Keeping a kitchen fresh usually involves cleaning tasks like wiping counters or taking out the trash, but there’s an unusual trick many people overlook—placing a roll of toilet paper inside the refrigerator. It might sound strange or even silly at first, but this simple hack can make a big difference in keeping your fridge smelling fresh and free of odors.
Fridges often develop unpleasant smells that aren’t just from spoiled food. Strong-smelling items like cheese, onions, seafood, and fruits all release odors that mix and linger. Even after cleaning, these smells can come back. That’s where toilet paper comes into play. Its absorbent nature helps soak up moisture and unwanted smells inside the fridge.
By putting a fresh roll in your refrigerator, it quietly absorbs excess moisture—the kind that encourages bacteria and mold growth. These microorganisms are often the source of stubborn odors, so by reducing humidity, the toilet paper helps prevent smells from forming rather than just masking them.
Humidity and odors in fridges are closely linked. Moist environments support the growth of mold and bacteria, which produce musty and sour smells. Toilet paper acts like a sponge, pulling moisture away before it feeds these microorganisms, resulting in a fresher, cleaner fridge.
One great advantage of this method is that it’s budget-friendly and environmentally conscious. Since you likely already have toilet paper at home, you don’t need to buy special air fresheners or odor absorbers. Plus, after using it in the fridge, the toilet paper roll can still be used for its usual purpose, reducing waste.
For an even more powerful effect, you can combine this method with baking soda, a classic fridge deodorizer. Placing a small bowl of baking soda next to the roll helps neutralize acidic and alkaline odors, making a great one-two punch against unwanted smells. You can also mix baking soda with a little water to create a paste and apply it on the outside of the toilet paper to enhance odor control naturally and safely.
This trick is flexible — one roll is usually enough for a small fridge, but larger fridges might benefit from multiple rolls on different shelves to maximize freshness. Remember to swap out the roll every few weeks or when it feels damp to maintain its effectiveness.
Though it sounds odd, using toilet paper in your fridge works surprisingly well. It keeps odors down, prevents mold growth, and saves money—all with simple items you probably have at home. Next time you open your fridge and get a bad smell, try putting in a roll of toilet paper and maybe some baking soda for a fresh, natural fix.
