Putting oats in your refrigerator: Why people recommend this simple trick for bad smells

A refrigerator can keep food fresh for longer, but it cannot prevent food from eventually spoiling. Leftover meals, forgotten vegetables, expired products and accidental spills can all contribute to an unpleasant smell inside the appliance.

Sometimes, the source is obvious. A container of old food may have been pushed to the back of a shelf, while at other times the odor can linger even after the spoiled food has been removed. Food spills, mold, bacteria, leaking containers and residue inside drawers or shelves can all contribute to persistent smells.

One simple household trick that some people recommend involves something many kitchens already have: uncooked oats. The idea is straightforward. Put dry oats in an uncovered bowl or container and leave it inside the refrigerator. The oats may help absorb some moisture and odors from the surrounding air.


But there is an important catch: oats should not be considered a substitute for cleaning the refrigerator. If the smell is caused by spoiled food, mold or a spill, the underlying source needs to be removed first.

How to clean your refrigerator

Before trying any natural deodorizing method, start by cleaning the refrigerator thoroughly.

Remove the food and check expiration dates. Anything spoiled or expired should be discarded. This is also a good opportunity to reorganize the refrigerator so that older food is easier to see and less likely to be forgotten.

Next, remove the drawers and shelves and wash them with warm water and mild dish soap. Rinse them properly and dry them with a clean towel before putting them back.

Pay particular attention to spills. Food residue can collect underneath containers, around shelves and inside crisper drawers. These areas can continue producing odors even when the original spill is no longer obvious.

The refrigerator door seals, commonly called gaskets, should also be cleaned. These rubber seals can collect food residue and other grime. Wipe them with warm water and mild detergent, then rinse and dry them thoroughly.

If your refrigerator has a removable drip pan, check and clean that as well. Accumulated residue in this area can sometimes contribute to unpleasant odors.

How oats are used to tackle refrigerator odors

Once the refrigerator has been cleaned, you can try the oat method. Take some uncooked, dry oats and place them in a clean, uncovered bowl or container. Put the container on a stable shelf inside the refrigerator and leave it there.

The porous nature of oats is the reason behind the household trick. Dry oats can interact with moisture and may absorb some odors from their surroundings. This is similar in principle to why other porous materials are sometimes used as household deodorizers.

However, the effect should not be exaggerated. There is limited evidence that a bowl of oats is an especially effective refrigerator deodorizer, and it is not necessarily more effective than established odor-absorbing products.

If you use oats, they should remain dry and should not come into contact with food or moisture. Replace them if they become damp or develop an unusual smell.

Why cleaning matters more than the deodorizer

A deodorizer can only address the odor that remains in the air. It cannot solve the source of the problem. If a refrigerator smells because of spoiled food, mold or a substantial spill, placing oats inside without cleaning it first is unlikely to solve the problem. The same applies to other natural odor-absorbing methods, including coffee grounds or baking soda.

The first step should therefore always be finding and removing the source of the smell.

Once the refrigerator has been cleaned, an uncovered container of dry oats can be tried as a simple household method for dealing with lingering odors. It costs little and uses an ingredient that many people already have at home.

But if the smell repeatedly returns despite thorough cleaning, it may be worth checking less obvious areas of the refrigerator, including the door seals, drip pan and spaces underneath removable components.

In other words, the oats may help with the smell, but keeping the refrigerator clean is what addresses the reason for the smell.