Recently we parked the van up for a few days and ended up away for two weeks . Coming back to a smelly van. Long story short fridge stopped working , everything went off including chicken fillets and mince . Some blood leaked out . Have cleaned the fridge but smell still persists any tips , we put carb soda in open plates in the fridge and freezer as we were told it absorbs smells , no success , help !
Gaylehere said
10:48 PM Oct 30, 2019
Mr Google says use active charcoal, or clean kitty litter, or the carb soda which you have already tried. All of which needs to be left in there for some days. Crumpled newspaper and some water I think it said for an extended period. My thought was to wipe down and leave vanilla essence in the fridge. Mr. Google says if the smell has gotten into the insulation it is very hard to get rid of the smell. Let us know if you find something that works. Cheers.
Santa said
11:45 PM Oct 30, 2019
Insurance claim?
yobarr said
05:56 AM Oct 31, 2019
mezza56 wrote:
Recently we parked the van up for a few days and ended up away for two weeks . Coming back to a smelly van. Long story short fridge stopped working , everything went off including chicken fillets and mince . Some blood leaked out . Have cleaned the fridge but smell still persists any tips , we put carb soda in open plates in the fridge and freezer as we were told it absorbs smells , no success , help !
A few peeled onions,cut in half,will work wonders.Cheers
Phillipn said
07:21 AM Oct 31, 2019
To get rid of odour get a bottle of "nil odor", Coles sell it. Only need a few drops in water and wipe the fridge out. Cost about $8 for a 10 ml bottle.
We have friends who had the their freezer stop while they were away for a few weeks. Nil odor was the only product that removed the problem.
-- Edited by Phillipn on Thursday 31st of October 2019 07:27:30 AM
Dougwe said
09:10 AM Oct 31, 2019
Hi Mezza,
I have recently discovered vinegar. I now use it to clean shower with and stainless steel sink due to marks from filtered bore water being used as we speak. Works great. Maybe give that a try. I just use about a cup of vinegar in about two lts of warm water.
The only problem I find is that the smell attracts seagulls as they think fish and chips are around Sorry Mezza, couldn't hold that back.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Thursday 31st of October 2019 10:17:04 AM
Kebbin said
05:49 PM Oct 31, 2019
Clean the fridge with warm soapy water, dry then wipe down with vanilla extract ( not essence) wipe everything over racks, trays and seals leave overnight and wipe down again and put some extract on a small piece of sponge or a few drops on the fridge filter if it has one.
Mariner30 said
05:53 PM Oct 31, 2019
A cup of vinegar
As a post above mentions
Rob Driver said
07:58 PM Oct 31, 2019
If the fridge lining is cracked then you probably wont fix it. Throw the fridge away.
If it is in sound condition and all the above methods dont work then get some Saniclean.
Mix it in a squirt bottle and spray the inside. Leave it to soak and dry and the smell will be gone.
Do not mix it stronger than the label advises as it a no rinse product if mixed in the correct ratio.
This product is used in the brewing industry for odour removal and sanitising and is food safe.
It is great on most odours, I mix it in a bucket and put stinky sneakers in it and let them soak. I then remove them and let them dry in the sun with no more odour.
If mixed correctly it will last for ages and of course if you are brewing it is great for cleaning mankey kegs and other equipment.
I hope this helps you,
Regards
Angie
Aus-Kiwi said
11:05 PM Oct 31, 2019
I washed ours out with soapy water first . Flooded over night with white vinegar. Then left again over night with high concentration of soda ash or percarbonate of soda . Then spray with fridge vanilla spray . You need to almost flood the fridge so agents work in areas you cant reach . Percarbonate of soda is used to clean beer lines so its very safe !! In swimming pools too !
mezza56 said
08:37 AM Nov 1, 2019
Thxs everyone for input
keiron said
10:41 AM Nov 1, 2019
Some years ago I left a Fish Fillet in the freezer of our fridge, and it was there for nearly 3 months; Did it smell? like nothing I have smelled before.
I, like you tried all of the things suggested here, and some extras, but without success.
I was advised (by an undertaker) to place 2-3 tablespoons full of Bushells (?) coffee granules in a small open pot / pan and place it on a gas burner, allowing the granules to burn and create coffee smoke. Leave it to fume (after turning off the heat) until it cools.
VOILA, NO MORE SMELLS. I later asked him how he knew of this trick, and said it is often used to fumigate rooms / buildings after their "client" has been removed.
It works to remove many other odours I have since encountered, such as "urine smells/ dog pee in the garden.
Good luck, and cheers, KB
Aus-Kiwi said
02:31 PM Nov 1, 2019
Kieron Makes sense . it seems like its masking the smell ? Oh well ? Smoked fish with coffee sounds better ?? Often wander the health, hygiene side of things ? Next time I see her , Ill ask ..
Insurance claim?
A few peeled onions,cut in half,will work wonders.Cheers
To get rid of odour get a bottle of "nil odor", Coles sell it. Only need a few drops in water and wipe the fridge out. Cost about $8 for a 10 ml bottle.
We have friends who had the their freezer stop while they were away for a few weeks. Nil odor was the only product that removed the problem.
-- Edited by Phillipn on Thursday 31st of October 2019 07:27:30 AM
Hi Mezza,
Sorry Mezza, couldn't hold that back. 
I have recently discovered vinegar. I now use it to clean shower with and stainless steel sink due to marks from filtered bore water being used as we speak. Works great. Maybe give that a try. I just use about a cup of vinegar in about two lts of warm water.
The only problem I find is that the smell attracts seagulls as they think fish and chips are around
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Thursday 31st of October 2019 10:17:04 AM
If it is in sound condition and all the above methods dont work then get some Saniclean.
Mix it in a squirt bottle and spray the inside. Leave it to soak and dry and the smell will be gone.
Do not mix it stronger than the label advises as it a no rinse product if mixed in the correct ratio.
www.craftbrewer.com.au/saniclean-16oz-aprrox-500mlsaniclean
This product is used in the brewing industry for odour removal and sanitising and is food safe.
It is great on most odours, I mix it in a bucket and put stinky sneakers in it and let them soak. I then remove them and let them dry in the sun with no more odour.
If mixed correctly it will last for ages and of course if you are brewing it is great for cleaning mankey kegs and other equipment.
I hope this helps you,
Regards
Angie
Some years ago I left a Fish Fillet in the freezer of our fridge, and it was there for nearly 3 months; Did it smell? like nothing I have smelled before.
I, like you tried all of the things suggested here, and some extras, but without success.
I was advised (by an undertaker) to place 2-3 tablespoons full of Bushells (?) coffee granules in a small open pot / pan and place it on a gas burner, allowing the granules to burn and create coffee smoke. Leave it to fume (after turning off the heat) until it cools.
VOILA, NO MORE SMELLS. I later asked him how he knew of this trick, and said it is often used to fumigate rooms / buildings after their "client" has been removed.
It works to remove many other odours I have since encountered, such as "urine smells/ dog pee in the garden.
Good luck, and cheers, KB