In a moment of weakness, I bought durian at the day market for my Thai GF, who loves the stuff. The man who carved it up for me and packaged the yellow slimeballs advised me to keep it in the refrigerator overnight, so I could take it fresh to my GF the next day. I used 3 plastic bags to try to prevent an olfactory invasion.

Several days afterwards, my refrigerator smells like a Bedouin's jockstrap ( Disclaimer: No direct experience ) and the stench has invaded my stocks of pineapple, mango, and home-made stewed apple. Any ideas on how I can rid myself of this pestilence?

Baking soda will absorb the smell. Just open up the box or package and put the whole thing inside. It might take a few days. We package our durian in airtight plastic containers in the refrigerator with no smells. We eat it on a regular basis. Some don't like it, But I do.

4 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Baking soda will absorb the smell. Just open up the box or package and put the whole thing inside. It might take a few days. We package our durian in airtight plastic containers in the refrigerator with no smells. We eat it on a regular basis. Some don't like it, But I do.

I tried it once, couldn't understand what the fuss was about. Tasted like slightly acid grapefruit to me. Then my breath smelled like sewer gas for about four hours.

Charcoal will take care of the smell also,always keep some in an open container in the fridge.Keeps it smelling fresh.

 

Try coffee beans. A small cup of coffee beans. 

11 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Any ideas on how I can rid myself of this pestilence?

The GF, the smell in the fridge or both?

13 hours ago, GlennSN20U5 said:

Try coffee beans. A small cup of coffee beans. 

Or dry coffee grounds (after brewing).

 

I had the breaker trip in my condo when I was away at work. 4 weeks with no power and what was in the fridge was a congeled black slop in the bottom trays.

The smell was incredable 

 

I tried the baking soda remidy a couple of times but no joy, I honestly though about getting a new fridge.

 

Thai cleaner at the condo block says no problem, comes back with a bottle of vinegar.

Put vinegar in a couple of bowls and place in running, empty refrigerator, let sit for a couple of days and oder be gone.

9 minutes ago, kwonitoy said:

...

 

Thai cleaner at the condo block says no problem, comes back with a bottle of vinegar.

Put vinegar in a couple of bowls and place in running, empty refrigerator, let sit for a couple of days and oder be gone.

White vinegar is good friend for a fridge, clean it with vinegar, kills bacterias 

As a joke I bought my mate who I met in Borneo a durian when I visited his site in Canada. 

I dropped it whole down the back of a filing cabinet. A few days later I get a message:

 

I know what it is and I know who it was. I just don't know where it is!

I love durian and do not mind how it permeates my home's air or when doing the number 2 on the toilette. I can say you definitely know you are alive.. Try dry rice or lemons or limes cut.

White vinegar does a good job.  I would suggest emptying the refrigerator, clean it and everything from it with a solution of dish washing liquid then wipe everything a time or two with white vinegar and let everything air out overnight.  You can add baking soda the the dish washing solution (careful, it makes it feel very slippery) but then you absolutely must go over everything again with white vinegar to git rid of the residue backing soda will leave.

 

White vinegar is also what you should use for cleaning mold, not bleach.  Bleach leaves a residue that is pure food for mold.  If you do clean mold with bleach be sure to follow up with plenty of white vinegar.

Check if your fridge/freezer has an air filter or air deodorizer - depending on what the manufacturer calls it. They usually look like a little block of charcoal or even like a little charcoal powder tea bag. If there has been something strong smelling in your fridge it will have absorbed the smell - as its supposed to do. However I've noticed that when they become saturated with a strong odor they then start to give off that smell.  

 

We had the power go off when we were away one time and the contents of the freezer pretty much turned to liquid. The power then came on again and circulated the odor everywhere inside the fridge . I tried all the suggestions above , coffee grounds, vinegar etc - but soon as i found and replaced the little charcoal filter it was back like normal in a few days. I couldn't get the exact replacement online but it worked well enough. 

16 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Tasted like slightly acid grapefruit to me.

Really?   And how does a non-acid grapefruit taste, to you?

Leave the durian outside next time.  It will not go bad that fast.

 

Good luck getting rid of the smell.  Probably the best way would be to turn the refrigerator off and leave it open with a fan blowing into it for a day or two (perhaps a couple of hours would do it.)  I know the smell can stay in a vehicle for quite awhile.

Buy lavender oil, leave fridge open - turn off if you are concerned about the cost of bleeding money for hours. Pull out all the shelves etc and wipe down. Wipe the fridge out with the oil, It absorbs any smell it comes in contact with and I mean anything. Great for toilets too - mix a teaspoon in a 1 litre spray bottle with water, shake and spray up high so the vapour falls after using the loo. Doesn't disguise but actually absorbs and converts the odours. Oh! It's also an antiseptic too so kills germs at the same time. If you've got sickly, upset, or sleep-difficult kids it's great to wipe around the bedhead or door frames to bring calm to them.

Put warm water in a small bowl and put bowl into fridge. Add baking soda then white vinegar and shut the fridge door. Leave for about an hour then remove and wipe ALL the inside of the fridge. NO MORE SMELL but a very clean fridge. I do this with my microwave about once a month. It cleans off all the gunk and is so easy to just wipe clean.

My advice; Never, ever have a G/F who eat Durian...their farts are horrible.

want a good laugh ?        youtube.com/cats that smell durian first time

19 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Any ideas on how I can rid myself of this pestilence?

Buy a new fridge and change girlfriend...????

5 hours ago, kwonitoy said:

I had the breaker trip in my condo when I was away at work. 4 weeks with no power and what was in the fridge was a congeled black slop in the bottom trays.

The smell was incredable 

 

I tried the baking soda remidy a couple of times but no joy, I honestly though about getting a new fridge.

 

Thai cleaner at the condo block says no problem, comes back with a bottle of vinegar.

Put vinegar in a couple of bowls and place in running, empty refrigerator, let sit for a couple of days and oder be gone.

But you'll develop a craving for fish-n-chips.????

10 hours ago, fangless said:

The GF, the smell in the fridge or both?

Not the GF, she does too many things for me I can't post on this forum.

Next time. eat it on the way home

Same problem when our chest freezer got unplugged. I suggest taking everything out of the fridge & washing the inside + trays & racks down well. We used baking soda solution. Reload the fridge. Good bucket of charcoal & bunches or bai toey as well as good bucket of baking soda. You may well find you need to change the charcoal & BS a few times.

 

Meanwhile, this is Thailand. Learn to love durian! Nice present for the g/f, though!

6 hours ago, PGSan said:

Really?   And how does a non-acid grapefruit taste, to you?

I don't know. I do know grapefruit is more acidic than the durian I tried.

On 5/9/2021 at 9:19 PM, Lacessit said:

Any ideas on how I can rid myself of this pestilence?

Defrost your fridge for at least half a day.

Then clean inside and plug it in. 

14 hours ago, ifmu said:

  youtube.com/cats that smell durian first time

I would not take those reactions too lightly. For  the vast majority of those cats to instinctively  barf or bury the durian is like having a canary in a coalmine . Something has to be seriously wrong with that odor.  I wonder if anyone has done any actual research on this subject.

 

 

 

Remedy wise, I do well with apple cider vinegar  in one bowl and  50% bleach and water in another bowl with the refrigerator running for at least 4-5 hours.

 

 

 

11 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Not the GF, she does too many things for me I can't post on this forum.

apparently cleaning the fridge isn't one of them however