Thursday, February 25, 2010

Beware of Trojans Bearing Gifts

See that side bar? The part where it says buy a new refigerator? See that crossed out?

Well, we didn't exactly buy a new refigerator.

Our friend called and asked if we wanted one. It was fairly new. He just pulled it out of a rental unit managed by the company he works for. It was free. Free is a good price.



There was one catch.



It had been sitting in the unit for about a month with no power- and there was food in it. Uh...



Well, he brought it over, we pulled it onto the deck. Our friend pulled out his box cutter and started to cut off the plastic wrapped around it for transport. I suddenly had to go do... something, somewhere... else.



I was good enough to allow my husband to clean it out for me. Which he did- with a garbage can and a hose. (We threw the food away, and then we threw the garbage can away, too.) He let the fridge sit on the deck, open, for a week end. Then I went after it. I started with a bucket of Lysol. Afew days later I rubbed it down with a few boxes of baking soda. Next, I closed the door and let it sit over night. I hosed it again and then I sprayed it down with bleach water.



Finally, we brought it inside.

I called my friend to say thank you for the grossest, most heineous gift that any one has ever given to me.

*Sigh* I liked the price.

9 comments:

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

So...did the smell actually go away??? I cannot imagine how gross that was.

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

I agree, *free* is a good price. But you're awfully brave to tackle that cleaning job.

Tia said...

I read somewhere that if your fridge smells (normal smells, not like the ones you just described) that crumpled up brown paper bags will help absorb the smell. Place and fridge and after a while thrown them out along with (hopefully) the bad smell. I haven't tried it myself though.

Kris said...

We got a fridge at that price from Joe's sister. I also thanked her for the putrid liquid broccoli. GAG!!!

Lee Ann said...

Oh man! that is SOME gift! My parents once had the power go out on a rental house, the freezer was full of fish. We happend upon it about a month later. EEEWWWWEEEE!!! Glad you (your hubby) made it through it. Hope you enjoy your fridge!

Frizzy said...

Yikes! No fun at all. I pray you worked your magic to get the smell out. I'm sure it's a smell you won't soon forget. How is it that you come up with these stories? Hitting a couch on the freeway and now the smelly fridge. You must have some sort of luck! ;)

Frizzy said...

Re. your comment about the cupcakes and ice cream. I'm totally with you and your mom! Would be even better if we could share them together!

Carlina said...

So Gina you found me! And I see you didn't sign up as a follower. I'm waiting...tick, tick, tick... I signed up and I'm glad to be back on your blog. I was missing my daily dose of humor!
I promise more than 2 posts... just waiting for the action to hit!

Anonymous said...

the trojan horse had greek soldiers inside... so think the title is supposed to be "beware of greek bearing gifts"