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UK households told to put A4 sheet of paper in fridge before Saturday

Published 17:17 20 Jun 2025 BST

Updated 17:17 20 Jun 2025 BST

Dan Seddon
UK households told to put A4 sheet of paper in fridge before Saturday

Homefood

It's time to conduct a food-saving experiment

British folk need to be careful with their refrigerated goods as the sweat-inducing weather continues.

Temperatures are said to pass 30°C over the weekend and now an expert is urging homeowners to do a little experiment involving A4 sheets of paper.

According to Beko UK's head of product management Salah Sun, per The Express, a common issue with old-ish kitchen fridges risks the loss of their edible contents during heatwaves like we're now experiencing.

If your fridge isn't brand-new, then the door seal will likely be looser than it should be and so it has to work a lot harder to remain cold.

Not only will this hike up energy bills, it'll also spoil your food much faster.

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"One issue that may arise with your fridge is wear and tear on the door seal," said Salah.

"A worn-out door seal can prevent the refrigerator door from closing properly, causing the cooling system to work harder to keep your groceries fresh. This can lead to increased energy consumption and potential damage to your fridge and its temperature settings. Heat entering your fridge can overwhelm its cooling capabilities, especially during blazing summer days."

Salah went on to reveal a neat trick you can conduct.

"To check if your fridge door is functioning correctly, use a piece of paper. Place the paper against the door seal and close the door. When you try to pull the paper out, you should feel some resistance. If the paper slides out easily, your door seal may need replacing."

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently issued a heat health warning for the entire country.

Those aged 65 and above, or anybody with pre-existing health conditions (such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases) are at a higher risk in the current temperatures, with a "rise in deaths" forecast.

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UK households told to put A4 sheet of paper in fridge before Saturday