They put a roll of toilet paper in the refrigerator: the result was surprising

Social media is a wonderful thing. It allows us to connect with people around the world, spread the word, offer support and encourage each other to put toilet paper in fridges.

This is true. Recently, people have been taking to social media to suggest replacing that box of baking soda in the back of the fridge with a roll of toilet paper, says familyhandyman.com.

Does this weird trick work? We asked kitchen and home appliance experts what the pros say!

Why should you put toilet paper in the fridge?

Honest Food Talks editor Ruiz Asri says the trick has to do with the absorbency of toilet paper.

“Moisture in the refrigerator often causes mold and unpleasant odors,” says R. Asri. Toilet paper absorbs excess moisture and unpleasant odors.

References to toilet paper in the fridge can be found as far back as 2015. However, its specific use as an odor absorber seems to be more recent and has spread over the past year with videos like this appearing on TikTok and Facebook.

@ezenwanyibackup Just put a roll of toilet paper in your fridge, and you won’t have that problem anymore! ezenwanyibackup foryoupage homemaderemedies healthy homemaderecipes foryou diy naturalrecipes recipe fypシ ゚viral @ezenwanyibackup @ezenwanyibackup @ezenwanyibackup @This Recipe @Queen ezenwanyi1 ♬ original sound – ezenwanyibackup

Does it work?

Yes, up to a certain limit. Although it absorbs odors, other options are more efficient, take up less space in the fridge, and draw fewer strange looks from guests.

We talked to one person who tried the TP technique. Amy of AmyandRose.com noticed a fishy smell in her fridge. Her daughter suggested she try the toilet paper trick. Did it work?

“In my experience, a little bit,” she says. However, there is one nuance – this is only a temporary solution.

Alternative means of eliminating refrigerator odors

So if you want something that lasts longer and takes up less space, here are some alternative strategies for dealing with unpleasant odors:

Baking soda

Most US households use a food garden. It spread in the 20th century. in the 1960s, when the manufacturer Arm & Hammer promoted it as an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical cleaning products.

in 1994 the Los Angeles Times reported that “there are probably more refrigerators with baking soda than working light bulbs.”

Baking soda is a base, which means it neutralizes acids. Since most odors are acidic, it can eliminate the odor at its source.

As soda interacts with more acids, it becomes less effective. Most people should replace it every three months.

Vanilla extract

For those who want a more pleasant smell, especially with food, Asri offers a super sweet recommendation.

“Soak a cotton ball in vanilla extract and put it in the fridge,” he says, “It helps fight bad odors and makes the fridge smell like a bakery.”