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CPR for a Dead RV Refrigerator
I once forget a stick of butter when I put the RV away. It melted, ran, stained, soaked, turned rancid and stank to high heaven.
A friend of mine left the RV plugged in and returned in a few days to find that someone had accidentally (or maliciously) unplugged it. The fridge and everything in it was road kill.
Another friend left her RV plugged in at a storage facility, where a rat chewed through the power cord, killing both the rat and the power to the fridge. Weeks later, the smell could be heard for miles.
Get the picture? When a fridge dies, ordinary cleaning isn’t enough. The unit’s plastic liner is porous and absorbs odors that can cling through several washings.
1. Take out everything including trays and shelves. Discard spoiled food where wildlife and pets can’t get at it. It’s toxic.
2. Any food containers that are dishwasher-able can be soaked in very hot water with dishwasher detergent. (Put things through a dishwasher or hand-wash it in scalding water with dishwasher detergent while wearing rubber gloves.)
3. Wash trays and shelves in warm, soapy water with a couple of tablespoons of baking soda. Rinse and dry completely, preferably in the sun. Set aside to air until you're ready to restart the fridge.
4. Wash the fridge interior with soapy water and perhaps a bleach solution to remove icky stains. Rinse with clean water and dry well. Wash again with baking soda water mixed at the rate of 2 tablespoons soda per quart of warm water. Pay special attention to the gasket, edges, hinges, nooks and crannies.
5. If the fridge has a drain, remove and wash the plug. Use a turkey baster to flush out the drain with baking soda solution. Make sure it's running free. It could be plugged with debris from melting or decomposing food. Leave the drain plug out to dry drain completely. Repeat flushing if necessary. Leave the drain plug out until you’re ready to cool the fridge again. Don’t forget to replace it.
6. If there is a drip pan under the refrigerator, empty and clean it completely. If any grime or mold spores remain here, they’ll start new growths as soon as they get damp.
7. Once the fridge is clean and dry, fill it with crumpled newspaper or put in a tray filled with kitty litter, baking soda, activated charcoal or coffee grounds. Close the door and let things stand overnight. Remove the tray. Repeat if necessary.
8. Don’t put it all back together just yet. Unpleasant smells may continue to belch out of the vents, so run it empty overnight except for tray of baking soda or activated charcoal in the main unit and another in the freezer section. Don’t add food until it smells sweet and clean again.
Needless to say, the fridge should be clean and empty when the RV is put away, and the doors left ajar for ventilation. And don't forget the butter.
See Janet Groene’s easy recipes for camping and RV life at https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com
I once forget a stick of butter when I put the RV away. It melted, ran, stained, soaked, turned rancid and stank to high heaven.
A friend of mine left the RV plugged in and returned in a few days to find that someone had accidentally (or maliciously) unplugged it. The fridge and everything in it was road kill.
Another friend left her RV plugged in at a storage facility, where a rat chewed through the power cord, killing both the rat and the power to the fridge. Weeks later, the smell could be heard for miles.
Get the picture? When a fridge dies, ordinary cleaning isn’t enough. The unit’s plastic liner is porous and absorbs odors that can cling through several washings.
1. Take out everything including trays and shelves. Discard spoiled food where wildlife and pets can’t get at it. It’s toxic.
2. Any food containers that are dishwasher-able can be soaked in very hot water with dishwasher detergent. (Put things through a dishwasher or hand-wash it in scalding water with dishwasher detergent while wearing rubber gloves.)
3. Wash trays and shelves in warm, soapy water with a couple of tablespoons of baking soda. Rinse and dry completely, preferably in the sun. Set aside to air until you're ready to restart the fridge.
4. Wash the fridge interior with soapy water and perhaps a bleach solution to remove icky stains. Rinse with clean water and dry well. Wash again with baking soda water mixed at the rate of 2 tablespoons soda per quart of warm water. Pay special attention to the gasket, edges, hinges, nooks and crannies.
5. If the fridge has a drain, remove and wash the plug. Use a turkey baster to flush out the drain with baking soda solution. Make sure it's running free. It could be plugged with debris from melting or decomposing food. Leave the drain plug out to dry drain completely. Repeat flushing if necessary. Leave the drain plug out until you’re ready to cool the fridge again. Don’t forget to replace it.
6. If there is a drip pan under the refrigerator, empty and clean it completely. If any grime or mold spores remain here, they’ll start new growths as soon as they get damp.
7. Once the fridge is clean and dry, fill it with crumpled newspaper or put in a tray filled with kitty litter, baking soda, activated charcoal or coffee grounds. Close the door and let things stand overnight. Remove the tray. Repeat if necessary.
8. Don’t put it all back together just yet. Unpleasant smells may continue to belch out of the vents, so run it empty overnight except for tray of baking soda or activated charcoal in the main unit and another in the freezer section. Don’t add food until it smells sweet and clean again.
Needless to say, the fridge should be clean and empty when the RV is put away, and the doors left ajar for ventilation. And don't forget the butter.
See Janet Groene’s easy recipes for camping and RV life at https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com
