apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

• Dig into your produce drawers - anything runny or smelly? Throw it out. If you have just wilted or browned vegetables, however, don't throw them out! Put them in a plastic bag in the freezer for making stock later.

• Time to check leftovers. Leftover beans and supper dishes are the worst offenders in our fridge. They get pushed to the back and go bad when we're not vigilant, sometimes. Also, if you have a truly awful smell emanating from your fridge, check for rice. Rancid rice has perhaps the worst smell in the kitchen.

• One you've cleaned out anything obviously bad or smelly, you will feel much better - we always love a good clean through the fridge - it makes us feel like we've accomplished something.

• For future odor prevention, wipe the fridge down thoroughly using your preferred cleaning solution. And on the question of baking soda - some swear by it, and others say it does nothing to deodorize. Your thoughts?