Several weeks ago, I submitted the high bid on two refrigerators at a silent auction. I knew when I bought them that they had a smell problem from being stored for a long period of time without the doors being open.

If this has happened to you, try these tricks in deodorizing your refrigerator:

A. Get a clean old nylon stocking, fill it with clean kitty litter or activated charcoal and leave it on the shelf to absorb the odors. This really works well if the refrigerator is going to be closed or sealed up for a while.

B. For strong odors, nothing works better than dry, fresh coffee grounds. Put three tablespoons of coffee in a small bowl and leave in the refrigerator, you'll be surprised at how quickly the offensive odor disappears.

My mother used a concoction of three tablespoons of dry coffee and two tablespoons of kitty litter. She would mix them together and dump the mixture into an old sock. She would then place the sock on the door shelf and close the door. It seemed like it took only seconds and the bad odors would be gone.

If you are allergic to any of the above products, please don't use them. Always test fabric and paints before using and chemical compounds.

Please remember to take care of your hands and eyes by wearing the appropriate protection.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, please send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn.: What Would Ed do?