Nasty Smell Coming From The Fridge

[Myriad2112]

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a smell rather like a dead cat coming from my fridge. I looked it up and it seems that something (possibly milk) has run down into the little hole in the bottom that leads to a tray above the compressor. I understand the idea is that when it comes on it will disperse or evaporate the offending liquid but no such luck. I tried turning it up and down and even leaving it off for a few days but still it honks. Any ideas or do I need a new one?

[woofgang]

Been there, you need milton and one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-ml-plastic-syringe-and-1m-pvc-plastic-3mm-tubing-hobby-school-projects-EDULAB-/291067740395?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43c4fd40eb

Fill syringe with milton, shove tubing in hole and squirt. might need a couple of repeats. often the smell is caused by mould or fungus growing in the tube between the hole and the compressor. Rinse out the syringe and tube and keep for next time

[woofgang]

forgot to add, if the tube is completely blocked with mould growth then the first lit of milton might regurgitate. push and wiggle the tubing till its oasses into the tube in the fridge then paritally withdraw and squirt again, keep a careful eye on the tube to ensure it doesn't come off the syringe and vanish onto the fridge, a bit of wire (sandwich bag sealer wire) wound around and left sticking out either side of the tube like ears wider than the width of the fridge tube can be helpful.

[woofgang]

pls excuse typos

[Clanad]

And… as a follow on to Woof's great info, the tray you describe, while usually evaporating liquids draining into it, often doesn't do so efficiently resulting in mold and other gunk growing in the tray itself. Remove it (it's not attached to anything) from its holder and thoroughly wash and disinfect it.

The tray and tubing you describe really isn't for over flow of various liquids. It's part of the auto-defrost system (at least here in the U.S.) and is meant to drain away water that is left from the melted ice during the defrost cycle. Normally, there won't be any odor, except in cases such as you describe...

[woofgang]

Clanad I do the easy version because getting at the tray (on my fridge anyway) requires moving the fridge out from the wall and rotating it 90 degrees which is no light undertaking. Squirting the milton down cleans the tray as well and save my aging back.

[Myriad2112]

Thank you woof and clanad and I wouldn't know how to get the tray out anyway.
Super advice. will give it a go.

[Myriad2112]

Ps. forgot to ask. What exactly is Milton? forgive the stupid question

[woofgang]

its a liquid used for sterilising baby bottles
http://www.boots.com/en/Milton-Sterlising-Fluid-500ml_25418/

useful stuff
be careful using it as it is a bleach