Mold in the refrigerator: what is dangerous and how to quickly get rid of

Refrigeration equipment is an indispensable attribute in every person's home. He needs good care, washing. Often, a fungus forms in the device for various reasons. The least that can happen is an unpleasant odor. To get rid of the mold smell in the refrigerator, you need to find the cause and use a proven cleaning agent.

Why does mold appear in the refrigerator?

The fungus occurs in high humidity conditions. It forms when the temperature is incorrectly adjusted. Condensation on the surface of the refrigerator indicates that it is too warm inside, you need to lower the temperature by at least 1 degree.

Often, black and green dots form on the folds of the elastic and on the walls. This is due to the long-term maintenance of refrigeration equipment in a closed form. Many tenants of apartments, checking in, observe a similar picture. If the owner leaves the dwelling for a long time, then the device must be disconnected from the mains, remove the food and open the door for weathering. Thanks to the circulation of air and the dry environment, mold will not develop.

Another common cause is storage of expired, spoiled food. Stuck food, rotten fruits, vegetables, sour soup - all this creates a favorable environment for the appearance and spread of mold. You need to regularly check the expiration dates, clean up spoiled dishes and fight mold in the refrigerator.

Why is mold in the refrigerator dangerous?

Fungus that has appeared on food can spread to the walls of the equipment and spread throughout the appliance. In addition to food, spilled drinks turn green. Since mold belongs to the fungus family, it multiplies by spores. They are very dangerous to humans. Why mold spores are harmful:

• negatively affect the condition of the skin, can cause dermatitis;
• provoke allergic reactions of the respiratory tract, rhinitis, bronchitis, pharyngitis may appear;
• can lead to gastrointestinal diseases - gastritis, ulcers and even poisoning if a person eats the affected product;
• depress immunity;
• cause kidney pathology, up to cirrhosis.

How to remove the smell of mold from the refrigerator with folk remedies

The hostess can use any of these options to remove the unpleasant stench. A fast-acting method is to apply chemicals. But they are harmful and can leave behind a pungent smell. The fungus is successfully removed with simple folk remedies.

How to get rid of moldy smell in the refrigerator with vinegar

The acid effectively removes fungus and helps remove mold from the gum of the refrigerator. It disinfects surfaces. Vinegar is also used to treat wounds. To process the unit, first take out all the products from the device, review them for spoiled products.Then they prepare a remedy for mold in the refrigerator and wash the device with it:

1. 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar are poured into a glass of water.
2. The equipment is washed with a sponge and detergent.
3. The sponge is dipped in a vinegar solution and wiped on surfaces, shelves, gum.

How to remove mold in the refrigerator with baking soda

Soda belongs to cleaning and disinfecting compounds. It removes black mold in the refrigerator well and excludes its re-formation. Sequencing:

1. A solution is prepared - 1 tbsp is poured into a liter of water. l. soda.
2. A rag is dipped into the mixture and all surfaces are wiped - walls, shelves, rubber bands.

It remains to wipe the entire device dry and leave the door open for ventilation.

How to remove mold in the refrigerator with laundry soap

The sequence of actions on how to clean the refrigerator from mold:

1. Laundry soap is immersed in hot water and lathered a little.
2. The resulting foam is applied to problem areas and left for 20 minutes.
3. Then the equipment is wiped with a damp cloth and the foam is removed.

How to remove mold from the refrigerator with lemon juice

The fruit can both ruin the scent in the fridge and help in getting rid of moldy amber. The spoiled fruit will saturate the food nearby. Fresh lemon, cut into 2 parts and placed on the shelf of the appliance, will absorb the intense smells.

The second way with lemon is to use juice. Nectar is squeezed out of the fruit and wiped on shelves and surfaces. Lemon will help remove the smell of fish, meat.

You can squeeze the lemon juice by hand or use a juicer. You can do it differently - cut the fruit into slices, squeeze the nectar from each onto the shelves. Then rub it with a rag.

The main advantage of using lemon is that this method of cleaning the appliance does not take much time and effort. Also, the equipment does not need to be ventilated - citrus absorbs unpleasant aromas.

How to clean the refrigerator from mold and brown odor

The method is simple - 1 cap of borax is diluted in 4 liters of water and stirred. With the resulting mixture, you need to rinse the refrigerator from mold, dried out areas, moldy places. Use a soft cloth. After washing, open the doors and leave to ventilate for several hours.

