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Mop up all excess water in the bottom
and remove any moisture from the sides and lid. Wipe all surfaces
down with white vinegar before refilling the box with food. If
the boat sits unattended for any length of time, leave the lid
off and place an opened box of baking soda in the icebox.
To remove odors from a refrigeration
box, turn the system off, empty it, and allow it to defrost. Dispose
of any food or dairy that may be suspect. Mop up all moisture
in the box, damp-mop the insides and the lid (including the gaskets)
with white vinegar until the odors are gone. Unless it’s
really bad, once is usually enough. Thoroughly dry the interior
and the lid, turn the system back on, and replenish it with fresh
food. Place an opened box of baking soda on a shelf to absorb
light odors. Replace the baking soda at least once a month. Again,
If the boat sits unattended for long periods, leave the lid open
and don’t turn the refrigeration system on.
Sink drains with gray water sitting
in them, particularly the galley sink where food particles may
not be completely flushed, will create an odor like no other.
I used to think the smell of rotten eggs was bad but this smell
will literally drive me off the boat. Always flush sink hoses
with white vinegar or Joy dish soap at the end of each day. Close
the seacock, allowing the white vinegar or dish soap to do its
thingovernight. Once this "rotten egg" odor starts,
eliminating it takes time and |
perseverance.
Close the seacock and allow the white vinegar to sit in the hose
for a few hours, then flush with hot freshwater. Repeat again—and
again. If the odor is not entirely removed, close the seacock
and add a very weak bleach solution (three tablespoons per gallon
of water) to kill any bacterial growth. Allow this solution to
sit in the hose for a couple of hours before re-opening the seacock,
flushing and rinsing a few more times to be sure all traces of
bleach are gone.
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Keeping the head free
of odors is a matter of good hoses and persistent attention.
|
Head intake hoses and others that
stand full of uncirculated salt water for long periods of time
often become a breeding ground for marine life. If you get a nasty
odor every time you flush the head, this is probably the cause,
especially if the hose is the clear or opaque type that allows
light through aiding the organism’s growth. In some cases,
the problem is so severe that the only solution is to replace
the hose, using a good quality hose made for the purpose. |
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