Toilet paper belongs in the bathroom, so seeing a fresh roll sitting beside milk and leftovers raises questions. One woman put it there on purpose, and she wasn’t preparing for a leaking container.
Amy from AmyandRose.com tried the trick after fish left an odor in her refrigerator. Her daughter suggested putting a roll of toilet paper inside, using the paper for the same property that makes it useful elsewhere in the house: absorbency.
The Roll Is Supposed to Absorb Moisture and Odors
Refrigerators hold more than cold air. Moisture from food and containers can collect inside, while strong food odors can linger after the source is gone.
Ruiz Asri, editor of Honest Food Talks, explains that the toilet paper trick targets both. The paper absorbs moisture and can pick up odors along with it.
There’s no preparation involved. The idea is to place a fresh roll inside the refrigerator and leave it there.
She Tried It After Fish Left a Smell Behind
Amy had a specific reason to test the trick: fish odors in her refrigerator.
Her daughter suggested toilet paper, so she put a roll inside to see whether it would make a difference.
Her verdict wasn’t that the refrigerator became odor-free for good. She said the method worked “somewhat” and described it as a temporary fix.
That’s an important distinction. A roll of toilet paper may absorb some moisture and odor, but it doesn’t remove spoiled food or clean whatever caused the smell.
The Trick Has Been Circulating for Years
Putting toilet paper in a refrigerator isn’t a new product recommendation.
References to the idea appeared online as far back as 2015, while videos promoting toilet paper as a refrigerator odor absorber have circulated on TikTok and Facebook.
The odd placement helps explain why the trick gets attention. Unlike a box of baking soda tucked into the back of a shelf, a full roll of toilet paper beside the food is hard to miss.
Baking Soda Takes Up Less Room
Toilet paper isn’t the only absorbent item that can sit inside a refrigerator.
Baking soda remains a common choice for odors and requires far less shelf space than a roll of paper. The source recommends replacing it about every three months as its odor-fighting ability declines.
Activated charcoal is another option. It captures volatile compounds associated with odors and can come as powder, filters, or fabric. The source suggests replacing charcoal about once a month.
Toilet Paper Doesn’t Fix the Source
If the refrigerator smells because food has spoiled or liquid has leaked, absorbing the odor isn’t the first job.
Remove the source and clean the affected surfaces. An odor absorber can deal with what lingers afterward, but leaving spoiled food beside a roll of toilet paper isn’t going to solve the problem.
That is where this strange refrigerator trick makes more sense. The toilet paper isn’t there to clean the fridge or sanitize anything. It’s being used as a temporary moisture and odor absorber.
Amy tried it after fish left its mark on her refrigerator and found that it helped to a point. I still wouldn’t give up valuable refrigerator space without a reason, but at least now I know why someone might open the door and find a toilet paper roll staring back.
Would you sacrifice refrigerator space for a roll of toilet paper, or stick with baking soda?
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