Does Toilet Paper Really Help Neutralize Fridge Odors Or Is It Just A Waste?

The last thing you'd expect to see when opening up a refrigerator is a roll of toilet paper — but it's a real hack that some people swear by. As much as it might seem like social media rage-bait, there is some truth behind this trick. Toilet paper can absorb some of the odors in your fridge. Basically, a roll soaks up the extra moisture lurking around in your appliance and causing nasty smells. This can also help prevent mold from forming in your refrigerator.

While this hack really can work, it's not always recommended. For one thing, this trick is a huge waste of toilet paper. Because it's sitting in your fridge and soaking up extra moisture, it won't be usable afterward. Eventually, as your roll of toilet paper becomes damp, chances are it will start to mold over, which is not only gross on its own but also contributes to bad smells in your fridge over time.

Also, while toilet paper can decrease the presence of bad smells in your fridge, it's not actually the best way to do so. Other methods, like using baking soda, are better at fighting odors than a lonely roll of toilet paper. Keep your TP where it belongs — in the bathroom — and try one of these alternative methods instead.

Baking soda is by far one of the best ways to decrease odor in your fridge — so much so that some brands will sell packaging that is designed to stay in your refrigerator. The chemical compound is highly effective at reducing moisture, and it also reacts with odorous molecules, neutralizing them right away. Additionally, it's likely to last longer than toilet paper — it isn't prone to mold, and you'll only need to replace when its odor-absorbency loses power over time (swap it at least every three months).

You could also try leaving an open bowl of white vinegar in your fridge. Similarly to baking soda, the solution works to neutralize odors, leaving your fridge smelling fresh and clean. Wiping your fridge down with white vinegar will keep it squeaky clean, too, and can help remove lingering smells.

Coffee grounds are also a good option for removing bad smells from your fridge, giving them new life. It's theorized that the nitrogen in coffee grounds is what can help to absorb and remove bad odors, and it's just another bonus that they smell good on their own, too. All of these options are much less wasteful and longer-lasting than using toilet paper in your fridge.