After indulging in festive feasts, many Britons will be left with a fridge overflowing with Christmas leftovers, including pigs in blankets, stuffing, and roast beef.
However, these treats can often leave behind an unpleasant smell in the fridge, particularly if there’s a lot of leftover meat and cauliflower cheese, reports the Express.
Fortunately, there are five easy ways to banish the stench without resorting to air fresheners or a deep clean, according to refrigerator expert Joshua Warren at AO.com.
He shared his top tips for keeping the fridge fresh, saying: “There’s nothing worse than a smelly fridge, but with these simple tips, your fridge will be smelling fresh in no time.”
1. Baking soda in a clean sock
Baking soda, a common household item, can be used to clean ovens, tile grout, and laundry stains, as well as deodorize the fridge. Mr. Warren suggested filling a clean sock with baking soda, which can be purchased at most supermarkets for under £1 (as little as 65p), tying it up, and placing it in the fridge.
He explained: “It may seem a bizarre thing to do, but it’ll absorb all those bad odours to leave your fridge smelling fresh.”
2. Wine corks
If you have leftover wine corks from Christmas, they can be repurposed to refresh your smelly fridge.
Simply pop a few in a bowl and place it in the fridge. Their natural cork material is excellent at absorbing odours.
3. Uncooked popcorn kernels
Mr Warren suggested: “Place a bowl of uncooked popcorn kernels in your fridge. These little golden nuggets, which can be purchased for roughly £1.50, absorb moisture and unpleasant smells, transforming your fridge from smelly to fresh in no time.”
4. Used coffee grounds
The leftover coffee grounds from your morning latte are an effective way to eliminate nasty smells from your fridge. Just put the grounds in an open container in the fridge to soak up the odours.
5. Cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract
“For around £3, simply drench a cotton ball in vanilla extract and position it on a shelf inside the fridge,” Mr Warren advised.
“It not only conceals those unpleasant smells but also leaves a delightful aroma every time you open and close the door.”