Why put wet newspaper in the refrigerator? A clever trick from experienced housewives

The rationale for placing moist newspaper in the refrigerator hinges on its ability to preserve moisture. When fruits and vegetables are swathed in slightly damp newspaper, it creates a humid environment around them, which proves particularly advantageous for items such as leafy greens, carrots, and herbs. This technique mitigates the wilting process, helping maintain their crispness for an extended period. Additionally, the newspaper can soak up surplus moisture that could potentially lead to spoilage, and it also serves to neutralize odors from other foods in the fridge. It’s crucial, however, to ensure the newspaper is clean and devoid of inks or chemicals that could leach into your food. This method is a simple yet eco-friendly trick that many seasoned cooks vouch for.

Have you ever noticed an unpleasant odor lingering in the refrigerator, one that persists despite thorough cleaning and airing out? This is a fairly common occurrence, and even scrubbing every nook and cranny of the appliance might not eliminate it. However, a rather unconventional approach involving a dampened newspaper can effectively resolve the issue. Simply take a newspaper, lightly mist it with water from a spray bottle, then crumple it and place it inside the freezer compartment. After roughly 12 hours, the intensity of the odor will noticeably diminish. In about a day and a half, the odor will virtually disappear, with visible changes beginning to manifest on the paper itself.

This change becomes particularly evident if there’s minimal ink on the paper’s surface. The reason behind this lies in the paper’s moisture, which draws in the stubborn aromas. At this stage, it’s important to replace the used newspaper with a fresh sheet, or else the effect will gradually fade. Within that 36-hour window, the offending odor should be nearly eradicated, and the paper will bear the marks of its absorptive powers.