Verdict: Partly true. Whirlpool says baking soda can help remove many mild to moderate fridge odors, but only when it has surface area to work with, and it doesn't replace finding and removing the source of the smell.
Where the idea comes from
An open box of baking soda on a refrigerator shelf is one of the most familiar household habits. It's simple, it's out of sight, and the box itself has long been sold with this use in mind. Because the fridge usually smells fine, the box gets the credit, even if it's been there for a year.
What the evidence says
Whirlpool's article on using baking soda in the fridge says baking soda "can effectively help remove many refrigerator odors." It explains that baking soda is a base that reacts with both acidic and basic odor molecules. But it adds an important condition: baking soda jammed in the bottom of a box "won't be doing much." Its advice is to pour about 1 cup into a shallow, open container, replace it about every three months or sooner if odors return, and allow 1 to 3 days for it to work. For a strong smell, it says you may need several boxes' worth, and that it's always best to remove the source first.
Whirlpool's support page on removing odor from a refrigerator puts prevention first: keep foods tightly wrapped or covered, wipe spills right away, clean both sections about once a month and throw out spoiled food. It also notes that fresh paint, stain or varnish nearby can produce odors that get into the fridge. On models with a FreshFlow air filter, Whirlpool says the filter is 15 times more powerful than baking soda at reducing common food odors.
Nebraska Extension's guide to solving odor problems in a refrigerator or freezer, based on USDA guidance, treats absorbers as a last step. After cleaning and sanitizing, it lists trays of activated charcoal, clean kitty litter or baking soda, fresh coffee grounds, or crumpled newspaper, run for several days in the empty appliance. It warns that if meat or fish drippings soaked into the insulation, a technician may need to remove the liner and replace the insulation.
What to do instead
- Find the source. Check produce drawers, the back of shelves, under the crispers and the door bins.
- Wipe spills and clean both compartments; Whirlpool suggests about monthly.
- Spread about 1 cup of baking soda in a shallow dish, not a closed box.
- Date it and replace it about every three months.
- If your fridge has an odor filter, replace it when its indicator says to.
Exceptions worth knowing
- •After an outage or a long power-off, odors can be severe. Follow the full clean, sanitize and absorber process, and expect it to take days.
- •A smell that returns right after cleaning may come from a clogged defrost drain or a drain pan under the fridge.
- •A burning or electrical smell isn't a food odor. Unplug the refrigerator if it's safe to reach the plug, and have it checked.
- •Where you keep food matters too. See whether the door is a good place for milk and eggs.
Sources
- •Whirlpool: How to use baking soda in the fridge (how it works; shallow dish; three months)
- •Whirlpool: Removing Odor from a Refrigerator (prevention; monthly cleaning; air filter comparison)
- •Nebraska Extension: Solving odor problems in your refrigerator or freezer (clean, sanitize, then absorbers; insulation)
The short version: Baking soda helps a clean fridge stay fresh; it can't rescue a dirty one, and a closed box does little.
A smell that survives a full clean and sanitize may be coming from the drain or the drain pan. Our refrigerator repair technicians can check both; reach TrueFix Los Angeles at (213) 787-3989.