Giving our fridges a deep clean can require quite a bit of effort, especially when it comes to removing everything and wiping the shelves down. Even if you don’t regularly give it a deep clean, going through your fridge weekly and chucking out any food that might have spoiled can prevent any dirt from building up, but if you leave it for too long, you might start to notice unpleasant odours wafting out.

There are plenty of ways to give your fridge a deep clean, from vacuuming the shelves and even soaking them in white vinegar to get rid of any built-up dirt and bad odours. Fridges should be given a proper clean every three to six months, but shelves should still be cleaned in between to prevent any dirt and odours from building up in the meantime. Simply cutting up a lemon and placing it in the fridge is an option many use to keep fridges smelling fresh, but if you notice more persistent odours, a simple cleaning solution that you can make at home will effectively banish any odours in “seconds”.

Cleaning enthusiast Carolina McCauley has shared a homemade spray she makes to get rid of any off-putting scents that requires just four ingredients and will leave fridge shelves smelling “like a bakery.”

In the video posted on Instagram, the home hacks expert said: “I’ve been using this mix for a while now and every time I open the fridge, it smells like a fresh bakery”. She added that the DIY spray is “super effective” and “non-toxic”.

Even if your fridge has been cleaned, odours can linger afterwards, especially if you’ve got a lot of different food products in there, but Carolina’s homemade solution “removes grease and odours” and adds a “fresh citrus scent”.

Using a combination of vinegar and lemon oil, a combination which is frequently used as cleaning agents to help neutralise and remove odours, Carolina also adds vanilla extract to the spray for a “warm and sweet scent”.

One user commented on Carolina’s video and said: “Never thought of using vanilla, very good tip!”.

Lemon oil not only helps to neutralise any bad smells wafting from fridges, it’s also “great for lifting grime” and ensures no “mystery gunk” is left behind on shelves.

To use the spray, simply spray it on and wipe it away with a microfibre for a “fridge that’s sparkling clean”. Using distilled water also ensures no streaks are left behind on shelves after cleaning.

How to make Carolina's homemade solution 

• One cup white vinegar
• One cup distilled water
• One tsp vanilla extract
• 10 drops of essential oil