5 Steps to Deodorize a Fish Cooler With Baking Soda and Vinegar

Rinse the cooler with fresh water immediately after dumping the fish. This prevents odors from setting into the plastic.

Scrub the inside with a paste of baking soda and water. Baking soda neutralizes odors without leaving a chemical smell.

Rinse again, then wipe down with white vinegar (full strength or diluted). Vinegar kills bacteria that cause lingering smells.

Let the cooler air dry with the lid open for a day. Complete drying prevents mold and mildew from forming.

Do not mix baking soda and vinegar at the same time. They neutralize each other; apply one, then the other, then dry.