These Items Should Never Be Stored on Top of the Fridge
March 1, 2024
source: Pinterest
To be honest, I’m not the most organized person out there. With my hectic work schedule, keeping my house in pristine condition often falls by the wayside. Most of the time, my place is a bit of a mess, and honestly, I think it’s a good thing I live alone. My apartment isn’t exactly spacious, which often leads me to get creative with storage solutions. And let’s face it, the top of the refrigerator looks like prime real estate for all sorts of stuff. I mean, it’s such a huge space, and it feels almost criminal to let it go to waste, right? But I started wondering, amidst my unconventional storage tactics, if it’s really a good idea to stack various items on top of it. Surely, I can’t be the only one exploiting this handy space, but also, it can’t be entirely safe to load it up with just anything.
So, I did a bit of digging around, and turns out, there are actually some things you should never store on top of your fridge. Here’s what I found:
Bread and Baked Goods: I was guilty of this one. Turns out, the warmth from the fridge can make bread go stale faster. Who knew?
Wine: This was a surprise! Apparently, the heat and vibration can mess with the wine’s aging process. So much for my makeshift wine rack.
Oils: Olive or vegetable oils seem like they’d be fine up there, but the fluctuating temperatures can spoil them quicker. Back to the pantry they go.
Medications: This one makes sense. The heat can affect their effectiveness. Definitely not worth the risk.
Fresh Produce: I’ve tossed a fruit bowl up there thinking I was being clever. Nope, the heat can cause faster spoilage. Lesson learned.
Coffee: As a coffee lover, this hurt. Heat and moisture from the fridge can ruin the flavor. Goodbye, coffee canister on the fridge.
Herbs and Spices: The same goes for these flavor enhancers. The top of the fridge is just too warm for their own good.
Pet Food: I thought I was being smart keeping it out of reach, but the heat can cause fats in the food to go rancid. Sorry, Fluffy.
Candles: I never did this, but apparently, the heat can cause them to warp or melt. Makes sense.
Electronics: This includes batteries, which can leak or corrode in the heat. Definitely not something you want near food.
Plastic Containers: Some plastics can release harmful chemicals if they’re heated up. Better safe than sorry.
Anything Heavy: Last but not least, overloading the top can strain the fridge’s compressor, potentially shortening its lifespan. No more heavy pots or appliances up there. No books and plants too!
My quest for extra storage space taught me a valuable lesson about what not to stash on top of my fridge. It’s a bit of a bummer, but hey, at least now I know how to avoid potential food spoilage, safety hazards, or damaging my fridge. Looks like I’ll be finding new homes for a few items and maybe, just maybe, working on that organization thing after all.