Almost all of us have a refrigerator at home. But most of us don’t put a lot of thought into what we should store in the refrigerator, and what we shouldn’t. The refrigerator and the freezer are a modern miracle for keeping your produce fresh and your ice cream frozen. But this kitchen appliance also gives you the perfect place to store plenty of things that aren’t food.
Read on to discover some of the most unexpected items that you should actually store in the refrigerator.
1. Candles
Candles have gotten pretty expensive at most home decor stores. So when you splurge on one, you probably want to make it last as long as you can. Apartment Therapy says that the freezer can help you out. “You might see just a minimal difference with your large jar-candles, but it’s the tapers fresh out of the freezer that absolutely do burn longer and have noticeably fewer drips,” the publication explains.
2. Cut flowers
The flowers you pick up from the florist — even the florist at the grocery — are always gorgeous. But they only last so long. To extend the life of the blooms, Shape recommends storing them in the fridge if you’re preparing for a party or another special event. Even if you just bought them to enjoy seeing them on your kitchen counter, FTD recommends storing your flowers in the fridge overnight to make them last longer.
3. Seeds for your garden
Not quite ready to plant the seeds that you bought for your garden? No problem. Wonder How To reports that you can just store them in the refrigerator for safekeeping. The publication reports that you should just put them in an airtight container before you put them in the fridge. But it does note that the trick only works for seeds that naturally grow in areas with colder climates.
4. Film
If you routinely shoot film in addition to taking digital photos, you’re probably well aware that film is expensive (and easy to mess up). One way you can extend the shelf life of your film stash is to store it in the refrigerator, according to a photography blog called I Still Shoot Film. Refrigerating film can reduce some of the negative effects of long-term storage. And it can also prevent damage caused by excess heat and humidity. You can even freeze your film for very long-term storage — though you’ll need to let it come to room temperature again before loading it in your camera.
5. Batteries
Shape reports that batteries are supposed to be stored in a cool, dry location. That makes the refrigerator an ideal place to stash them. The low temperature prevents the electrolyte fluid inside each battery from depleting. The upshot? Your batteries will have a longer shelf life if you store them in the fridge, not in a junk drawer or a random cabinet.
6. Sweaters
Anyone who’s ever opened their box of winter clothes to find all their favorites chewed to pieces by moths knows that it’s worth a little extra effort to eradicate all the larvae and eggs. Wonder How To reports that the best way to do that is to give your sweaters a stint in the freezer. After they’ve stayed in the freezer for a few hours, or overnight, you can just launder them as you typically would. Interestingly enough, a few hours in the freezer can also prevent your sweater from shedding.
7. Your jeans
Another item of clothing that Wonder How To reports you should stick in your freezer? Your favorite pair of jeans. Particularly if you wear expensive, dark jeans — like rigid denim — you probably want to avoid washing them more than necessary. When your jeans start to get a little smelly, putting them in the freezer can reportedly kill off the bacteria that causes them to stink. The trick also supposedly works with shoes — though that may be even harder to explain to your family.
8. Clothes with sticky stains
If you got a sticky substance like wax or chewing gum on your favorite jeans or t-shirt, Shape recommends stashing the item in the freezer. Leave the item in the freezer until the gum or wax hardens. Then, you can take the item out of the freezer and easily chip away at the stain. That’s a whole lot easier than trying to scrape it off while the stain is still sticky. And you can follow up that time in the freezer with a spin in the washing machine.
9. New shoes
Another neat trick? You can use the freezer to quickly break in a new pair of shoes. Wonder How To recommends filling freezer-friendly plastic bags with water, then stuffing them into the tightest part of the shoes. (Whichever part is uncomfortable or causing blisters on your feet.) Then, just place them in the freezer. As the water freezes, it will expand, slowly stretching the material.
10. Tights and pantyhose
It may just be an urban legend. But if you want to do everything you can to extend the life of your hosiery, Shape reports that you can store them in the freezer. Storing them at such a low temperature supposedly extends their lifetime and prevents runs. To try it out, wet new pantyhose in the sink and then wring them out. Stick them in a plastic bag and freeze them. When you want to wear them for the first time, thaw them in the bathtub and allow time for them to air dry.
11. Sheets and pillowcases
Want to get eradicate at least some of the dust mites on your sheets and pillowcases? Shape advises putting them in the freezer. Just place them in a plastic bag, put them in the freezer, and then leave them overnight. The next morning, wash them just like you normally would.
12. An envelope you need to unseal
Another completely random item you should throw in the refrigerator? An envelope that you sealed, and then realized was missing a vital piece of its contents. Sure, it doesn’t happen often. But the next time you need to unseal an envelope, just put it in the freezer for an hour or two. Shape reports that at that point, you should be able to pop the seal open with a knife or a letter opener, without ripping or otherwise damaging the envelope.
13. Lipstick
Shape reports that lipstick can go bad over time thanks to oxidation, which causes some of the oils to spoil. Storing your lipstick in the refrigerator can prolong their shelf life — which seems especially worth it for colors that you only wear occasionally, not everyday.
14. Foundation
According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, you should also store your foundation in the refrigerator. As with lipsticks, the low temperature will keep the oils in the formula from spoiling. However, as the publication notes, you’ll want to make sure that you store the bottle upright. After all, you don’t want any contamination between your beauty products and your food.
15. Eyeliner
If you find yourself constantly breaking the point on your eyeliner pencil when you sharpen it, you might want to start storing it in the refrigerator. Apartment Therapy reports that chilling your pencil before you pull out the sharpener can help you get a sharper point, with a lot less breakage and waste.
16. Eye cream
Another beauty product to stash in the fridge? Your eye cream. Most people want their eye cream to pull double duty, with anti-aging and de-puffing capabilities. You can ensure that your eye cream can counteract your puffy eyes by storing it in the refrigerator. You’ll notice the difference that the cool temperature makes after a long night or on an early morning.
17. Aloe
Similarly, the aloe that you store to soothe sunburns and dry skin can do an even better job of cooling if you store it in the fridge. As Apartment Therapy puts it, “After too much sun, aloe feels good but COLD aloe feels amazing. Never going back to room temp on this one.”
18. Beauty oils
Oils can play an important part in your skincare routine. But as you might have guessed, factors such as light, air, and heat all cause oil to break down. (That’s why many of them come in dark bottles.) Storing your favorite oils in the refrigerator will extend their shelf life and stave off spoilage.
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