The baking ingredient a professional cleaner uses to stop fridge odours, and it's not baking soda
The fridge is often one of the smelliest spots in the home thanks to all the food and beverages inside that easily go bad without us realising.
Crumbs and spills that aren't wiped up as soon as possible can also contribute to bad odours.
A professional cleaner has revealed her trick for fixing a stinky fridge using water and just one ingredient you'll find with your baking supplies.
Watch the video above.
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The fridge needs more than just removing old food to be clean. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Kellsie Zapata from Zapatas Cleaning Services shared the DIY solution in a TikTok video along with three other odour removal hacks.
"As a professional cleaner I get asked all the time; how do you get rid of stubborn odours in the home? So here are four tricks for smelly spots that most people don't know about and they work way better than candles or sprays," she said.
For fridge odours, Zapata said more needs to be done than just removing old food. Instead after taking everything out she advised wiping all shelves and drawers, which she did with a sponge and a dishwashing spray.
Once the fridge interior is clean, Zapata then recommended using her DIY spray to deodorise the fridge.
"Here's the secret; mix vanilla extract with water in a spray bottle. Wipe every surface [with it] and don't rinse," she said.
"The vanilla keeps deodorising so your fridge smells fresh long after you're done cleaning."
The ratio for the spray is one and a half cups of water to two tablespoons of vanilla extract.
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Mix vanilla essence with water in a spray bottle and wipe the fridge with it, but don't rinse off. TikTok/@zapatascleaningservices
Zapata then went on to share her tip for smelly microwaves and she uses the classic bowl of water, vinegar and lemon or lime juice hack.
The solution then gets microwaved for five minutes and is left to sit for 10 minutes so the steam can loosen up all the grime inside the microwave. When the time is up wipe with a cloth.
Most versions of this hack just involve water and lemon slices or juice, but if you have a smelly microwave you'll need to include vinegar as Zapata says that's what deodorises it.
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For smelly pet toys and bedding Zapata uses adds an odour removal product found in the US to the washing machine along with laundry detergent and washes them as normal.
The final tip the professional cleaner shared is for smelly bins. To combat odours she sprinkles baking soda (bicarb soda) in the bottom of the bin bag each time she puts a new one in.
Zapata's odour-removal tips were a hit with those who watched the video, with many reaching out for help with other smelly spots in the house.
"How do you get rid of cooking odors in the house?" one asked.
Zapata responded, "Cooking odors can linger in fabrics and surfaces. Wiping down counters with a disinfecting spray and running a pot of water with lemon or vinegar on the stove always helps..."
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Microwaves can become smelly thanks to food residue and pills left inside. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Another asked, "Any tips for smelly closets?"
"Smelly closets are usually caused by trapped moisture. Try putting an open box of baking soda or some activated charcoal inside to absorb odors. And if you can, leave the door cracked open now and then to get airflow," Zapata said.
There was also a question about a stinky wooden wardrobe, which was answered by another TikTok user.
"Got the same problem, I wiped out my wardrobe with vinegar and put a little bag of rice and baking soda inside with my clothes, helps with humidity and smells. Also airing out my wardrobe when my windows are open and making sure my clothes are fully dry when I put them inside," they said.
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