Adapted by:
Pablo Martínez-Juarez
Writer
Alba Mora
WriterIf you open your fridge one day and find a roll of toilet paper inside, you might think you’re living with a very absent-minded person who mistook the refrigerator for the bathroom cabinet. However, you would likely be mistaken. There’s actually a reason for storing toilet paper in the fridge. Is it a good reason, though?
Why would someone do this? Long hailed on some corners of the Internet, this unusual practice is intended to help reduce unpleasant odors that can sometimes develop in the fridge.
So, does it really work? While I haven’t tested this method myself, toilet paper is believed to help remove odors from your fridge. However, before deciding to try this, you should consider a few factors.
This method relies on the fact that toilet paper can absorb moisture. Being absorbent, it can help collect ambient humidity (effectively acting as a dehumidifier) and eliminate bad odors. Additionally, it helps keep food fresher for longer by reducing spoilage and preventing the release of new unpleasant smells.
Interestingly, the Food Safety and Inspection Service advises using paper to address persistent odors in refrigerators and freezers. FSIS recommends placing rolled newspaper inside the fridge, closing the door, and leaving it that way for several days. After removing the paper, the agency suggests cleaning the refrigerator with vinegar and water.
Newspaper has a clear advantage over toilet rolls: It’ll be discarded anyway. If you decide to use toilet paper instead, you should avoid using any that has been stored in the bathroom and is out of its wrapping. It’ll already have absorbed moisture.
Avoiding Bad Odors in Your Refrigerator
To eliminate odors from your fridge, the first step FSIS suggests is removing any spoiled food that may be causing the smell.
Next, you should remove all the trays and drawers from the fridge and clean them with soap and water. You can also use a “sanitizing solution” to disinfect these parts. FSIS recommends mixing one tablespoon of unscented bleach per gallon of water to make this solution. You should also use it to clean the inside of your fridge. After cleaning, leave the refrigerator door open for about 15 minutes to allow it to air out.
Additionally, appliance manufacturers often provide useful tips to help improve the use of their products, so checking their resources can be beneficial as well.
These methods include several cleaning products, although you should avoid mixing them. For instance, baking soda and vinegar neutralize each other with differing acidity levels since vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. Meanwhile, mixing vinegar and bleach poses a health risk, given that the combination releases harmful gases.
Interestingly, the toilet paper trick can also help you save energy. Each time you open the refrigerator door, you create air currents that allow warm air from outside to enter. When you close the door, the fridge must cool down this warm air, leading to increased energy consumption.
The fuller the refrigerator, the less air it can exchange with the external environment, meaning it uses less energy. As such, if you place an object like a roll of toilet paper inside, the fridge will only need to cool once rather than repeatedly each time you open and close the door. This trick can be beneficial in specific situations, especially if your refrigerator is often half-filled.
Image | Anastasiia Chepinska
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