Put a roll of toilet paper in the fridge and you’ll be surprised by what happens.

As already mentioned, baking soda does a fantastic job of absorbing and eliminating refrigerator smells.

2. Black cumin seed oil

When food goes bad and leaves a lingering odor in the fridge, this essential oil will deodorize and refresh. Just mix a few drops of the oil with a tablespoon of dish soap and coat a plastic area of the inside of the refrigerator using more or less of the mixture depending on the severity of the smell. Let it set for about two hours and then wash it off.

3. Activated charcoal

Charcoal also absorbs moisture and comes in the form of a powder, filter or fabric.

4. Vanilla extract

Coat a cotton ball with vanilla and place it in the refrigerator to eliminate bad smells and replace them with a pleasant fragrance.

5. Newspaper

For some of the worst smells, simply use newspaper to get rid of them. Empty the refrigerator and then fill the fridge with crumpled newspaper. Sprinkle a little water on the newspaper. Close the door and let sit for a couple of days.

If you’re in the budget for a new refrigerator, you might want to consider one with a UV light purifier. That way you don’t need to rely on other means to deodorize your fridge, the solution is built right in! The ultraviolet light destroys bacteria and mold and some also sanitize the inside of the fridge.