Vitesy Shelfy 2 Smart Fridge Purifier Review: Small Box, Big Promises

I was not capable to discern immoderate quality betwixt the 2 models, either physically oregon successful performance. I started retired utilizing the archetypal Shelfy but instantly switched to investigating the Shelfy 2 erstwhile it arrived. Since astir investigating was conducted with the 2, each references to “Shelfy” henceforth notation to that device.

As for however the photocatalysis works, a instrumentality draws aerial into the device, wherever it is forced betwixt the treated ceramic filter and 12 bluish LED lights and “cleansed” by a absorption caused by the two. A video from Vitesy compares the process of photocatalysis to chlorophyll-based photosynthesis, successful which h2o and c dioxide are transformed into purified air.

Photocatalysis is expanding successful popularity for some water treatment and air purification, truthful a refrigerator does contiguous an absorbing usage case. The 2023 study I was sent shows a trial Vitesy ran with Vicenza, Italy-based chemistry laboratory Chimicambiente, which recovered that a Shelfy-equipped 180-liter refrigerator experienced a 99 percent simplification successful microbial load wrong 10 minutes. This is noteworthy due to the fact that microbial contamination, including bacteria, yeast, and mold, tin relationship for “up to 15 percent of post-harvest decay successful fruits and vegetables,” according to Vitesy. (I presume this trial is besides applicable to the Shelfy 2, fixed that it was sent successful reference.)

Shelfy's instrumentality makes a sound erstwhile it's running, but it's not ace large oregon audible extracurricular the fridge, nor is its size (about 7 x 5 x 3 inches) peculiarly obtrusive. The ceramic filter besides ne'er has to beryllium changed; it conscionable has to beryllium rinsed and aerial dried. The instrumentality besides uses the Vitesy Hub app to bespeak the “health” of your fridge based connected the somesthesia (which it besides displays) and however galore times a time your fridge has been opened. (Most of the clip my fridge wellness was either “Good" oregon “Fair.”) In practice, I lone utilized the app to notify maine erstwhile the instrumentality needed to beryllium charged, which happens via USB-C. More connected that below.

I utilized the Shelfy successful my LG Studio astute French-door refrigerator. The instrumentality tin beryllium enactment anyplace successful the fridge, truthful I tried it retired successful some the main fridge compartment and the crisper drawers. I not lone utilized it successful the people of my family's day-to-day life, I erstwhile intentionally enactment the Shelfy connected the aforesaid support arsenic a vessel of uncovered chopped onions, to spot if it could support things smelling fresh. I besides ran a side-by-side crisper trial with apples.

That Smell

Many people—especially those who grew up successful the ’80s oregon before, erstwhile cooking astatine location was standard—are acquainted with the ubiquitous container of baking soda astir families kept successful their refrigerator to neutralize and sorb odors. It outgo little than a dollar and it worked until it didn't, astatine which constituent you'd bargain different one, teardrop the apical off, and transportation connected with your life. This baking soda “air freshener” has since been proven not to enactment excessively well, and determination aren't a batch of different options for fridge freshening speech from charcoal deodorizers oregon changeless cleaning. Thankfully, Shelfy excels successful the odor-elimination department. Stinky food leftovers, that uncovered vessel of chopped onions, powerfully scented sauces—none of it was detectable oregon transferred to different foods oregon liquids arsenic agelong arsenic Shelfy was successful the fridge.

As for produce, however, the results were little dramatic. Anecdotally, I noticed immoderate nutrient seemed to past longer without melting into a puddle of achromatic sludge, but it was mostly herbs and different escaped greens, and this was apt owed much to the drying enactment of the instrumentality and airflow than thing else. Enclosed boxes oregon bags, similar powerfulness greens oregon a tightly tied integrative container of fruit, didn't look affected either way, but a clump of Italian parsley I bought the week earlier Christmas was dried to a crisp by February, the insubstantial towel I had wrapped astir it stiff arsenic cardboard.