Vitesy Shelfy 2 Smart Refrigerator Purifier review: Small box, big promises

Photo: Kat Merck

I could not distinguish any difference between the two models, either in terms of material or performance. I started out using the original Shelfy but immediately switched to testing Shelfy 2 when it arrived. Since most tests were performed with the 2, all references to “Shelfy” from now on refer to this device.

As for how photocatalysis works, a fan draws air into the device, where it is forced between a curing ceramic filter and 12 blue LEDs and is “purged” through a reaction resulting from the two. A video from Vitesy compares photocatalysis to chlorophyll-based photosynthesis, where water and carbon dioxide are converted into clean air.

Photocatalysis is becoming increasingly popular in water treatment and air purification, so the refrigerator represents an interesting use case. The 2023 report I was sent shows a test conducted by Vitesy with Italy-based chemistry lab Chimicambiente, which found that a 180-litre Shelfy-equipped refrigerator saw a 99 percent reduction in microbial load within 10 minutes. This is noteworthy because microbial contamination, including bacteria, yeast and mold, can account for “up to 15 percent of post-harvest decay in fruits and vegetables,” according to Vetsi. (I assume this test also applies to Shelfy 2, since it was sent for reference.)

The Shelfy fan makes a noise when it’s running, but it’s not very loud or audible outside the refrigerator, and its size (about 7 x 5 x 3 inches) isn’t particularly annoying. The ceramic filter also never needs to be changed; It should only be rinsed and air dried. The device also uses the Vitesy Hub app to indicate the “status” of your fridge based on the temperature (which it also displays) and the number of times the fridge is opened per day. (Most of the time my refrigerator was either “good” or “acceptable.”) In practice, I only used the app to let me know when the device needed charging, which it did via USB-C. More on that below.

Shelfy via Kat Merck

I used Shelfy on my LG Studio Smart French Door Refrigerator. The device can be placed anywhere in the refrigerator, so I tried it in both the main refrigerator compartment and the refrigerator drawers. Not only did I use it in my family’s daily life, I once intentionally placed the Shelfy on the same shelf as a bowl of uncovered chopped onions, to see if it could keep things smelling fresh. I also did a crisp test alongside apples.

That smell

Many people — especially those who grew up in the 1980s or earlier, when home cooking was the norm — are familiar with the ubiquitous packet of baking soda that most families keep in their refrigerator to neutralize and absorb odors. It cost less than a dollar, and it worked until it stopped working, at which point you would buy another one, take the top off, and move on with your life. It’s since been proven that baking soda “air freshener” doesn’t work very well, and there aren’t many other options for freshening your refrigerator other than charcoal deodorizers or regular cleaning. Fortunately, Shelfy excels in the odor removal department. The stinky fish scraps, that uncovered bowl of chopped onions, the strong-smelling sauces — none of it could be detected or transferred to other foods or liquids as long as Shelvey was in the fridge.

As for the products, the results were less dramatic. Anecdotally, I noticed that some of the produce seemed to last longer without dissolving into a puddle of black sludge, but it was mostly loose herbs and other vegetables, and this was likely due to the drying process of the fan and airflow more than anything else. Closed boxes or bags, such as leafy greens or a tightly tied plastic bag of fruit, didn’t seem to be affected either way, but a bunch of Italian parsley I bought the week before Christmas had dried out to a crisp by February, and the paper towel I wrapped around it was as tough as cardboard.