T&T: . Rotten meat smell in refrig/freezer (Larry Cruzen)

[VJGAUTHIER at aol.com]

Dear Larry: 
 
Re:  your problem with smelly fridge after rotted meat....   
 
Finally I have an expertise I can offer!       Obviously cleaning 
everything you can find is first but I would avoid leaking  Clorax due to its 
corrosive aspect unless you know it isn't getting anywhere  near metals, wires, 
rubbers, etc.   There is a trick the refrigerator  mavens use to "de-stink" 
regrigerators and freezers.    I learned  this many years ago with my organic 
chemistry professor who was asked by ther  Fridgidaire ombudsman to explain 
why it works and which led to a major  discussion with the whole department.  
 There were enough vapor  pressure, heats of combustion, time curves drawn 
but I don't remember them  all.....
 
Clean thoroughly all cracks and crevices to remove residual material  
several times.   The smell comes from organics attached in or on the  plastic and 
rubber surfaces.   Most foul organic smells are hydophobic  and attach 
nicely to many plastic surfaces releasing slowing and STINKING  forever.  These 
are potent and only a few molecules are enough to make you  want to avoid 
the refrig.  .   Sometimes using a solvent that  plastic is safe with can pull 
some out.  Soap and water just won't do  it.      To get the rest out one 
it is clear place a  flat pan full of oil (like mineral oil, baby oil, 
whatever and it might help if  the oil was warmed not HOT a bit) in the unit and 
place a small candle in  firproof pot in the unit at a distance from the oil 
and close the door  airtight.   Let it sit for about six hours and DO NOT 
OPEN THE  DOOR.   Repeat until the smell is gone using new oil as  needed     
The low grade heat of the candle causes a  continuous warming of the surface 
of the plastic to vaporize some of the  organics .  The candle will  go out 
when oxygen is used up and oil  sink to absorb organic smells helps pull 
out putrid smells.   It may  take a few cycles but it does work.  I have done 
it and so have many others  with remarkable improvement.    It might work 
even without the  candle if the oil is warm but I haven't tried that.     

Let us know if it works for you.   
 
Joyce
V. Joyce Gauthier
Ursa Major
65 foot Malahide trawler yacht
Ursa Major Charters
_www.myursamajor.com_ (http://www.myursamajor.com) 

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