer so it will drain down to the pan. The vinegar killed most of the maggots and later today I will remove the pan. Thanks for this video.

[@Mahbus]

Thanks I thought a mouse died below my fridge

[@95Edrick]

Same here, LOL!

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

Ha, ha! Yes, me too!

[@JonesTameka]

Same

[@jedhomarsison8492]

Me too

[@TrainFlood]

Damn I googled this cuz I thought the same. Did you clean the drip pan like he did?

[@mikaylalewis1526]

Thank you so much I deep cleaned my whole kitchen and wondered why it still smelt bad your video really helped me

[@palmcoast35]

Always own a Whirlpool but recently the house we purchased has 4 year old frigidaire appliances and in the past 3 months I've been battling trying to figure out what that smell was and it finally dawned on me - the drip pan. I referred to your video because the only way that I noticed to access the pan would be to remove the doors. Not sure I'll be able to flip over but thank you for the video.

[@noelgarza2185]

Hi I want to thank you so much. I had that dad smell and couldn’t figure out what it was. But sure enough it was this drip pan. You show on this video my man i thank for also explaining how to remove it. It was so easy to do following your instructions. God bless you sir.

[@edgarmali7572]

Noel Did you have to remove the water line coming into the fridge (back lower right) in order to tilt the fridge enough to remove the screws from the drip pan? Thanks

[@honeyofoats5619]

@@edgarmali7572 I have a problem. I have a 30 year old fridge and it haves a old house water smell coming from inside of the back of the freezer and it is a fume strong smell but, the refrigerator haves to smell but not so much of it. What should I do?

[@penelopesmith8425]

Thank you! This needs to be done to our fridge!

[@lalala123811]

Thank you will give it a try. I have been having other issues with this fridgerator. The fan motor stops running after just 2 years and now the smell is bothering me. Wonder how this model can be so popular at both lowes and Home Depot. I never had problems with other brands for over 15 years!

[@Montgomery1598]

Thank you so much for the help, the liquid in the tray was almost filled to the brim! All of it got removed and the odor is finally gone.

[@GzasPeace]

Thank you your video just sorted a similar problem that was very unsettling. It was all in the tray

[@selftherapy2014]

This must be a defect with frigadaire refrigerators, we moved in a house and we found that there was a odor that we couldn't get rid of no matter how much I cleaned, I narrowed it down to the drip pan and decided to look in KZbin to see how to remove it. Thank you for making this video. It helped me a great deal.

[@bleedforme9058]

Thank you, Sam. I thought there were dogs peeing in front of my fridge overnight with as bad as that smelled. It smelled like VERY OLD dog pee in a very old couch.

[@Scottttttttt600]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for posting this video.

[@JuneOsborne06]

Thanks you saved the day 5 yrs later. We cleaned it.. it still has a smell. Hopefully works it way out 😮

[@MariaGarcia-bx1gr]

If I tilt it alittle does the freeon fall

[@happygirlandmore]

Ive been loosing my mind for a week trying to figure out what that dead animal smell was. I wish i found this sooner, its a life saver ! Was habing major breaking problems from it. Hope that i can get the drip pan out easily

[@monaashley7140]

Thank you! We lost power for 5 days, then came the smell. Thanks 🙏🏾

[@highdb1]

I lost power for 6 days. Now my house smells like rotting meat! I’ve been trying to figure it out for one week and it’s driving me crazy. I hope this video provides the answer I’ve been looking for.

[@Tahiya81]

I have a Frigidaire refrigerator and I am constantly having this problem, no matter how often we clean out the drip tray. Does this mean there's mold inside the hose or is it truly just the drip tray (we have never spilled anything inside the freezer or poured anything in the back of it)? Any comment would help because this refrigerator is driving me nuts!

[@EveryonesADude]

5 years later, but did you ever find a solution? I'm in the EXACT same situation as your comment and it's so exhausting and frustrating. Idk what else to clean! 😵‍💫

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

I have a very old Gurney fridge that reeks inside (not outside). Chills great though.

[@GangstaRob100]

The only problem is.. once you clean the drip pan, the stinky stuff will eventually build back up again and again and you'll have to clean the drip pan periodically..

[@YanDaOne_QC]

no shit Sherlock

[@YanDaOne_QC]

i thought that nasty smell in my apartment was coming from the basement. It took me 5 years to realize it was the refrigerator(same model as yours). Drip pan was covered with disgusting brown gelly. Thanks a lot

[@handlenotset]

i have vanquished the nasty from the drip tray (and from inside the hose! thank you random pipe cleaner in my cabinet) this apartment has an old OLD frigidaire electroluxe (way older than in yours) but the processes was nearly identical. thanks for the vid!

[@anthonykavanagh9181]

What an absolutely brilliant video, saved me a fortune. Thank you!

[@sbx2307]

Update: it worked!! I cleaned with hot soap and water. Then again with vinegar. After that I spread a light coat of Lysol, a lavender scent. Works well!! Thank you!!

