I pride myself on having a clean and tidy home, but recently I was shocked to discover an almighty stink in my kitchen. And it took a master detective to discover the source of the foul smell.
My whole family was on it. We checked the drains, inside and out; the washing machine drum; inside the fridge; and behind the base unit plinths, but we just couldn’t work it out. Then I noticed the smell getting even more intense near the top of my under-counter refrigerator. And boy, did I need to take a step back!
Pulling the Fridge from under the countertop, the source of the stench was revealed, and apart from a ghastly stink, it was not a pretty sight.
The drip tray, located at the back of my fridge, was full of gunk, and it was this that was causing the bad smell. While I regularly clean out my fridge before my weekly shop, I never spare a thought for the drip tray. And I suspect this is a common mistake that many other people make, too.
At the back of the fridge, you’ll find a drain hole that collects water as it condenses inside the fridge. This then passes through to the drip tray, which is at the base of your fridge, above the compressor. According to Hotpoint, the water that collects in the drip tray should evaporate from the compressor's heat.
However, this wasn’t the case with my fridge, and although your drip tray may be relatively clean, mine was full of grime and had begun to smell. Something was obviously out of balance.
What causes dirt to build-up in the drip tray?
If you discover the same problem, there could be several reasons why your drip tray is full of sludge. It’s very likely to be a mix of oils, particulates, and dust, which can be made worse by a clogged drain, high humidity, a damaged door seal, or dirty coils.
How to clean a fridge drip tray
In a YouTube video, Hotpoint suggests using a few pieces of kitchen paper to clean up the mess, but you may find you need something more substantial to reach harder-to-reach corners, especially if your drip tray is trickier to reach than the one featured in Hotpoint's video.
A toothbrush is one of my go-to tools for this type of cleaning challenge.
How to clean your drip tray to avoid a stinky fridge.
These are the steps that HotPoint advises you to take when cleaning your drip tray.
1. Turn off your appliance.
2. Pull out your fridge and gain access to the back.
3. Locate the drip tray; it's at the base of your fridge, above the compressor.
4. Using paper towels, clean away the water.
5. Use a small brush to scrub away at any other dirt and grime.
6. Reposition your fridge and remember to switch it back on.
To stop the buildup of bad odors happening again, it’s best to clean the drip tray every few months. This will help you keep on top of any stagnant water and grime that starts to build up.
If the problem keeps occurring it could be a sign that your fridge needs replacing. Mine is over 20 years old and has had a good innings, and I think it's time I chose one of the best refrigerators that I recommended in our buying guide.
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