At one point or another, we’ve all encountered a dreaded mystery odor in the refrigerator. Once the source of the smell has been identified, most people place a box of baking soda in the refrigerator to get rid of the lingering odor. The smells in your refrigerator are made up of food particles that float around and eventually settle into your food. Putting a box of baking soda in your refrigerator gives those smelly particles something other than leftovers to bond with. The unique characteristics of sodium bicarbonate make it very attractive to both acidic and base particles, and once these particles bond with the baking soda, the odor is neutralized. The best spot to place a box of baking soda is in the back corner. You can also place a box in the freezer to absorb freezer odors and to keep ice from taking on an odor or foul taste. Don’t forget about the crisper drawers. Just sprinkling baking soda on the bottom can eliminate odors and slow down the ripening process of your fruits and veggies. Maybe you’ve put one in your refrigerator and simply forgotten about it. The rule of thumb is that the baking soda should be replaced every 3 months to ensure that it does its job.
