No one wants to use a cooler that smells bad, especially if remnants of meat were left behind to spoil. This happened to me about twenty-three years ago. My in-laws had borrowed my plastic cooler when they moved, and they returned it with stains and an accompanying foul odor that I later found out was caused by rotten meat. I was able to get rid of the smell and save the cooler using the following easy method.
Necessary Supplies to Get Rid of the Stains and Smell of Rotten Meat
To get rid of the smell of rotten meat in a cooler you will need hot soapy water, a scratch-free scrub sponge, rinse water and a clean, dry towel. You will also need ordinary charcoal briquettes used for grilling and a shallow bowl. The natural charcoal will absorb the smell of rotten meat from the cooler, but first it is important to thoroughly clean it. If stains are present, use baking soda instead of cleanser. A beach pen or a little chlorine bleach might be necessary to get rid of the marks. Both will effectively remove the stains without causing scratches. Leave any remnants of rotten meat or the juices behind and no amount of charcoal or odor neutralizer will solve the problem.
Cooler Cleaning Procedure
Get rid of the smell of rotten meat in a cooler by first cleaning it inside and out. Fill it with a few inches of hot soapy water, and scrub it thoroughly with a clean sponge. Be sure to clean any grooves, especially the drainage hole and cap. This is where the liquid from rotten meat can collect, and if it is overlooked, the cooler will continue to smell bad.
Empty the soapy water from the cooler, and look for stains left behind by the rotten meat. Sprinkle the stains with baking soda, and allow it to sit undisturbed for about an hour. Dampen the scrub sponge once again, and scrub away any remaining stains in the cooler. This alone will probably not get rid of the bad smell, and it might not completely get rid of the stains. If they are still apparent, use a bleach pen or a little chlorine bleach on a clean damp rag. Let it work for about thirty minutes before thoroughly rinsing it way.
How to Ultimately Get Rid of the Rotten Meat Smell
To get rid of the smell left behind by rotten meat, place a bowl of ordinary charcoal into the cooler. Let it sit with the lid closed for forty-eight hours. Upon opening the cooler the smell should be gone. It should smell clean and very fresh. If not, let the charcoal work for a couple more days to fully get rid of the smell of rotten meat. If this does not work, absolutely nothing will.