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odonnebc · Jul 13, 2007, 06:11 PM

I have a bottom freezer Kenmore Fridge (model 59661862101) and a good quantity of milk slowly spilled inside the fridge without us noticing until it really started to smell. We've cleaned the inside of the fridge but the smell seems to be getting worse.

I think that some milk may have gone in the pan drain and the smell is being blown around. I've gone through my owner's manual but it doesn't say how (or if) I can access the pan.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can access the pan to clean it?

Thanks,

B

esquire1 · Jul 13, 2007, 06:20 PM

You can pull unit from wall and look at bottom on unit There you will find the condensate drain pan. I really don't think any would have gotten there. I believe the fan is just circulating the odor. Try putting a open box of arm and hammer in freezer section and ref section. It works really well at removing odors. You could get into the evaporator and spray evaporator coil cleaner on them. It gives a clean smell,but it's a lot of work getting to it. It shouldn't take long for the arm and hammer to work. Good Luck

odonnebc · Jul 29, 2007, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by odonnebc

I have a bottom freezer Kenmore Fridge (model 59661862101) and a good quantity of milk slowly spilled inside the fridge without us noticing until it really started to smell. We've cleaned the inside of the fridge but the smell seems to be getting worse.

I think that some milk may have gone in the pan drain and the smell is being blown around. I've gone through my owner's manual but it doesn't say how (or if) I can access the pan.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can access the pan to clean it?

Thanks,

B

So here's the follow up just in case anyone faces a similar situation in the future.

The pan is internal therefore not accessible. My approach was to go inside the freezer and remove the back panel which covers all the coils. Upon removing the panel, I saw (to my suprise) almost a half quart of milk that was frozen on the coils. I suppose it had been slowly dripping from the fridge which then drains into the freezer before ending up in the drain pan. Luckily it froze on the coils thus preventing it from reaching the pan... which I wouldn't have been able to reach at all. So the cure was a gentle/careful approach with a scredriver to break out big chunks of the milk-ice and then use some warm water and a small bristle brush to get the rest out. Job done.

One other quick note on odor control. I read some suggestions that charcoal works well. I tried it and it DID! I just spread a bunch of bbq charcoals on a cookie sheet and left it inside the freezer. The horrible smell was gone within a few days.

Melly1_1998 · Sep 13, 2011, 07:48 PM

The electricity in my neighborhood went out for 4 days. I didn't want to touch my regrigerator for fear that whatever cold that was in there would be lost. Upon getting our electricity back and turning it back on I noticed a really foul odor that kept on getting worse. 2 weeks later, it's acrid and disgusting. I practically took the entire refrigerator apart in an attempt to figure out what's wrong and now I KNOW it's coming from my drain pan. I really need to remove it to clean it. Is there any way to do that? Right now there is no way to even reach behind the compressor to get there. IT's so gross and yellow with crust!

Melly1_1998 · Sep 13, 2011, 07:51 PM

I have the Same problem but with a Kenmore refrigerator.
The electricity in my neighborhood went out for 4 days. I didn't want to touch my refrigerator for fear that whatever cold that was in there would be lost. Upon getting our electricity back and turning it back on I noticed a really foul odor that kept on getting worse. 2 weeks later, it's acrid and disgusting. I practically took the entire refrigerator apart in an attempt to figure out what's wrong and now I KNOW it's coming from my drain pan. I really need to remove it to clean it. Is there any way to do that? Right now there is no way to even reach behind the compressor to get there. IT's so gross and yellow with crust!

Chreddies · May 4, 2012, 06:38 PM

I also have a Kenmore bottom freezer fridge Model 59668042801 that's almost 3 years old. I have a bad "sour" smell coming from it but is not inside the refrigerator but from outside. Its in an enclosed space with a couple of inches on each side and maybe 4-5 inches on top. I have cleaned it I don't know how many times now from top to bottom. There is no bad food or spill in it for sure. I've tried washing it with a baking soda solution, mild bleach solution, vinegar and water, dishsoap and water, etc. etc. There is no smell inside whatsoever when you open either the door to the fridge or to the bottom freezer. However, when we come home from work on some days as soon as you open the lower level door, the smell just hits you! (yes, the smell is not every day - usually every 2nd or third day. We've even gone over a week without any smell at all).
I'd really like to see if I can figure this out before calling a repairman as I have no warranty on it. Any suggestions would be very appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Cathy

drtom4444 · May 5, 2012, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Melly1_1998

I have the SAME EXACT problem but with a Kenmore refrigerator.
The electricity in my neighborhood went out for 4 days. I didn't want to touch my refrigerator for fear that whatever cold that was in there would be lost. Upon getting our electricity back and turning it back on I noticed a really foul odor that kept on getting worse. 2 weeks later, it's acrid and disgusting. I practically took the entire refrigerator apart in an attempt to figure out what's wrong and now I KNOW it's coming from my drain pan. I really need to remove it to clean it. Is there any way to do that? Right now there is no way to even reach behind the compressor to get there. IT's so gross and yellow with crust!

If you remove the front cover you can slide out the drain pan. What you really need to do is to pull out the refrigerator from the wall and unplug it, then remove rear cover with a screwdriver and spray down coils with a liquid soap and wash off with a sprayer on a water hose. Then vacuum off with wet-vac. This will cure all of your problems. Make sure to replace cover before plugging it back in.

17981cc · Mar 17, 2013, 08:09 PM

We are on our 2nd model 596-69983012 Kenmore since Apr/28/12. The first one started "smelling" from the outside when the compressor ran in July/12 & lasted 16 days... when after many phone calls & 2 tech visits... Sears agreed to replace it with the same model. It worked fine from July16/12 until Feb./13 & it started emitting the same offensive odour intermittently. There is no rotting food or spilt liquids inside... the odour comes from the area of the compressor unit. The last tech told us it was due to the heating of the vinyl floor beneath the fridge.. which after checking... isn't even warm to the touch... no damage to floor. He also suggested putting a piece of plywood under the fridge.. DUH!! Still fighting with Sears over this unit which they do NOT want to replace. What fumes are we breathing?? Have made numerous calls to Whirlpool(manufacturer), CSA, Health Unit, Market Place but everyone keeps passing the buck... saying there is "nothing toxic"??
FYI... to access the pan,pull the fridge out, remove the back panel.. the pan is on the left hand side opposite the compressor.

drtom4444 · Mar 17, 2013, 09:48 PM

Try washing out the drain pan with bleach. Food residues get into the pan and smells.