How to Keep Your Fridge Fresh: The Baking Soda Trick and More

You open the fridge and get hit with a smell you can't quite place. Maybe it's last week's leftovers, maybe it's the onion in the crisper, maybe it's something you've forgotten about entirely. The most famous fix is a box of baking soda on the shelf. But does it actually work, and what else can you do?

Here's what the baking soda trick can and can't do, plus other ways to keep your fridge smelling fresh.

Does the Baking Soda Trick Actually Work?

Yes, to a point. Baking soda helps absorb some odors from the air, particularly smells from strong foods, so it can take the edge off a mildly smelly fridge. It's cheap, safe around food, and easy to use.

But it has limits. Baking soda is a mild odor absorber, not a cure for the source of a smell. If something in your fridge is spoiled or a spill has soaked into a shelf, baking soda won't fix that. Think of it as a helper that keeps a clean fridge smelling fresh, not a replacement for cleaning.

How to Use It

1. Use an open container. Leave the original box open, or pour baking soda into a shallow bowl or jar, so more of it is exposed to the air.
2. Place it on a middle shelf, toward the back. Air circulates well there, and it's out of the way.
3. Replace it about every one to three months. After that, it has absorbed about as much as it can. Check the box for the manufacturer's recommendation.
4. Don't reuse old fridge baking soda for cooking. It has absorbed odors. You can pour it down the drain with water to freshen the pipes.

Other Ways to Keep Your Fridge Fresh

1. Find and Remove the Source

Most fridge smells come from something specific. Go through your fridge and throw out anything expired, spoiled, or forgotten, including condiments and leftovers in the back. Check the crisper drawers, where produce can rot unnoticed.

2. Clean the Inside Thoroughly

Take out the shelves and drawers, and wash them with warm water and mild dish soap. For the interior walls, a mix of about one tablespoon of baking soda in a quart of warm water works well, because it cleans without leaving a strong scent. Wipe everything dry afterward.

Pay attention to these often-missed spots:

• The door gasket (the rubber seal). Food residue and mold can collect in the folds. Wipe it with a soapy cloth.
• The drain hole at the back of the fridge. If it clogs, water pools and starts to smell. Clear it gently with a cotton swab or a pipe cleaner.
• The drip pan, if your fridge has one. Check your manual for where it is and how to clean it safely.

3. Store Strong-Smelling Foods Properly

Onions, garlic, cut fruit, fish, and some cheeses can flavor everything near them. Keep them in airtight containers or sealed bags, and use glass or other non-porous containers, since plastic can absorb smells over time.

4. Cover and Label Leftovers

Uncovered food releases odors and dries out. Use lids or wraps, and label leftovers with the date so you know when to throw them out. Our guide on what actually belongs in the fridge door covers where to store everything.

5. Try Other Odor Absorbers

• Activated charcoal: very effective at absorbing odors. Look for fridge-safe charcoal bags or pouches, and follow the instructions for how often to replace them.
• Dry coffee grounds: a bowl of fresh, dry grounds can absorb smells, though it leaves a coffee scent, and you'll need to replace it regularly.
• Lemon halves or a small bowl of vinegar: these can mask mild odors temporarily, but they don't remove the source.

6. Don't Overpack the Fridge

Air needs to circulate to keep temperatures even and carry odors toward the fridge's filtration or vents. A tightly packed fridge traps smells and can create warm spots where food spoils faster.

7. Check the Temperature

Keep your fridge at 40°F or below. A warmer fridge speeds up spoilage, which leads to more odors. A standalone fridge thermometer is the easiest way to check, since the built-in dial isn't always accurate. For more on why temperature matters, see our post on whether refrigeration kills bacteria or just slows it down.

What to Do for a Really Bad Smell

If the odor persists after cleaning, try a deeper reset:

1. Unplug the fridge and take out all the food, keeping perishables in a cooler with ice.
2. Remove all shelves and drawers, and wash everything.
3. Wipe the interior and gasket with a baking soda solution, then rinse with clean water.
4. Leave the doors open for a few hours so the inside dries and airs out.
5. Place fresh baking soda or activated charcoal inside once it's clean, then restock.

If the smell comes back anyway, there may be a deeper issue, like a clogged drain, mold inside the walls, or a problem with the fridge itself. At that point, it's worth checking the manual or calling a repair technician.

A Simple Fridge Freshness Routine

• Weekly: check for expired food and wipe up spills right away.
• Monthly: wipe down the shelves and check the gasket and drain hole.
• Every one to three months: replace baking soda or charcoal.
• Twice a year: do a full clean-out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does baking soda really absorb fridge odors? It absorbs some odors and helps keep a clean fridge smelling fresh, but it won't solve a smell caused by spoiled food or a spill. Clean the source first.

How often should I change the baking soda in my fridge? Roughly every one to three months, or follow the manufacturer's recommendation on the box.

Is it safe to keep baking soda next to food? Yes. Baking soda is food-safe, and an open box on a shelf won't affect your food.

What's better, baking soda or activated charcoal? Both work. Charcoal tends to be stronger at absorbing odors, while baking soda is cheaper and easier to find. Many people use one or the other, depending on preference.

Why does my fridge still smell after cleaning? Check the gasket, the drain hole, and the drip pan, since smells can hide there. Also make sure nothing spoiled is left in a drawer or at the back.

The Takeaway

The baking soda trick is a good, cheap habit, but it works best on a clean fridge. Remove the source of the smell, wash the inside, store strong foods in sealed containers, and keep the temperature at 40°F or below. Add fresh baking soda or charcoal every month or two, and your fridge should stay fresh.

Considering a new fridge? A model with good airflow and even cooling helps keep food and smells under control. See our fridge collection →