In every family kitchen, the refrigerator is an essential appliance that keeps food fresh and safe. However, after long-term use, unpleasant odors often build up inside—especially when the fridge stores strong-smelling foods such as fish, raw meat, garlic, onions, leftovers, or fermented items. Even with regular cleaning, stubborn smells can linger and affect the freshness of other foods.

Surprisingly, one of the easiest and most effective solutions doesn’t require expensive deodorizing products or chemicals. All you need is one roll of toilet paper.

1. Why Put a Roll of Toilet Paper in the Refrigerator?

Toilet paper has a porous, fibrous structure that makes it excellent at absorbing both moisture and odors. Inside a refrigerator, excess humidity is one of the main reasons bacteria and mold develop, causing food to spoil faster and unpleasant smells to spread.

When you place a roll of dry toilet paper in the fridge, it gradually absorbs excess moisture and odor particles from the air. This helps create a drier, cleaner environment inside the appliance. As a result:

• Food stays fresh longer

• Odors are significantly reduced

• Smells don’t transfer between different food compartments

Best of all, this method is completely natural, chemical-free, and safe for both food and your family’s health.

2. How to Use Toilet Paper to Deodorize Your Fridge

Step 1: Choose a new, dry, unscented roll of toilet paper.
Step 2: Place it in the middle shelf of the refrigerator, where air circulation is strongest.
Step 3: Replace the roll every 2–3 weeks, as it will gradually absorb moisture and odors.

You can easily tell when it’s time to change the roll—if the paper feels soft, damp, or slightly heavy, it has done its job.

This method requires almost no effort and works continuously in the background.

3. How to Boost the Odor-Absorbing Effect

If you want even better results, try combining toilet paper with other natural deodorizers:

• Essential oils: Add 2–3 drops of natural essential oil (lemongrass, lemon, peppermint, or eucalyptus) to the cardboard core of the roll. This creates a light, pleasant scent without overpowering food aromas.

• Baking soda or activated charcoal: Place a small pouch near the toilet paper roll to enhance moisture and odor absorption, especially if your fridge holds a lot of raw foods.

This combination works especially well for older refrigerators that tend to retain long-standing odors.

4. Unexpected Additional Benefits

Using toilet paper in your fridge offers more advantages than you might expect:

• Reduces bacterial growth: A drier environment slows down mold and bacteria development.

• Improves energy efficiency: Lower humidity helps the compressor work more efficiently, which may reduce electricity consumption.

• Eliminates old odors: Particularly effective for fridges that have been used for many years and retain stubborn smells.

5. Important Tips When Using This Method

To ensure safety and maximum effectiveness, keep the following in mind:

• Never use wet or previously used toilet paper

• Keep the roll away from open liquids or foods that may drip

• Replace the roll every 2–3 weeks

• Clean the refrigerator at least once a month to remove old residue and enhance results

6. Cost-Effective, Reusable, and Eco-Friendly

One roll of toilet paper can last several weeks or even months depending on fridge conditions. After removing it from the fridge:

• You can reuse it for cleaning floors, stairs, or kitchen surfaces

• Spray with disinfectant, dry it in the sun, and reuse if desired

• This reduces household expenses and minimizes waste

If toilet paper isn’t available, clean newspaper can also work. Crumple it up and place it in the fridge overnight—it absorbs odors fairly well as a temporary alternative.

7. Other Simple Ways to Remove Refrigerator Odors

In addition to toilet paper, you may also try:

• Used coffee grounds: Place in a cloth bag for up to 3 weeks

• Bread: Helps absorb moisture and mild odors

• Vinegar: Pour into an open glass jar to neutralize strong smells

• Salt water with lemon: Ideal for wiping down shelves and walls

Final Thoughts

With just one simple roll of toilet paper, you can:

• Eliminate unpleasant refrigerator odors

• Keep food fresher for longer

• Save money on deodorizing products

• Reduce moisture and improve appliance efficiency

• Use a safe, eco-friendly solution

Sometimes the smartest household solutions are also the simplest. Try this trick today, and within just a few days, you’ll notice your refrigerator smells cleaner, feels fresher, and works better—making everyday life just a little more pleasant for the whole family.