When the power goes out, this trick can help in surprising ways
Preparing for a storm isn’t easy. Grocery-store shelves empty fast, gas lines stretch around the block, and sometimes you even have to evacuate. When Hurricane Helene tore through my city, Asheville, North Carolina, in September 2024, I thought I had done all the right things to get my fridge ready: setting it to the coldest temperature, minimizing how often I opened the door and even rearranging my food so the most perishable items were front and center.
But when I lost power for more than a week, everything inside the fridge spoiled anyway. I tossed out the milk, cheese, meat, condiments and all the rest. The worst part wasn’t even the waste and the money down the drain—it was opening the fridge afterward and being hit with a wall of sour, lingering odors that seemed impossible to scrub away.
Afterward, a friend shared a simple trick backed by experts that I wish I had known sooner: putting a sponge in your fridge before a storm hits. She got this tip from her grandmother years ago, and it’s one I won’t forget. Initially, I wondered how something so basic could actually be helpful. To find out, I spoke with Vanessa Ruiz, a cleaning expert at Sparkly Maid San Antonio, and Derek Christian, the Chief Cleaning Officer of All Star Cleaning.
Read on to find out what this trick does—and how it can make a big difference when a big storm or other extreme weather hits.
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Why should you put a sponge in your fridge before a storm?
It can help minimize or even eliminate the awful smells that come with food spoiling when your power goes out—and potentially even save some of your food.
Before we explain how that works, you need a quick lesson on how food spoils. “Excessive dampness during temperature changes or power outages can create odors or even mold inside the fridge,” Ruiz explains. What you may not realize is that when food begins to spoil, it is often because of bacteria, yeasts and mold. What you’re smelling is actually chemicals that are being released by the food as microbes break it down. This leaves a stench so strong, you may consider staying out of your kitchen for good.
Of course, that’s not an option—and that’s where the sponge comes in. “Having the sponge absorb moisture will help maintain freshness inside the fridge,” Ruiz says. “It might also prolong the shelf life of the fruits and vegetables and keep moisture off the surfaces.”
How does it work to absorb odors?
The sponge trick works because sponges, by nature, absorb moisture. Inside a closed fridge without power, condensation forms as the temperature fluctuates. That extra dampness provides odor molecules with more opportunities to spread and can encourage mold and bacteria growth. By soaking up some of that excess moisture, a sponge reduces the humidity that causes odors to travel freely and smells to linger. While this isn’t a foolproof solution, Christian says it can help and is also an easy way to make cleanup less overwhelming once the power has been restored.
Reducing that dampness is also what can slow down the rate at which fruits and vegetables spoil. Many produce items deteriorate faster in humid conditions, so a sponge would help ward off that humidity for a little longer and buy you a bit more time. However, Christian emphasizes that this sponge trick won’t make food safe to eat. You should still follow the official safety rules regarding temperature and timing when figuring out how long your food will last after you’ve lost power.
How can you make this trick even more effective?
For starters, make sure you’re using a clean, dry sponge. Beyond that, here are some extra steps to make the sponge method even more effective, according to our experts.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the sponge. Baking soda acts as a natural desiccant, absorbing both moisture and odors. This old-school trick definitely works, as you might know if you’ve ever put baking soda in your laundry.
- Use more than one sponge. Place one on the main fridge shelf and another in the freezer to maximize coverage.
- Replace the sponge when it gets soggy. If the sponge becomes waterlogged, swap it out immediately. This can happen quickly if the fridge warms up and condensation forms. One word of warning here, though: Don’t open your fridge too frequently to check on the state of the sponge, since this can cause cold air to escape faster and cancel out your efforts.
How else can you remove odors from your fridge after a power outage?
Even with a sponge in place, you’ll need to give your fridge some TLC once the lights come back on.
- Toss all spoiled food. Perishables that warmed up in a fridge that exceeded 40 degrees Fahrenheit during the outage aren’t safe to eat, regardless of their appearance.
- Clean surfaces thoroughly. Wipe up spills and puddles, then spray the interior with a kitchen-safe cleaner. (A mix of vinegar and water works too.) Don’t forget the door seals and drawers, which can trap smells.
- Dry completely. Use paper towels or a clean cloth to remove any lingering moisture, as dampness can help keep odors circulating.
- Add odor absorbers. After cleaning, place an open box of baking soda, a container of absorbent gel beads like OdoBan Gel Crystals (a product our experts recommend) or a combo product that mixes both. These help keep lingering smells from clinging to the plastic interior.
About the experts
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Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on why you should put a sponge in your fridge before a storm, Rebecca Walter tapped her experience as an award-winning journalist who has covered home and lifestyle topics for more than a decade. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Vanessa Ruiz, cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid San Antonio; interviewed, September 2025
- Derek Christian, Chief Cleaning Officer of All Star Cleaning; interviewed, September 2025
- FoodSafety.gov: “Food Safety During Power Outage”
- Tufts Now: “Why does rotting food smell bad?”
