Why You Should Think Twice Before Storing These Things on Top of Your Fridge

It’s also smart to avoid keeping heavy appliances or breakable objects on top of the refrigerator. Reaching overhead for a blender, glass container, or heavy pot increases the chance of dropping it. Items can also shift slightly when the refrigerator vibrates. Paper products, cookbooks, and cardboard boxes may collect grease and dust, while placing too much clutter near ventilation areas can interfere with airflow on some refrigerator models.

Another commonly stored item is cereal or other packaged food. Although sealed packages aren’t automatically unsafe, repeated exposure to warmth can make certain foods go stale faster. Pet food and treats may have the same problem.

The top of your refrigerator can still be useful storage, but lightweight, nonperishable items are generally the better choice. Before piling things up there, check your refrigerator’s manual for ventilation requirements and leave enough open space for heat to escape properly.