Keeping your fridge fresh and odor-free is a common household challenge, especially for those of us who have lived through a few decades and know the importance of a clean and pleasant-smelling kitchen. While regular cleaning is essential, sometimes you need a little extra help to keep those stubborn smells at bay. Fortunately, there's a clever DIY trick that's been making the rounds on social media, and it's both cost-effective and easy to do.

Anna Viktori, a savvy mum, has shared her simple yet ingenious hack for maintaining a fresher-smelling fridge, and it's caught the attention of many online. Her method involves using everyday items you likely have in your pantry: aluminum foil, salt, coffee, and a toothpick. This unlikely combination has proven to be quite the dynamic duo in combating fridge odors.

To create this odor-busting sachet, Viktori suggests laying out a sheet of aluminum foil and placing about a tablespoon of ground coffee and a tablespoon of salt in the center. Then, wrap it up into a neat little parcel and poke a few small holes in it with a toothpick. These holes allow the coffee and salt to work their magic, neutralizing and absorbing the unwanted smells lurking in your refrigerator.

Keep your refrigerator clean and odour-free with these tips. Image Credit: Shutterstock/CeltStudio

The science behind this hack is simple yet effective. Coffee contains nitrogen, which helps to neutralize odors, while salt has a neutral pH, making it excellent at absorbing them. The result is a double-whammy against fridge funk.

Viktori's TikTok video demonstrating this hack has resonated with viewers, garnering comments like 'Wow love it! I will definitely try this,' and 'Interesting idea.' It's not just the effectiveness that's appealing; the sachet is also less prone to spilling if accidentally knocked over, unlike an open dish of coffee grounds.

However, if you find yourself without coffee or salt, don't fret. Another tried-and-true odor neutralizer is bicarb soda, a staple in many Australian households. Similar to the coffee and salt sachet, you can wrap bicarb soda in foil with a few holes poked through, or simply place a few scoops in a dish or small container in your fridge.

Our kitchens are the heart of our homes, and keeping them clean and fresh is a task we all take pride in. This clever hack is just one of the many ways we can ensure our spaces remain welcoming and odor-free. So, next time you notice a less-than-pleasant scent wafting from your fridge, reach for these pantry staples and give it a go.

We'd love to hear from you, our Seniors Discount Club members, about your own experiences with this hack or any other fridge freshness tips you might have. Share your stories in the comments below, and let's help each other keep our homes smelling lovely!

Remember, a clean fridge is not just about pleasant aromas; it's also about food safety. Regularly checking for expired products and wiping down shelves can prevent the growth of bacteria and mold, ensuring that the food we consume is as fresh and safe as possible.

Key Takeaways

• Anna Viktori shared a simple DIY hack on TikTok to combat fridge odours using aluminium foil, salt, and coffee.
• The hack involves creating a small sachet with these ingredients, which helps neutralise and absorb unwanted smells.
• Coffee grounds and salt are effective because of coffee's nitrogen content and salt's neutral pH.
• Alternatives to this odour-busting method include using coffee grounds in a dish or bicarb soda either in a sachet with holes or in a dish placed in the fridge.

So, embrace this simple kitchen combo and enjoy a stink-free fridge. And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for more handy tips and tricks that cater to our over-60s community. Stay fresh and fabulous, everyone!

 

[gamiry]

We only used a couple of drops of vanilla which we put into an eggcup

 

[Mummanew]

All you need is an open container of baking soda

 

[MariaG]

Here's an even better tip.
Clean your fridge more often than once a year.
I use a very basic cleaning item called water, and, add a few drops of vanilla.
Another good tip is to use fridge liners if one finds it annoying to take the trays out for cleaning.
Whichever way it goes, TikTok is behind the times.

 

[PattiB]

Here's an even better tip.
Clean your fridge more often than once a year.
I use a very basic cleaning item called water, and, add a few drops of vanilla.
Another good tip is to use fridge liners if one finds it annoying to take the trays out for cleaning.
Whichever way it goes, TikTok is behind the times.

I guess actually washing out the fridge is way too simple for them. I’m always in mine cleaning at least one shelf, it’s amazing how drips etc seem to appear. I love seeing shiny glass shelves & it never actually smells, except of a hint of a vanilla.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Who would want their fridge stinking of coffee?

And the atmosphere has a bucketload more nitrogen than coffee does. Seems like a weird "cleaning hack".

 

[Gsr]

Not sure many people will want to waste coffee like this with coffee becoming short in supply and prices sky rocketing, if we can believe the news stories. Water with a few drops of vanilla is just as effective and much cheaper.

 

[Towing]

Not everybody likes the smell of coffee. You could possibly do the same thing with carb soda which some people use.