A bowl of coffee grounds, half a cut lemon, and other simple ways to beat fridge odours

No one likes opening the fridge only to be greeted by a strong wave of smells from yesterday’s fish curry, cut onions or forgotten leftovers. A refrigerator is meant to keep food fresh, but when odours build up, it can quickly turn unpleasant. The good news is that you don’t need expensive deodorisers or chemical sprays to fix it. A few everyday kitchen items - coffee grounds, lemon, baking soda, cloves, and vinegar - can keep your fridge smelling clean and inviting.

Here are five easy tricks that actually work.

1. A bowl of coffee grounds
Used coffee grounds work well to soak up smells. Spread them out in a small bowl and keep it inside the fridge. Replace once a week to keep it effective.

2. Half a cut lemon
A lemon half left on a plate adds a clean citrus scent and cuts through strong odours. Change it every few days. A sprinkle of salt on the lemon makes it last a little longer.

3. Baking soda
An open box of baking soda inside the fridge absorbs all kinds of smells. Replace the box once a month.

4. Lemon with cloves
Press a few cloves into a lemon half and leave it in the fridge. The mix of citrus and spice keeps the air fresher than lemon alone.

5. Vinegar wipe
Sometimes it’s about cleaning, not covering. Wipe shelves and walls with a mix of vinegar and water. It clears stains, kills germs and leaves the fridge fresh.