When a big storm knocks out the power, your fridge becomes a ticking time bomb of bad smells and wasted food. Most people focus on flashlights, batteries, and bottled water—and completely forget about what’s happening inside their refrigerator. But one ridiculously simple kitchen item can make a real difference when the lights go dark. A plain sponge, placed in the right spot before the storm hits, can help reduce odors and slow down spoilage. Here’s how it works and what else you should do to protect your food.
A powerless fridge gets gross fast
Most of us have been there. The power goes out during a storm, and for the first few hours, everything seems fine. But once the fridge starts warming up, things go downhill quickly. Bacteria, yeasts, and mold begin breaking down your food, and they release chemicals that create an absolutely awful stench. When one writer in Asheville, North Carolina, lost power for over a week during Hurricane Helene, she ended up tossing out milk, cheese, meat, and condiments. The smell that lingered afterward was almost worse than the waste itself.
What makes the situation even worse is the moisture that builds up inside a closed fridge. As the temperature fluctuates, condensation forms on walls and shelves. That dampness gives odor molecules more room to spread and encourages mold growth. It’s a nasty cycle—warm temperatures cause food to spoil, spoiling food releases moisture, and that moisture makes everything smell even worse. Understanding this process is the first step toward doing something about it before the storm arrives.
A dry sponge absorbs moisture and reduces smell
Here’s the trick: place a clean, dry sponge on a shelf inside your fridge before you lose power. As the fridge warms up and condensation starts forming, the sponge quietly soaks up that excess moisture. Less moisture means odors don’t travel as freely, and mold and bacteria have a harder time growing. It’s not going to save a steak that’s been sitting at room temperature for two days, but it can make a noticeable difference in how bad things smell when you finally open the door again.
Cleaning expert Vanessa Ruiz of Sparkly Maid San Antonio explains that having a sponge absorb moisture helps maintain freshness inside the fridge. It may also prolong the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by keeping humidity levels lower. Many produce items deteriorate faster in humid conditions, so reducing that dampness buys you a little extra time. Derek Christian, Chief Cleaning Officer of All Star Cleaning, adds that while it isn’t a foolproof solution, it makes the post-storm cleanup far less overwhelming.
Baking soda on the sponge makes it work better
Want to supercharge this trick? Sprinkle some baking soda right on top of the sponge before placing it in the fridge. Baking soda is a natural desiccant, which is just a fancy way of saying it absorbs both moisture and odors. You’ve probably already seen the old advice about keeping an open box of Arm & Hammer in the back of your fridge. Same idea here, but the sponge gives it a surface to cling to while also doing its own moisture-absorbing work at the same time.
The combination of baking soda and a sponge creates a two-pronged defense. The sponge handles the moisture, and the baking soda tackles the odors that get drawn to that moisture. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and you probably already have both items in your kitchen. Just make sure the sponge is completely clean before you use it—a dirty sponge could introduce its own bacteria and make things worse. A fresh sponge straight from the package is your best bet.
Use more than one sponge for better coverage
One sponge is good, but two or three are even better. Think about it—your fridge has multiple shelves, drawers, and compartments, and condensation can form in all of them. Placing a single sponge on the top shelf won’t do much for the moisture building up in your crisper drawer at the bottom. By spreading sponges throughout the fridge, you maximize moisture absorption and give yourself the best shot at keeping odors under control during a prolonged power outage.
Don’t forget about the freezer, either. Experts recommend placing a sponge in there as well to maximize coverage. If a sponge gets completely waterlogged during the outage, it stops working. You’ll want to swap it out for a dry one if possible. But here’s the catch—don’t keep opening the fridge just to check on your sponges. Every time you open that door, cold air escapes and the temperature rises faster. Check only when you truly need to, and keep those doors shut as much as possible.
Sponges also help your produce last longer daily
This sponge trick isn’t just for storms. It works for everyday food storage, too. If you’ve ever opened your crisper drawer to find wilted lettuce or slimy cucumbers, excess moisture is likely the culprit. Placing a clean sponge in your fruit and vegetable drawer can absorb that moisture and help your produce stay fresh a bit longer. According to a study commissioned by a major UK grocery chain, households throw away staggering amounts of fruits and vegetables every year. A simple sponge could reduce some of that waste.