How to remove mold odor from the refrigerator with hydrogen peroxide

Instructions for using peroxide:

1. All food and drinks must be removed from the refrigerator.
2. Peroxide is poured into a spray bottle without diluting with water.
3. The mixture is sprayed over the affected surface.
4. Leave for 15 minutes.
5. Wipe the inner walls with a dry clean cloth and remove mold.

If the mold smell remains inside the refrigerator, then you need to use a scented detergent. Then open all doors of the equipment and allow to ventilate.

How to remove mold smell in the refrigerator using household chemicals

If folk remedies have not helped to remove the smell of mold, then it is worth using chemicals. Antifungal formulations are sold at any hardware store. They are adapted for home use.

Means of the fungicidal group are characterized by high efficiency rates and an inexpensive price. Universal preparations against fungus for all surfaces include:

• "Mister Muscle";
• "Comet";
• Domestos.

The tools that help to remove the refrigeration equipment directly are as follows:

• Flat;
• Luxus;
• Bon;
• Thor House;
•  

Also on the market are preparations with an ecological composition. They are completely non-toxic and do not adversely affect the skin and respiratory organs. List:

1. OdorGone - the product is water-based. In 12 hours, it will destroy harmful bacteria and remove stubborn odors.
   
2. Top House Setconsisting of a napkin and a spray. A universal preparation cleans surfaces, removes dirt, and fights microbes. The product effectively and quickly removes unpleasant odors.
   
3. Indesite for instruments it is presented as a solution. Spray from a spray bottle into the corners, on an elastic band, places with fungus. After 1 minute, rinse with clean water. The composition removes mold very quickly.
   
4. Clean Home - a gel that the manufacturer claims is safe. For manufacturing, hydrogen peroxide is used. The gel does not need to be rinsed off after application.
   

The principles of working with cleansing drugs are the same. First, the composition is applied to a sponge or immediately sprayed onto the walls, if it is a spray agent. Leave for a few minutes and remove.

Special odor absorbers are popular on the market, which include the following:

• devices with charcoal filters, in which filters need to be changed every 2 months;
• egg-shaped scavengers that can kill mold in the refrigerator;
• silica gel beads are inexpensive, additionally they absorb moisture.

Preventing mold in the refrigerator

A set of measures, the implementation of which will help prevent the appearance of fungus in the refrigerator:

1. Take care of the appliance regularly. It must be washed, cleaned. Inspect and audit. If spoiled food is found, they are thrown away.
2. Check the condition of the rubber band. If it dries, then grease with petroleum jelly or oil.
3. If the refrigerator "bloomed", then this indicates a problem - lack of tightness, high humidity. In this case, it is necessary to carry out repair work to normalize climatic conditions or replace the compressor.
4. If there is dirt under the seal, it is advisable to call a professional for professional cleaning. This happens in offices, in used devices.
5. Regularly invite a professional who can recognize the first signs of mold.
6. Close pots, containers, boxes hermetically. Products can be wrapped in plastic wrap. It is important to wipe down the surfaces to prevent crumbs from entering the drain.
7. If you have a long trip, it is recommended to defrost the unit, remove all products, wash it and open the doors.
8. Dry vegetables and fruits before placing them in the compartments.

In exceptional neglected cases, a cardinal measure will help - re-weighing the door with a new seal.

It is important to clean the unit not only inside where the products are located. The fungi hide in the drain tube and sump. Through the tube, the moisture of their equipment enters a special container. It is in these areas that the air almost does not circulate. There are ideal conditions for the spread of the fungus. When processing the refrigerator, it is moved away from the wall and the washing procedure is repeated with a tray and a tube.

Conclusion

To get rid of the mold smell in the refrigerator, you have to determine the cause of its appearance. This problem is familiar to many. The stench emanating from the unit is an alarm. Sometimes the reason for the growth of mold is a manufacturing defect, breakage of parts or a simple ignorance of the rules for caring for the device. In any case, the mold must be removed as soon as possible. You can get rid of it with soda, vinegar, lemon, peroxide, or store-bought preparations. The fungus has a negative effect on human health, therefore, fighting it is the primary task. If it does not help the first time, the procedures should be repeated.