Urban myths abound in our society, but one common belief might hold more truth than you’d expect – and not for the reasons you might imagine.

According to appliance giant Whirlpool, plastering your fridge with a multitude of magnets could inadvertently hike up your bills.

Whirlpool clarifies that the issue isn’t about the magnets increasing power consumption, but rather the potential damage they could inflict on your fridge’s door.

According to CMU, a Whirlpool spokesperson explained that an overload of magnets could add extra weight, straining the door hinges and potentially reducing the appliance’s lifespan.

The situation is akin to the trend of attaching “lovelocks” to bridges. A single padlock poses no threat, but thousands can add significant weight to the structure, potentially causing issues.

A spokesperson from Whirlpool said: “If you only use a few magnets, you shouldn’t expect the refrigerator to operate poorly. The only downside might be some scratches on the surface.”

However, if the magnets start to accumulate, the risk of mechanical damage increases due to the added weight exerting pressure on the fridge’s structure.

Despite Whirlpool’s warning, not all companies share their viewpoint, offering different perspectives on the matter.

Several other organisations dismissed the idea that fridge magnets could harm a refrigerator’s surface or inflate costs.

Energy provider Endesa dismissed the notion as “completely false”, adding that magnets are “so insignificant to the refrigerator’s operation that their magnetic fields don’t even penetrate the fridge doors.”

The Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) reinforced this position, explaining that whilst magnetic fields can interact with electrical currents, fridge magnets are far too feeble to influence energy consumption, regardless of quantity.

Electronics manufacturer LG stated: “Magnets on the outside of a refrigerator have no impact on energy use, lifespan, or food preservation. This is simply a myth.”

Whilst fridge magnets won’t send your electricity bills soaring, it remains sensible to assess how many adorn your appliance and whether their combined weight is straining the hinges.