If you don’t have sponges handy, paper towels work as an alternative. You can line your crisper drawers with them or tuck a few sheets into bagged salad mixes. Ever buy one of those pre-washed salad bags with the best intentions, only to find a soggy mess a few days later? Sliding a paper towel into the bag absorbs the moisture that accelerates spoilage. It’s a small step that can save you real money at the grocery store over time.
Freeze perishable food before the storm arrives
A sponge handles moisture and odors, but what about actually keeping your food safe? One of the smartest things you can do before a storm is move perishable items from the fridge into the freezer. Meat, dairy, seafood, and leftovers should be your top priority since they spoil fastest. A well-packed freezer acts like a giant ice block—all that frozen food helps keep everything else cold. It’s one of the most effective ways to buy yourself extra time during an outage.
Here’s a helpful detail: a full freezer can stay cold for up to 48 hours after losing power, as long as you keep the door closed. A half-full freezer, on the other hand, may only last about 24 hours. So if you have space, fill it up. Bags of ice, frozen water bottles, or even frozen gel packs can fill the gaps. The more frozen mass inside, the longer everything stays at a safe temperature. It’s like insulation made of ice.
Keep the fridge and freezer doors closed
This sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly hard to follow when you’re in the middle of a power outage. The urge to check on your food is strong. Is the milk still cold? Did the chicken thaw? Resist the temptation. Every time you open the fridge door, warm air rushes in and cold air escapes. A closed fridge will hold its temperature for about four hours after losing power. Opening it repeatedly can cut that time drastically and speed up spoilage.
Having shelf-stable snacks and meals prepared ahead of time can help you avoid the temptation altogether. Stock up on crackers, peanut butter, canned goods, granola bars, and other items that don’t need refrigeration. If you’re not hungry enough to dig into the fridge, you won’t be opening it unnecessarily. This is especially important with kids around—having easy grab-and-go snacks means nobody needs to stand in front of an open fridge deciding what to eat.
Have a cooler ready for your most important items
If a long power outage seems likely, it’s smart to have a separate cooler prepped and ready to go. Move your most important perishable items—medications that need refrigeration, baby formula, or expensive cuts of meat—into a cooler packed with ice. This way, you’re not opening the fridge at all for those critical items. The fridge stays sealed, the cooler keeps the essentials cold, and you’ve got a solid backup plan in place.
Loading your fridge with frozen ice packs before the storm can also help the fridge itself stay cooler longer. Think of it this way—the more cold mass inside, the harder it is for everything to warm up. A fridge packed with frozen bottles and ice packs essentially becomes a cooler itself. Between a well-packed fridge, a separate cooler for essentials, and sponges absorbing moisture inside, you’ve covered your bases from multiple angles.
Clean your fridge thoroughly after the power returns
Once the lights come back on, it’s time to deal with what’s inside. Start by tossing everything that isn’t safe to eat. According to food safety guidelines, perishable foods that spent more than four hours above 40 degrees Fahrenheit should be thrown out—no matter how they look or smell. It’s not worth the risk. Pull out all the shelves and drawers if you can, and get ready for a deep clean. This is where the sponge trick really pays off, since there should be less grime to scrub.
Wipe down every surface inside the fridge with a mix of vinegar and water or a kitchen-safe cleaner. Don’t forget the door seals and drawers, which are notorious for trapping smells. Dry everything completely with paper towels or a clean cloth, since leftover moisture can keep odors circulating. After cleaning, place a fresh open box of baking soda or odor-absorbing gel beads like OdoBan Gel Crystals inside. These products help neutralize any lingering smells that managed to cling to the plastic interior surfaces.
Storm prep doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. A clean sponge, some baking soda, a packed freezer, and the discipline to keep the door shut can save you from a fridge full of rotten food and lingering odors. None of these steps take more than a few minutes, but they can save you hours of scrubbing and dollars’ worth of groceries. Next time a storm is heading your way, add “sponges” to that prep checklist right alongside batteries and bottled water.
