Ice cubes are at their best when they add a refreshing chill to our drinks. Unfortunately, use of a smelly ice cube tray will deliver an experience which is anything but that.
To prevent your ice cubes from smelling of defrost and a variety of other freezer scents, cleaning and deodorizing the ice cube tray is recommended on a regular basis. By following the below suggestions, you will find a range of solutions for deodorizing your ice cube tray while using household ingredients.
Deodorizing Soaking Solutions
1 Traditional Warm Detergent Soak
Often all that is needed to deodorize and ice cube tray and return it to normal is a nice long soak within a dish detergent bath. Fill up one side of the sink with hot water and add in 4 teaspoons of dish detergent. Next, place the ice cube trays within the mixture and allow for them to soak for 1-2 hours before draining the sink and giving the trays a good rinse. Once you have removed all of the detergent residues from the trays, you can fill the trays with water and begin creating new ice cubes within the freezer.
2 Bath of White Vinegar
Similar to baking soda, white vinegar has long been a kitchen ingredient used to remove odors. This household acid works by strips smelly organic residues from items like ice cube trays to return them to normal. Fill half of the sink with hot water and add in 1-2 cups of white vinegar. Place the ice cube trays within the mixture and allow for them to sit for 2-3 hours before returning the drain the sink and rinse out the ice cube trays. As a note of caution, the ice cube trays may carry a residual scent of vinegar, however this smell should permanently go away as soon as they dry off. For this reason, it is recommended that you allow for the ice cube tray to dry completely before filling with water and placing back within the freezer.
3 Apple Cider Vinegar Alternative
Just as white vinegar was used to remove freezer odors, apple cider vinegar works in exactly the same fashion. Fill half of the sink with hot water and add in 1-2 cups of apple cider vinegar within the mixture. Next, place the ice cube trays within this bath to soak for 2-3 hours. Once completed, drain the sink and give the ice cube trays a thorough rinse to remove any remaining apple cider vinegar residues. Similar to white vinegar, you will want to allow for the trays to dry completely before refilling them and placing within the freezer to begin making new ice cubes.
Deodorizing Filling Solutions
1 Fill with Water and Add Baking Soda
Baking soda has been used for decades for it’s ability to combat odors and freshen household items. Without a doubt, baking soda can do much to in removing any residual freezer odor from your ice tray to return it to normal. Fill the ice cube trays with hot water and place them along the kitchen counter. Next, sprinkle a steady amount of baking soda over the entire ice cube tray, making sure that the powder mixes in the warm water which is already within the mold. Allow the tray to sit for 1-2 hours before returning to scrub the trays down over the sink with a sponge. This will help in allowing the baking soda to reach any areas which it would not have had the opportunity otherwise. Once the tray has received a thorough scrub, proceed to rinse the baking soda off before placing the tray back within use.
2 Add a Vodka Splash
This ingredient has been used for generations for deodorizing household problems, and works well in removing odors from ice cube trays. Fill the ice cube tray with hot water and distribute once shot of vodka across all of the ice cube molds on a single tray. Please note, the use of cheap vodka is recommended to keep deodorizing costs down. Once one shot of vodka has been distributed among the entire tray, allow for the tray to sit for 1-2 hours. Once this time has passed, scrub down the entire tray with a sponge over the sink, and proceed to rinse the tray off. Finally, allow the tray to dry completely before placing it back within use.
3 Crushed Activated Charcoal
For extremely challenging freezer odor, activated charcoal can work well in extracting and absorbing the odors. Crush one activated charcoal briquette into powder and equally distribute the contents among the molds of the ice cube tray. Carefully, fill the tray with hot water and place the tray in a safe location where it will not be disturbed for 2-3 days. Once this period of time has passed, empty the contents of the tray outside and give the tray a detergent wash within the sink. Once the tray dries off, it should be smelling fresh and be ready for use.
Deodorizing Wipedown Solutions
1 Rubbing Alcohol Rag
Using rubbing alcohol can work well on short notice. Similar to vodka, this solution relies on alcohol to quickly neutralize any freezer odors and retune the tray to normal. Soak a small rag with rubbing alcohol and proceed to wipe down the ice cube tray. Pay close attention to whip all areas within the ice cube molds to ensure that the areas become sterile and deodorized. Once every crevasse has been wiped, allow 5 minutes for drying before giving the tray a steady rinse under the sink. Once complete, place the ice cube tray back within use.
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