I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

I know this doesnt seem like a big deal but I am at a loss...what would you guys do?

First let me say that my dh normally has a very bad sense of smell, and he knows it. Now, starting about 3 weeks ago, the fridge starting to stink..dh at that time said he smelled it but not as bad as I did.

So he cleaned out the whole thing. Said he didn't find anything bad. But he threw out a bunch of stuff regardless, just in case. Plus he had smelled a bunch of boxes in the freezer that had taken on the smell. Well, it continued to smell. Now dh said he hardly smelled it. Anyway, since then he has cleaned it again twice, thoroughly, put baking soda in both compartments and also pulled it out and theres nothing leaking, dead or rotting, etc.

Finally we got a fridge repair guy today. He said he does definately smell something but its not an offensive smell in his opinion. I said, alright, well in my opinion, its highly offensive. Plus I cant stomach any food that came out of there because to me, it has taken on the horrendous odor. He said nothing was broken.

So...we dont really have money at all for a new fridge, especially because this one does work and Im scared that if we get a new one, what if I realize that pregnancy nose is really to blame and it smells again. Ill die if we just wasted money and threw out a good fridge.

I know this is so stupid but I cant put any food in the fridge at all so I cant eat (keeping eating out) plus i have to run outside when we open the fridge/freezer door.

Im going crazy!!!!

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

How far along are you? I went through about a two week period when my sense of smell was off the charts - I couldn't even walk through the supermarket - the smells from the deli, fish, meat etc

After that it went pretty much back to normal, so maybe it will be short lived for you.

You can also try cleaning it with vinegar. It will smell terrible when you are cleaning it (or DH is cleaning it ) but will kill any lingering bacteria and will not smell when it's dried.

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

Have you moved the fridge to see if anything is stuck behind it?

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

maybe he needs to choose a scented cleaner? Like the Method brand at target has an orange scented cleaner.

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

what if tasking everything out and letting it air out for a couple days

lots of take out but maybe that would help

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

I feel your pain. My dog has smelled absolutely horrible to me ever since I got pregnant! DH bathes him and no one else thinks he smells bad, but he smells awful to me. I try to stay away from him because it makes me mad how bad he smells!

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

I think it's the heightened sense of smell you get, I swear I smell stuff and no one else does

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

I've had this going on for like 6 weeks now. I swear something in the fridge stinks but no one else smells it. I've looked around and I've had DH check but there is nothing in there.

I can tell when DH opens it when I'm not even in the kitchen. I can smell it in the next room.

I've learned to just hold my breath when I open the fridge and get things in and out as quickly as I can.

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

Thanks everyone!

Yes, we did move it and there is nothing under it or behind it. Plus the stink is only when the doors or opened.

I am going to ask DH to wipe the whole thing down with vinegar. hopefully that works.

and yes, we did take out everything and let it stay that way for a bit. didnt help.

this is insane. thanks again!!!

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

when i was pregnant, for about 3-4 MONTHS, as soon as I walked towards my front door to walk into my house (and in my house) I smelled what to me was sour milk no one else smelled it. It was AWFUL and everyone thought I was nuts. I only smelled it in our home.

Literally, I didnt smell it in the car but as soon as I approached the front door, I could smell it and all over our home

i think its just one of those awful pregnancy related things. there likely is a smell that is minimal and not offensive to others but to you and your hormones - its off the charts I feel for you, I remember what that was like!

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

i bumped my thread on "smells" for you

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

I had to deal w/this for a bit. The only difference was it in my DH's car and I smelt mold. It was so strong and heavy. I couldn't even drive in it. I was concerned b/c that car was going to be mine in a few months when I returned my lease. I asked DH to give it a good cleaning and he promised to have it detailed before the babes got here. Well its now a few months later and the car is mine. I drive it every day and there is no mold smell. DH did clean it out but it still hasn't been detailed. I had asked others if they smelt it and all said no. I def think it was just a pregnancy symptom.

Good luck, I am sure it will subside soon.

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

Same thing happened to me. I can't open the dishwasher and not gag. I asked DH to see if it smells and he said no. Then I get into the car, and start gagging, and again he thinks I am crazy. It's probably the heightened sense of smell.

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

Do you by any chance have a garlic keeper near the fridge? I could barely walk into the kitchen because of this horrible smell, and DH moved all of the appliances, cleaned out inside, around and behind them, we threw away a bunch of food, etc and the smell STILL didn't go away. Then one day it dawned on me....it was the garlic keeper! I threw that out and no problems since.

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

I read something about putting wet newspapers in the fridge over night and they soak up all the smells and then you throw them out and it won't smell anymore. Myabe try that?

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

Re: I have a "smelly' problem and I honestly need advice...

Have you had DH clean the gaskets? You have to spread apart the rubber and clean in the cracks up & down. Have him clean those, and the whole fridge again w/ vinegar. Then put bowels of baking soda in fridge & freezer. I would throw everything out, clean it, try the baking soda, and then see where you stand.