Baking Soda

• The standard odor absorber for a refrigerator is a box of baking soda. Baking soda is a multiuse product that consumers add to recipes and use in cleaning. In cleaning, it makes an environmentally friendly scouring powder. When sprinkled on carpet and then vacuumed up, it removes carpet odors. Keep an open box of baking soda on a refrigerator shelf to help remove odors. Toss out the box of baking soda after six months and replace it with a fresh box. Some consumers use two boxes, one in the freezer and one in the refrigerator.
  
  

Activated Charcoal

• Some odors are more poignant than others, such as when the electricity goes out when the homeowners are on vacation, and the meat and fish in the freezer not only thaws, but rots in the now-heated appliance. After throwing out the spoilage and washing down the shelves, you need something with more odor-grabbing power than regular baking soda. Use activated charcoal, available at pet stores. Spread fine activated charcoal on a cookie sheet, place in the cleaned refrigerator and leave overnight. It will absorb the stinky odor.
  
  

Kitty Litter

• Cat owners understand how kitty litter effectively absorbs odors in the litter box. Litter is also effective at removing unpleasant smells from the refrigerator. Fill several bowls with clean odor-absorbent kitty litter, place the bowls in the refrigerator and freezer, and leave overnight.
  
  

Liquid

• While white distilled vinegar is effective at absorbing odor, don't be tempted to leave a bowl of vinegar in the refrigerator. A trick to removing bad smells in a room is to leave a bowl of white vinegar in the room. Yet, if you leave an uncovered bowl of vinegar, or any liquid in a running refrigerator, it will create condensation, possibly causing your refrigerator's equipment to freeze up. Always keep liquids covered in the refrigerator, or your appliance can suffer from more than bad breath.