Fridge Smell Hack: Nowadays, the only complaint heard in every house is that as soon as the fridge is opened, a strange smell starts emanating or vegetables and fruits wither quickly. For many people, berries get spoiled in one night and lettuce leaves start turning black in half a day. In such a situation, people try expensive fridge deodorizers, air purifiers, filter packs and different tricks, but the surprising thing is that a very cheap and easy solution to your entire problem is present in your home itself. A simple wet sponge lying near the kitchen sink is the same jugaad, which is now being widely adopted in Indian kitchens. Many home organization experts and cooking creators on social media have said that just keeping a slightly wet sponge in the fridge controls odors, maintains moisture balance and keeps fruits and vegetables looking fresher for several days. This home trick is so easy that everyone can use it without any effort.
What does a wet sponge do in the fridge?
The refrigerator is made to keep cool, but it is not always able to maintain the moisture balance. Whenever you open the fridge, hot air from outside goes inside and starts forming water droplets after mixing with the cold. These drops settle on herbs, green leaf vegetables and fruits, due to which moisture increases in them and mold starts forming quickly. For this reason, leafy vegetables wither quickly and berries become soft and spoil.
Here the sponge plays its role. The small holes present inside the sponge hold water. If the moisture in the refrigerator suddenly increases, the sponge absorbs it and when the moisture decreases, it slowly releases it. Due to this, the internal environment remains stable and the produce remains crisp and fresh for a longer time.
How does a wet sponge stop fridge odor?
The biggest causes of bad smell in the fridge are old food particles, dried sauce spills, strong smelling items and open food. This smell spreads in the air and keeps circulating throughout the refrigerator. But when there is a damp sponge inside, these odor molecules quickly dissolve in the moisture of the sponge.
The sponge works like a ‘smell trap’. As soon as the air passes near it, the particles of bad smell get trapped in it. Therefore, this trick not only neutralizes the acid like baking soda, but also continuously absorbs these small particles present in the air. This is the reason why this indigenous trick of sponge is becoming quite viral these days.
How to use it properly?
If you want to try this jugaad, then keep these things in mind:
- 1. Always use ordinary cellulose sponge. Do not use scented or chemical sponges at all.
- 2. Wet the sponge thoroughly first. Then squeeze so much that it remains just moist and not dripping.
- 3. Keep the sponge near the produce drawer in the refrigerator or on a top shelf. If you have a big fridge, it is better to keep two sponges at different places.
- 4. Wash and clean the sponge every 3-4 days. If you want, you can heat it in the microwave for 1 minute or boil it to sanitize it.
- 5. Change the sponge every 3-4 weeks. This maintains a good balance of odor and moisture.
How does this trick extend the life of fruits and vegetables?
When there is moisture balance inside the refrigerator, water droplets do not freeze on the produce. From this:
- Herbs last longer.
- Mold appears late on berries.
- Lettuce leaves remain crisp for many days.
- Cucumber and mushroom also do not soften quickly.
- Leafy vegetables remain looking fresh instead of turning black.
- That means the micro-climate of the entire fridge becomes better.
When does this method not work?
If the smell in the fridge is caused by spoiled food or an old spill, just using a sponge won’t make a difference. It is important to clean the entire fridge first. In case of very strong smell, things like baking soda or activated charcoal can be used together. Also, the temperature of the fridge should be between 1°C to 4°C.
