Your refrigerator or freezer does not contain any mechanical parts that will produce an odor or cause a bad taste in your food or ice cubes. When a refrigerator is new, there is often a plastic odor because most of the interior is made of plastic.
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To clean the walls and shelves we recommend a solution of one tablespoon of baking soda to one quart of warm water. Do not wash plastic parts from your refrigerator or freezer in your dishwasher.
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Do not use bleach or ammonia. This can crack or damage the interior liner. Also, cleaning products with a lemon scent are not recommended because the lemon odor may be permanently absorbed in the plastic parts of the refrigerator or freezer and may affect the food.
- Odors or tastes come from food items placed in the refrigerator or freezer such as unwrapped food or spills on the shelves or walls. We recommend you check all foods to make sure they are covered and sealed airtight.
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Other methods for removing odors and tastes include:
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Place a box of baking soda in the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment to absorb odors.
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Replace the baking soda according to the instructions on the box.
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Activated charcoal is available in drug stores, or more commonly, in pet stores. Spread the activated charcoal in a small pan (such as a jellyroll pan) and place it in the refrigerator and/or the freezer. When the charcoal loses its effectiveness it can be heated on low heat in the oven for a couple of hours to rejuvenate it. Activated charcoal is not the same as charcoal briquettes used for cooking on a grill.
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Vanilla extract can be used to freshen the fresh food compartment, but not the freezer (because it will freeze). Place it in a small dish or saucer and place in the fresh food compartment for about 3 weeks.
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