Why Does My Mini Fridge Smell? How to Get Rid of the Smell?

A mini-fridge is a convenient appliance. Many people use a mini-fridge to take outside or use as a rough fridge. Some people use a mini-fridge for having space problems. But sometimes, people have to face issues from the mini-fridge.

Like the regular fridges, the mini-fridge has pretty the same reasons behind those issues. But they can be for different reasons. So, let’s find out about your mini-fridge issues and the reasons behind them.

Why does my mini-fridge smell?

When your mini-fridge smells, there must be something wrong with it. Your mini fridge might get dirty and become smelly. Besides, if devices of the fridge have any problem or the fridge stops working, the smell can spread out. Moreover, leakage from the mini-fridge might cause a smell.

Why does my mini-fridge stink?

Your mini fridge may stink for different reasons. Moreover, different types of smells can come out of the fridge. So, if you want to know the reason for the smell, you need to know the type of smell.

For example, a mini-fridge can smell like fish, chemicals, gas, onion, etc. Let’s see some types of smells and their reasons.

Mini-fridge smell like chemicals:

If your mini fridge smells like chemicals, the fridge might leak Freon. This chemical can leak from the fridge and spread the smell around it. But cleaning the material is easy.

You can easily clean under and around the fridge and remove the smell. Other leakages of chemicals inside or outside the mini-fridge might cause a chemical smell.

Mini-fridge smell like gas:

Freon leakage can also cause a smell like gas. If Freon leaks from your mini-fridge, the fridge might smell like gas. Moreover, if any gaseous element is around the fridge, it can cause a gaseous smell around the fridge.

Mini-fridge smell like plastic:

Your mini fridge might smell like plastic when it is new. New fridges smell like plastic because most elements of the fridge are made of plastics. So, the plastic smell is normal.

This smell will start to reduce with time. But if your old mini fridge smells like plastic, any plastic component might be damaged.

Mini-fridge smells like burning:

Mini fridge smelling like burning must be a matter of great concern. If your mini fridge smells like burning, it might be from potential overheating of the electrical wire.

Otherwise, any device might burn and cause burning smells. So, if you notice a burning smell from your mini-fridge, take action immediately.

Mini-fridge smells like mold/mildew:

Your mini fridge smells like mold/mildew because the fridge might grow mold in it. Moreover, yeast, bacteria, and air-born materials might create this type of smell.

So, if the mini-fridge is not clean for many days, it can grow mold and smell like mold. 

Mini-fridge smells like something perished:

Your mini fridge might smell like something perished from the split food. Rotten food might cause this type of smell. Outside humidity might also cause this smell. Even if any insect perished in the fridge, it can cause a smell like something perished. 

Mini-fridge smells like Freon:

Your mini fridge might smell like Freon from the leakage of Freon. Freon is an odorless gas. But when it spreads out the fridge area, it can cause a smell. This smell is similar to the chemical smell.

Mini-fridge smells like fish:

Mini fridge smells like fish if any device in the fridge has any problem. Problems with the evaporator fan, compressor, sensor, etc., might cause a fishy smell. Otherwise, the smell of fish might come from rotten food. 

Mini-fridge smells like vinegar:

Your mini fridge might smell like vinegar from rotten food. Chemical leakage from the fridge might also cause a smell like vinegar. Otherwise, the electrical devices of the mini-fridge might have a problem. 

Mini-fridge smell like onion:

The growth of bacteria and mold can cause the mini-fridge to smell like onion. Sometimes, foods containing onion might cause this smell if the foods are rotten.

How to get rid of the bad smell in the mini-fridge?

A bad smell can be irritating sometimes. The smell might come out for different reasons. But you have to solve the smelling problem. So you can follow some ways to get rid of the bad smell in the mini-fridge.

Clean the mini-fridge:

The most common and simplest way to get rid of the bad smell is to clean your mini-fridge. Before cleaning, remove all the rotten and old foods from the fridge. After that, you can clean the mini-fridge with water and cleaning elements.

