stinky freezer cleaning tips? REALLY STINKY...

[Rhettley]

Had the side by side fridge/freezer at the house I inherited from Mom get turned off accidentally. OOPS. I had the fridge empty and most of the stuff out of the freezer but some mackeral, shrimp, and a few other food items. It sat for about a week after it thawed. I went to get it Thursday to replace the one at the house that died and was greeted by the wonderful aroma. The wife is an RN in the intensive care unit and sees flesh eating bacteria and other really gross things and she was about to barf.
We cleaned it as best we could outside with the waterhose, amonia, and windex. We pulled the insulation out and trashed that and it's airing out now. It's better but still nowhere near being able to be brought into the house. I've got to hit it again today. I picked up Pine-Sol, Clorox clean up lemon scent, scrubbing bubbles, and 3 boxes of baking soda yesterday to start with.
I'm sure I'm not the only one that's had this happen. Any other products I can use? I plan to clean it again several times and leave it open outside for a few days in the carport. Yall got any better ideas other than buy a new one?

[Jumptrout51]

From inside the freezer remove the back panel covering the evaporator coil.
Get a 16 oz bottle of nickel safe ice machine cleaner and spray the coils and interior.
Leave this on for 10 minutes then hose it off thoroughly.
Mix 1/2 cup bleach with 2 gallons of water and spray everything down in the freezer and fresh food section.
Put a fan in front of the box and with the doors open dry the interior well.
Then set the machine to run and get cold.
24 hours at least without opening the doors.
Turn the machine off.
Dry the interior again with the fan.
Place about 3 pounds of charcoal briquets in the freezer and fresh food section.
Close the doors and leave it for 24 hours.
Remove the charcoal and turn the fridge on to run.
You are done.

[Tidedancer]

Thanks JT. that's good info to have on file. I hope I never have to use it.

[Rhettley]

Thanks JT! Now that's good info! Where do I find nickel safe ice machine cleaner? Would Lowe's or Home Depot have it?

[Dubble Trubble]

If none locally, here is a link.

I am sure JT51 would also have some.

http://www.amazon.com/Nu-Calgon-Nickel- ... B001ED7JB0

Dubble

[Jumptrout51]

Thanks JT! Now that's good info! Where do I find nickel safe ice machine cleaner? Would Lowe's or Home Depot have it?

If ther is a appliance parts store in your area they will have it.
You can get a small container of phosphoric acid a Lowes and mix 50-50 with water to make your own diluted solution.
This will remove the airborne acid from the coils created by the decomposing food.
That will prevent the coils from deteriorating and causing refrigerant leaks.
It will also remove the food film inside the box that is holding the smell in.
Your other products while clean good only mask the odor.
The phosphoric acid removes the bacteria causing it.
The charcoal will absorb it.
Once the box cools down good the odor should be gone.
Also,REMOVE and clean the ice maker if there is one.

[Rhettley]

I don't think we really have an appliance store to speak of here in Moultrie. I'll get the phosphoric acid. Thanks again!

Jumptrout51 is it you on here that repairs appliances? We have the fridge/freezer and the dishwasher that both need repairing if they are worth fixing.

[Jumptrout51]

Post the model numbers a specific problem with each.
I will do the E-diagnosis.
If we can do hunting and politics on here,may as well do appliance repair too.

[Rhettley]

At your leisure. There's no hurry. I can bring them to Tally if it is worth fixing them.
Fridge/Freezer GE 26.6 cu foot no frost TFX27F
The fridge just stopped cooling followed later that evening by the freezer. I'm not sure how old it is but it might have died of old age.

The dishwasher-
GE Nautilus 165D5450P004
It has never cleaned all that great anyway. About a month ago we smelled a strong burning smell like electric wires getting hot. We turned it off and haven't tried it since for fear of a fire.

[manley]

JT left out the most important (and last) step. Wrap it in about 10 rounds of duct tape, take an appliance dolly, and roll it to the curb. Geowaste will pick it up next week for $25.

Just kidding... after Katrina in Mississippi, that's what we did with them... but you are also talking about 1-2 months after the storm... AWFUL stuff, I tell you.

[Rhettley]

This fridge that was Mom's is only about 2 or 3 years old. We had $1700 in car and truck repair bills this month so there will be no appliance buying spree for a while...

[FHC]

rhettley go to H&S supply ask hydro kleen if you need it to day call me i will give you some 941 5319

[Jumptrout51]

Plug the fridge back in.
If it cools OK it is a defrost problem(repairable).
If it does not cool it is a bad rotary compressor(junk).

[Jumptrout51]

Wrong or incomplete model numbers on the DW.

[Rhettley]

FHC they don't answer the phone so I assume they closed at noon. I'll give you a call if that will work better than the phosphoric acid mixed with water. Thanks.

Jumptrout I'm going to plug in the old fridge now and check the model on the dishwasher. Some of the zero's could have been letter O's. The decal on the door had crud on it.