Recently, a viral post surfaced on Facebook featuring multiple photos of refrigerator doors with the caption, “The average refrigerator door of most Vietnamese households.” The post showcased a series of images of refrigerator doors, all adorned with halved or quartered lemons on the top shelf.
The post garnered 2,800 likes, over 320 comments, and 60 shares. Many users resonated with the content, revealing that their own refrigerators displayed a similar sight.
“The average refrigerator door of most Vietnamese households…”
This scene is a familiar one in every Vietnamese household.
Whether intentional or not, placing lemons in the fridge can yield surprising benefits.
Many users commented on how familiar this sight is!
“I was startled, I thought someone took a photo of my fridge,” one user wrote.
“Who did this? Who sneaked a photo of my fridge?” another asked.
“Turns out I’m not alone,” a third confessed.
“Lemons eliminate odors in the fridge, so my fridge always has lemons,” a fourth revealed.
As the fourth user mentioned, placing half a lemon in the fridge can effectively eliminate odors. Whether by accident or design, adding lemons to your fridge can have unexpected benefits.
Benefits of Placing Lemons in the Fridge
According to the culinary site Tasting Table (USA), using lemons is an incredibly effective and cost-efficient way to deodorize your fridge.
Refrigerators are prone to unpleasant odors, often stemming from leftover food, spilled liquids, or expired items. Moreover, the enclosed space of a fridge can amplify even the slightest odor.
Refrigerators are prone to unpleasant odors.
While there are numerous commercial products and methods to tackle these unwanted smells, nature offers a solution for even the most stubborn odors—the affordable lemon.
This citrus fruit, renowned for its fresh and pleasant aroma, is not only a culinary staple but also a powerful deodorizer. The high acid content in lemons breaks down and neutralizes foul odors, while its refreshing scent acts as a natural air freshener.
Before using lemons to deodorize your fridge, it’s crucial to address the root cause. Inspect all food items in the fridge. Identify any items that need discarding or areas requiring cleaning. Once the source of the odor is resolved, it’s time to use your citrus ally to restore freshness to your fridge.
Lemons can effectively deodorize your fridge.
According to Tasting Table, the simplest method is to use fresh lemon slices. Cut a lemon into thin slices and place them on a plate or shallow bowl. Position it in the fridge, preferably in a stable spot. The slices will absorb surrounding odors while releasing a fresh scent. After a few days, when the slices dry out or lose effectiveness, replace them with fresh ones.
For a more hands-on approach, squeeze the juice from a fresh lemon onto a clean cloth. Gently wipe down the interior surfaces of the fridge. Lemon juice not only neutralizes lingering odors and imparts a fresh scent but also acts as a natural cleaner, removing stains or residue. So, the next time your fridge emits an unpleasant odor, remember the humble lemon and use it to refresh your kitchen.
