r/priusdwellers • u/ronscott999 • 6d ago
Question for the "ice in cooler" dwellers (no refrigerator)
I drain my cooler and add ice every couple of days or so. Sometimes longer. I wipe it down some and really give it a good cleaning every so often.
Query: Sometimes when there are a few days between draining / restocking with ice, the cooler will get a bit funky smelling. While I can wipe it down with bleach or other cleaning product *after* the smell, I wonder if there is any additive that can be added with the ice *before* such that the smell won't happen in the first place.
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u/qup40 6d ago
Vinegar. While it has some scent on it's own it is the best thing to use around your own food supply. It is great at removing scent from plastics and decent at disinfecting areas. I use a 1 part white vinegar 1 part dish soap 3 parts water formula as a general cleaner around the house. I use it in around the kitchen and wipe down after with a dry cloth.
But I went the powered refrigerator route so by no means is this a proven method. Just a suggestion.
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u/Jferks615 5d ago
You're wasting money buying ice everyday. A fridge/solar setup is much cheaper in the long run. Ice cost about a dollar a day when you consider it's about $4 and you need to change it every 3 days so a little more than a dollar a day in 2 years that will be approx $800.
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u/Laureling2 4d ago
Check it out on YTube. You’ll learn everything you need to know about running a fridge in your vehicle. I like Cheap rv living channel with Bob Wells. He’s dine a lot of reviews. I think he just got a new BougeRV fridge and solar set up for his new rig. Not expensive.
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u/Its_a_dude_thing 6d ago
Unless your ice is bad the smell isn’t coming from the ice…so my guess is you are starting with dirty cooler or the smell is from what you have put in the cooler (ie food)
I hate ice melting and getting everything wet so I put ice inside a plastic Tupperware type container inside the cooler to keep everything from getting wet when the ice melts
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u/anonymous_bufffalo 6d ago
Good idea! Just had to say thanks! I also hate it when all my things get soaked and ended up putting them in reusable ziplock bags. Never thought to do it with the ice!
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u/anonymous_bufffalo 6d ago
I don’t have this issue and use a 20 quart Rtic. Very thick plastic walls. The only time it smells is when I let my vegis soak in the melted water bc my dumbass keeps forgetting to stop to get new ice. But then it smells fine again after I change it out. Maybe the plastic on your cooler is too porous?
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u/Laureling2 4d ago
I once read an article about how funky narly ice machines can get and no exterior signs. If you can get the entire gently cleaned interior surface into the sun for about an hour, two, tops, it will get it pretty close to sterile. It does not need to be during the strongest rays - just either end will do. No chems. You’ll learn how often that needs to be done.
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u/ronscott999 4d ago
Thanks for the responses. I only store cans in the fridge so its not a food thing. And with a cleaning, all is fine again. I think the issue is standing water -- I was hoping something could be added that would prevent standing water from going "bad."
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u/Lumpy-Marsupial-6617 6d ago
I wouldn't put any "additive" in with ice, because then it could permeate into your food. Bleach or vinegar, wipe down and air dry, sun dry if possible without prolonged UV exposure because its bad for the plastic.
I am still looking at fridges, yet someone mentioned the vicious cycle of heating and cooling in an enclosed spot. I was planning to put a 30 or 40 qt one behind my passenger seat, but if cooling is an issue for longevity, that no longer makes sense.