[@michaelmorales9411]

Thought it was gas leaking but that drain pan was pretty dirty it smells like old ripe Mango but with a gassy smell not sure if it's the drain pan smelling or actually leak but I'll check it out thank you again

[@Rorschach00Testing]

What happened? I have this Frigidaire FFHT1514TW2 with what smells like R134A oil vapour but only at times. Hoping it's the pan and wondering how you made out. Thanks.

[@nelliemusignac]

This is exactly my problem, the smell. I have to figure out how to tilt and unscrew the drip pan, to see if that works. Thanks!

[@AC_Trades]

This is where the fruit flys are coming from! You genius

[@brandonvernet]

Thank you so much. Although I have a totally different fridge, a quick look at the back and I found the drip tray held in by 2 phillip head screws. Took it out and it was full of smelly mouldy water. I'm an idiot for not realising each time I defrosted the fridge that the water was going into the drip tray. Didn't even realise my firdge had a drip tray! lol

[@vinayakpatwardhan4408]

Thank you so much !! Funny story ... I actually sniffed the origin of the odor like a dog and it led me to the fridge's backside and then right to that drip pan 😖 Came to youtube and sure enough found your helpful video, talking about exactly the issue I was facing !

[@yesiamher9034]

Hey there, I have this same issue and I have to get the maintenance company of the fridge to come out to service my fridge. I hate that this is not an easy fix, I would like if you could have show a step by step process of how to remove the pan. I need to be able to do this on my own without having to call maintenance when it needs cleaning

[@pamphillips1893]

thanks! Mine didn't smell, but I couldn't figure out how to remove that dang drip pan! Now I know that there are screws attaching it! Thanks so much!

[@leonankosi2130]

What a life saving video😮 wow thank you

[@joserhdz85]

Thanks for advice! It was a strong odor…

[@johnfrederick6213]

Thank you! That smell has been driving us crazy for a week now.... Lol

[@EveryonesADude]

I've deep cleaned my fridge, inside and out! Top to bottom; front to back. Made a vinegar solution to drip through the hose, thoroughly cleaned & dried the drip pan... I have several Baking Soda deodorizers throughout the fridge and freezer... NOTHING has helped. Any other suggestions? 😅

[@TheBusyfaith]

HELP! I have a 2013 LG & you can NOT remove the drip tray. Any suggestions?? We have allergies & asthma so I can’t have mildew & bacteria being blown around in here not that anyone can stand that awful smell anyways!

[@kaydonahue]

YES! My Kenmore is a duplicate. Thank for the info on how to remove it.

[@darahappling6521]

Very helpful and supportive ty

[@mab49696]

thank you, mine was two 1/4" screws

[@ginjabrad]

What you dont explain is do we need to flush the line with it on its back with cleaning solution or do we juat let it cycle over time. How muxh time? How to manage this after cleaning the drip is the real answer I needed.

[@mratif5652]

We have the same problem smelling the fridge around we found this tray extremely smelling badly we washed it once the problem came back again after 3 days..so for us only cleaning is not helping

[@howardpilot4590]

Thank you for posting. I have the same P.O.S.(. piece of sh*t) fridge. I couldn’t believe that this is how these clowns( definitely not engineers) designed this. I wonder how many fridge fatalities there are out there. Talk about disregard for safety. Again thanks for posting. Guess you can tell I’m a bit pissed at this company. Take care.

[@nielszindel1151]

I don't think they realise you have to clean fridges. Delia Morris

[@stayingdisciplined1456]

I'm a new subscriber sam. Hit the notification bell too. Best fixer on youtube. simple, good explanations, and straight to the point!

[@MoreThanMaintenance]

Thank you for subscribing! 😁

[@geocam007]

Thanks for this video. I wonder if there are fridge out there without this drain pan. Annoying to clean this disgusting pan.

[@moneymagnet2969]

Thanx so much... It really helped🙏🏿

[@Southernreliablelawncare]

Great video, thank you

[@edgarmali7572]

Do I have to remove the water line ( in the back lower right) to be able to tilt it?

[@harrydejesus2975]

Thank you Sam.Very helpful information. I have a Frigidaire refrigerator with the same drip pan but have not had that problem yet. I always keep up with my home maintenance. In the future, if any smell, now I know what to do and how to take care of that problem. God bless.

[@YAHUAHbetheonlysavior.]

I cannot understand why Frigidaire didn't make it so you just have to pull off the plastic grate in the front on the bottom and simply slide out the drip pan! This design is so dumb and inconsiderate to your customers. I have NEVER had this problem with a refrigerator! The smell is so horrible! It smells worst than the cat's dirty litter box for real! Ridiculous! I will NEVER recommend this brand or buy it again unless changes are made that shows this company cares about its customers peace of mind.

[@nariah65]

Right I will never buy from Frigidaire again. I still can't get the tray out

[@Aquabougeeland]

EXACTLY! HOW THE HECK DO I TILT THIS BIG FRIDGE!!! WOW

[@Aquabougeeland]

EXACTLY! HAD A POWER OUTAGE 3 DAYS IN 90+DEGREE WEATHER! IT STINKS AND U GAVE RECONSTRUCTED NECK!🤬 THE DUMBEST IDEA!

