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DIY Refrigerator Deodorizer Tabs Made with Essential Oils

16 · Jul 7, 2020 · Stephanie Pollard · 14 Comments

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 35 years on this planet, it’s that if there’s a strange smell emanating from your kitchen that you can’t quite put your finger on, don’t bother investigating the trash can, garbage disposal or recycling bin… it’s definitely coming from the refrigerator.

What makes matters worse is that a stinky fridge doesn’t just make your house smell ripe—it also makes your food taste funny. Ugh. While the easiest way to get around this is to clean out your fridge regularly, let’s be honest, most of us have better things to do.

Instead, tackle smells from the inside out with the help of these refrigerator deodorizer tabs. Just four ingredients will absorb food odors and replace ‘em with something fresh, thus making your fridge smell clean, even when it isn’t.

DIY Refrigerator Deodorizer Cubes

DIY Refrigerator Deodorizing Tabs

When I shut the fridge door, I want my refrigerator and everything in it to practically disappear—out of sight, out of mind, I say. But when it comes to lingering smells, it’s hard to think of anything but the refrigerator.

That’s where these refrigerator deodorizers come in. They take care of smells in between cleanings so you can go about your day without worrying about that lettuce that’s been in the bottom drawer a few weeks too long.

How to deodorize the refrigerator

But fair warning: these aren’t miracle workers. They’ll make your fridge smell fresh, but they won’t completely get rid of overpowering odors. For that, you still need to take care of the basics:

Tidy up. I rarely, if ever, give my fridge a thorough scrub down (gross, I know, but I’m human!) Instead, I throw out old food every week to make room for fresh groceries. That, in and of itself, helps take care of 75% of smells.

Wipe down spills. Make a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water, then use it to sanitize spills and get rid of dried-on liquids. Meat juices are notorious for making your fridge smell bad, so it’s best to tackle those when they’re fresh. Once you have the obvious grime taken care of, you don’t need scrub any more. Save that for your yearly spring cleaning checklist.

Then deodorize. Now you can tackle lingering odors. These refrigerator deodorizing tabs tackle smells two ways: they absorb bad smells with the help of baking soda and sea salt and leave a fresh scent behind thanks to essential oils. If you’ve done steps 1 and 2, every time you open the fridge door you should be greeted with a fresh scent in between bi-weekly tidy sessions.

One of my favorite things about homemade deodorizing tabs is that you can customize the scents however you like. Lavender, orange, grapefruit and thyme essential oils smell especially clean.

But you can use any oils you already have and that you think smell fresh. Combine them to make your own scent blends or look up recipes online that match your mood for the week.

Here’s how to make ’em:

Baking soda + Sea Salt Refrigerator Deodorizers

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 cups of baking soda
  • 1/3 cup sea salt
  • 20-30 drops essential oil (I used grapefruit and thyme, but see below for some more fresh-smelling blends)
  • Silicone mold, muffin tin or ice cube tray

Instructions

1. Place baking soda, sea salt and essential oils in a small bowl and stir well.

Adding sea salt to refrigerator deodorizer recipe

2. Slowly add the water a tablespoon at a time until the mixture holds together like damp sand when pressed between your fingers. Stir again.

mixing baking soda and salt for refrigerator deodorizers

3. Spoon the mixture into your mold and press down so it sticks together. Set aside to dry overnight.

Making refrigerator deodorizers in ice cube tray

4. In the morning, pop the tablets from the mold and let them continue drying for another 24 hours or so. Store tabs in a lidded jar when not in use.

DIY Refrigerator Deodorizer Cubes

To use, place 1-2 tabs on a plate or in a small bowl and stash in the back of the refrigerator. Replace tabs every 1-2 months.

Our Favorite Deodorizing Oil Blends

  • 3 drops douglas fir, 10 drops lemon, 5 drops eucalyptus
  • 15 drops grapefruit, 10 drops lemon, 5 drops lavender
  • 10 drops basil, 10 drops lemongrass, 2 drops orange
Print

Refrigerator Deodorizer Tabs with Essential Oils

Prep 10 mins

Inactive 24 hours

Total 24 hours, 10 mins

Author Stephanie Pollard

Yield 8 tabs

Baking soda, sea salt and essential oils combine to create these powerful (and natural!) DIY refrigerator deodorizer tabs. Bye-bye bad smells!

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 cups of baking soda
  • 1/3 cup sea salt
  • 20-30 drops essential oil (I used grapefruit and thyme, but see below for some more fresh-smelling blends)
  • Silicone mold, muffin tin or ice cube tray

Instructions

  1. Place baking soda, sea salt and essential oils in a small bowl and stir well.
  2. Slowly add the water a tablespoon at a time until the mixture holds together like damp sand when pressed between your fingers. Stir again.
  3. Spoon the mixture into your mold and press down so it sticks together. Set aside to dry overnight.
  4. In the morning, pop the tablets from the mold and let them continue drying for another 24 hours or so. Store tabs in a lidded jar when not in use.
  5. To use, place 1-2 tabs on a plate or in a small bowl and stash in the back of the refrigerator. Replace tabs every 1-2 months.

Notes

Our Favorite Deodorizing Oil Blends

  • 3 drops douglas fir, 10 drops lemon, 5 drops eucalyptus
  • 15 drops grapefruit, 10 drops lemon, 5 drops lavender
  • 10 drops basil, 10 drops lemongrass, 2 drops orange

Courses Green Cleaning

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Roger says

    September 5, 2018 at 12:03 am

    You can then continue deodorizing your fridge with baking soda. Place an open container with baking soda inside and let it absorb the smells and unstink your refrigerator for at least 24 hours. … Coffee is known to absorb smells effectively. https://telldunkin.us

    Reply
  2. Amy says

    September 7, 2018 at 11:25 pm

    I love that these can sit in the back, I fee like they will absorb so much more than just an opened baking soda box!

    -Amy
    http://www.alovedlifeblog.com

    Reply
  3. golu dolls chennai says

    September 8, 2018 at 12:32 am

    Thank you Deborah that was some amazing wisdom

    Reply
  4. kanchipuram sarees says

    September 8, 2018 at 12:33 am

    nice post

    Reply
  5. kanchipuram sarees says

    September 8, 2018 at 12:33 am

    i like it

    Reply
  6. togel online says

    November 7, 2018 at 1:30 am

    thanks for that on his instructions now my togel online refrigerator so good smell and tasty when opened

    Reply
  7. kanchipuram sarees says

    November 20, 2018 at 2:32 am

    I love it

    Reply
  8. Herbal Powder says

    November 20, 2018 at 2:33 am

    Nice post

    Reply
  9. kanchipuramsarees says

    January 24, 2019 at 8:06 am

    nice

    Reply
  10. kanchipuramsarees says

    January 24, 2019 at 8:06 am

    nice

    Reply
  11. herbal powder says

    January 24, 2019 at 8:06 am

    nice

    Reply
  12. golu dolls says

    January 24, 2019 at 8:07 am

    nice

    Reply
  13. Evi says

    July 7, 2020 at 11:04 pm

    Oh, this is such an amazing idea! Thank you!

    Reply
  14. ANNA says

    January 27, 2021 at 2:43 pm

    Great DIY REFRIGERATOR DEODORIZER recipe. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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