You can also add water and vinegar to the 50/50 portion and clean the fridge with the solution. 

Use baking soda:

Baking soda can remove a bad smell from your mini-fridge. You can put baking soda in a bowl and place the bowl inside the fridge. Leave the bowl in the fridge for a couple of hours.

Then you can sprinkle some baking soda inside the fridge and wipe the interior well. 

Use an airtight container:

One of the main reasons for the bad smell is from food. So, you can keep foods in an airtight container to keep in the fridge. This will stop the smell of foods from spreading out. So, you can use an airtight container to store food items. 

Use lemon:

Lemon can remove bad odor from your mini-fridge because lemon has citric acid. You can soak a cotton ball or soft cloth in the lemon juice. Wipe the cotton ball or cloth in the fridge.

Then you can keep some lemon slices in the fridge to remove a bad odor. 

Keep the temperature correct:

Sometimes, the temperature might be the reason for microbial growth inside the fridge. So, keep the temperature low and follow the instructions according to the instruction book.

How to make a mini-fridge smell better?

After cleaning, your mini fridge can still lack freshness. So, you can follow some tips to make your mini-fridge smell better. Let’s see how you can do it.

• You can pour some drops of vanilla extract into a bowl or bottle cap and place them inside the fridge.
• You can keep a bowl of freshly ground coffee inside the fridge.
• You can soak a paper towel or soft cloth in vinegar and place the paper cloth in a bowl; then place the bowl inside the fridge.
• You can keep an open container of dry oatmeal in the fridge.

Why does my fridge smell when I open it?

If your fridge smells when you open it, the problem might be inside the fridge. Sometimes, bacterial and microbial growth inside the fridge might cause a bad smell that comes out when you open the fridge.

Moreover, the smell might come from rotten and smelly food. If you don’t keep foods without the airtight container, a smell might come out when you open the fridge.

Sometimes, the fridge might get chemical leakage. That smell also comes out while opening the fridge.

Why does the back of my mini-fridge smell?

Your mini fridge has a tray that collects the defrost water from the condenser. Sometimes, this tray might collect some nasty and dirty stuff. If you don’t deep clean your mini-fridge regularly, the more dirty water comes out.

So, the back of your mini-fridge might have a bad smell because of the tray. If you want to remove this bad smell from the back of your mini-fridge, you need to clean your mini-fridge regularly.

Do mini-fridges use freon?

Freon is the gas that is used in the refrigerator to help to freeze the elements. Like the regular fridges, mini-fridges also use Freon. Mini fridge has the same components as the large fridges. But the mini-fridge is the smaller version of the regular fridge.

So, mini-fridges also use Freon gas. Though Freon is an odorless gas, you can’t realize the existence of this gas if something wrong isn’t happened. Sometimes, your mini-fridge might smell like chemicals if the Freon gas leaks from the mini-fridge.

What does a leaking fridge smell like?

A leaking fridge is the most common cause of smelling the fridge badly. If any chemical leaks from the fridge, the fridge will release a smell. This smell might be like chemicals or nail polish remover.

Moreover, a leaking fridge might smell like gas sometimes. How the fridge smells depends on which chemical or water is leaking.

If the Freon gas or device chemical leaks, the fridge will smell like chemicals or gas. But if dirty water comes out, it will smell from the back of your fridge.

Your mini fridge might be a convenient appliance that helps you a lot. But if the mini-fridge releases a bad smell, it might be pretty irritating. Sometimes, the fridge might smell like fish, sometimes like gas.

You have to find out the reasons behind the smell first. Then you can solve the problem. Moreover, you can make your mini-fridge smell fresh by following some simple tips.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Heavy is a Mini Fridge?

How Long Do Mini Fridges Last?

How to Make a Mini Fridge Colder?

Is a Mini Fridge Compressor Supposed to be Hot?

What Are the Dimensions of a Mini Fridge?