[@lifeismusic5529]

I cleaned the tray but it still smells. Not sure if it’s just the smell stuck in the kitchen and it’s not aired out yet or the tray itself. Couldn’t take the tray out bc didn’t want to tilt the fridge so I just stuck my hand in there and tried my best. Took out the dirty water then left a soap/water/vinegar mix in it for an hour and took that out (soaking it up with towels). If the smell isn’t gone in a day or two I’ll use bleach or something and let that soak in the tray.

[@meredithjohnson1126]

Thank you sir. I will let hubby know that I'm smarter than he is!

[@bobr2959]

I have 36 year old Hotpoint that is working good. They made em good back then. If they reproduced this same exact one, i would buy it.

[@pinksattin1]

I have the same refrigerator but mine do not produce ice or water. Not sure what to do now

[@bobr2959]

Ok Look i just bought a used refrigeator yesterday and it smells like chemicals ( not rotten food) .Its a Frigteneddaire. About 8 years old or 2014 model, double doors, lower freezer. I tipped it side to side ( Not front to back, it rolls) and had my wife hold it at an angle while i took out the 2 screws holding the drip pan. Then while down there I took off the Flexible drain hose that goes in the pan, and found out it was CLOGGED up. I ran water through it and cleaned it up and re-installed it. Thats was easy. Just some flexible clamp holding it on and am push on connection at the top where all the water comes down from. Then I flooded the Upper and lower Vents with one half bleach and water, like a half a quart. Then checked the drain pan and saw it fill up there. You can see the pan from the front if you lay on the floor. I still have not plugged this one in. It still stinks though. We are cleaning every shelf and the inside for the 5th time. First diluted bleach then Hydrogen peroxide then bicar soda then vinegar. Left a plate of Soda in it all night, nothing changed. OK Now, after cleaning it again in a few, I'm going to plug it in and see what happens. Who knows maybe it getting HOT creates the smell. Like you see in the comment section here that happened to them. Maybe its some sub standard Plastic gassing off every time it gets hot? Any way if i can't get it to smell right I'm going to ask for a refund and return from the buyer because its just not usable at all. IF anyone has more advice i would appreciate it. We bought it from a family member so that should be ok, maybe? Who wants that Odor in your food. The butter the open dishes the ice trays etc. I don't think it's even sellable when its like this.

[@bobr2959]

The drip pan didnt really stink. It needed cleaned though. The drip HOSE was Clogged up. Just like your A/C unit you have to use bleach in the drain hose every year or else it clogged it.

[@timpage3157]

I think this is my issue, thank you. We have cleaned out the fridge but it persists. I think this is it

[@ToanTran-jn3nr]

thank

[@jamar19852003]

This video was a god send

[@filtradoenlared]

thanks sam I just had a call about this problem, although the fridge was different, I could solve it !!!

[@bombomsplaterecipe9909]

Thank you. Im watching from Philippines . -Bombom's plate recipe

[@paulmayaka3597]

Thank you mahn very helpful 👍

[@Alexia-to4oe]

Thankyou! You saved my life 😅

[@glchavez1]

this is super informative! Thank you!

[@geronamo]

Great find, good info 💪👍

[@SOLOL1F3_318]

Just got yourself a new subscriber after this helpful video.

[@abadpony]

I have the same fridge but the smell mine has smells kind of like seasoning? What did yours smell like?

[@RussanDiyGod]

Very helpful

[@highhopeslibra]

The smell seems like a refrigerant leak? It’s gotten into my food. Could this be what I’m smelling?

[@MoreThanMaintenance]

Generally the compressor sits behind the fridge. If you have a refrigerant leak you will know as the freezer/fridge will not maintain its proper temperature. If your food tastes contaminated, I would recommend thoroughly cleaning the fridge including cleaning under the panel and putting baking soda in the fridge. There are times where I receive a call and something spilled, rotted, decayed and needed to be cleaned. Pour cleaner down the drain line as well. Let me know if that helps.

[@honeyofoats5619]

@@MoreThanMaintenance I have a problem. I have a 30 year old fridge and it haves a old people and house water smell coming from inside of the back of the freezer, once you put your face in it, it is a fume strong smell but, the refrigerator haves the smell but not so much of it but, once you cut it off and it gets warm, it smells even worse. I cleaned it so much and it still haves the smell. When, it is on it blows of good air. Both parts gets cold beautifully and it was in the garbage from someone as well. What should I do?

[@DANVIIL]

Excellent info!

[@mirandacometsevah519]

What did you use to unscrew drip pan?

[@lgongalez]

Thank you so much!!!! Finally!!! Damnn!!

[@CWFarris]

How can I clean the tray

[@Clyffcarlock1]

What is the model number of your ice maker?

[@mario8976]

Thank you

[@1uP-v2]

Sam, I have a Frigidaire gallery fridge but it doesn't have an ice maker. Do you know how to remove the center piece that connects to the drainage tube inside the fridge? Is it a pull down or pull out? It's leaking water inside the fridge. Thanks!

[@BreakfastBod]

Unscrew bolts, pull out slightly, then down just enough to disconnect wires, then remove completely.

[@lebogangmanamela1183]

Sam please kindly help me my fridge is LG smart inverter processor it smells so bad more of a rotten mouse kindly help