Why You Should Leave A Glass Of Alka-Seltzer And Water In Your Fridge

Because of its fast-acting action against heartburn, headache, upset stomach, and indigestion, many households keep a box of Alka-Seltzer somewhere in their medicine cabinet.

But Alka-Seltzer is surprisingly versatile. Beyond offering soothing relief for post-party hangovers, this fizzy drink has become a go-to solution for a range of household woes, including the all-too-familiar issue of a smelly fridge.

If you need a quick fix for your smelly fridge problem, all you need to do is drop a tablet into a glass of water, let it fizzle, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. This will soak up any smell and freshen your fridge in no time.

If any stubborn odors linger and you have some time to spare, dissolve another tablet in water, then use a cloth or sponge dipped in this solution to wipe down your fridge's interior. This will help eliminate any foul-smelling residues or spills clinging to the surfaces of your fridge.

Many swear by Alka-Seltzer's fridge-deodorizing prowess, but why does it work? The secret lies in its ingredients. Alka-Seltzer has three main active ingredients: aspirin, acetic acid, and baking soda. While aspirin has nothing to do with cleaning, the latter two are well-known cleaning powerhouses.

Citric acid is excellent for disinfecting and cleaning; this powdered ingredient is even known to whiten your toilet in no time. It can get rid of things like bacteria and mildew in your fridge.

Baking soda is a household staple known for its versatility when it comes to cleaning. Baking soda's ability to deodorize hinges on an acid-base reaction. The foods stored in your fridge continuously undergo chemical changes, often resulting in odors caused by the oxidation of fatty acids. These odors are typically acidic, while baking soda is a base. When baking soda comes in contact with these odors, the microscopic sodium bicarbonate particles move through the air, come into contact with these smelly gaseous by-products, and neutralize them — that is, it chemically alters the structure of the odor molecule and makes it less smelly.

While Alka-Seltzer is marketed and sold as a medicine, it can do wonders in your home thanks to its citric acid and baking soda components. Many swear by its ability to leave your toilet squeaky clean. All you need to do is drop two to three tablets and leave it for 25 minutes to let its bubbles do their work before you use a brush to scrub away any lingering debris thoroughly.

Alka-Seltzer can also do wonders for your dirty shower. Pop four to five tablets into a spray bottle and let them dissolve completely. Spray down your tiles and let the mixture stay for a few minutes before scrubbing it off with a sponge.

The fizzy medicine can also brighten up your dingy yellowed white clothes. All it takes is two Alka-Seltzer tablets in about 4 quarts of water. After soaking them, let them dry, and you'll notice a significant restoration of their original brightness.