HELOISE Fishy smell in refrigerator may be permanent

Dear Heloise: Please help. I just purchased a new small refrigerator for our preschool. A parent gave us a bag of fresh shrimp, and we left it in the refrigerator during the weekend, but the door was not shut properly. Now the refrigerator has a bad smell. I've tried baking soda, lemons and even leaving it open for days. It still smells! Angela, via e-mail
Angela, you would be amazed how many letters we get on how to deal with a refrigerator or freezer in which something has spoiled. Many times, this odor is very difficult to remove, and sometimes, no matter what you try, the odor remains.
Here are some things you can try:
UFill the fridge with crumpled-up newspaper and close the door; leave it shut for a couple of days. Then remove the newspapers and keep replacing until the smell is gone.
UWipe all surfaces with a solution of half vanilla extract and half water. Let sit for several days.
UPut some activated charcoal in the fridge and keep it closed for a day or two.
UFill a couple of plastic containers with some cat-box filler (buy the one that says "multiple-cat household," as it seems to be stronger). Shut the door and wait a few days.
We are hoping that one of these will work for you. However, if the juice from the shrimp leaked into the coils or insulation of the fridge, the odor will more than likely be permanent, and you might have no choice but to replace the refrigerator. Good luck, and let us know what happens. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I liked the suggestion to put your name on the inside of your suitcase as well as the outside. Another tip is to include a copy of your itinerary in the luggage in case it gets misrouted on your departure trip from home. That way, the airline can find you at your destination and hopefully return your bags to you before your trip is over. Lucy Wells, Wheaton, Md.
Dear Heloise: I had just moved into my freshly painted apartment and decided to take a shower, which is in one very small room. I closed the door and later discovered that I was locked in. Apparently, the painter had installed the doorknob backward when he finished painting. So here I am with no phone, no glasses and no sharp objects to try to open the door.
After that experience, I always take a phone, my glasses and a laminated list of phone numbers into the bathroom with me. I definitely feel better about closing that door now! S. Blum, Warrenton, Va.
So, how did you get out? Heloise
Dear Readers: Dirty metal or plastic miniblinds? Make a solution of 1 teaspoon mild dishwashing liquid and 1 quart warm water. Use an old sock dampened with this homemade cleaner to wipe the blinds clean. Heloise
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
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