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Key Takeaways
- Storing batteries in the fridge can cause condensation, leading to corrosion and damage over time.
- Batteries last longer and work better when stored at room temperature in a dry, dark place.
- Cold storage reduces battery efficiency, debunking the myth that it extends shelf life.
Perhaps your parents always stored batteries in the fridge growing up, so you've never thought twice about keeping yours there, too. Or maybe you've just opened your friend's fridge and were shocked to see a row of AA batteries right next to the butter.
To find out who is right and who is wrong, we asked two experts in battery safety and electricity. Here's what they have to say on whether you should really keep your batteries in the fridge.
Meet the Expert
- Kristen Bujold is the senior manager of marketing and communications for battery recycler Cirba Solutions. A big part of her job involves educating the public on safe battery storage and disposal.
- Tim Hodnicki is an electrician and the owner of Electrical Experts based in Massachusetts.
Batteries in the Fridge: Yes or No?
According to electrician Tim Hodnicki, you should not store your new batteries in the fridge; keep them at room temperature instead.
"Removing a battery from cold storage causes condensation to build up as the battery warms to room temperature," Hodnicki says. "It may be imperceptible to most people, but this can be enough moisture to corrode the battery’s terminals or even damage its seal over time."
Kristen Bujold works in the battery recycling industry with Cirba Solutions, and she also says that used batteries definitely shouldn't go in the fridge either.
"When storing batteries until they can be properly disposed of and recycled, it’s recommended that end-of-life batteries be stored in a clean, dry, room-temperature environment," she says.
The Myth of Storing Batteries in the Fridge
Batteries should be stored in a dark place away from heat. And since a fridge has both of these qualities, it's no surprise that the myth of storing batteries in the fridge came about.
"People have been storing batteries in their refrigerators and freezers for decades under the belief that cold storage extends a battery’s shelf life," Hodnicki says. "Ironically, though, storing batteries at any temperature other than room temperature will reduce their efficiency. This applies to alkaline, lithium, and lithium-ion batteries."
The Ideal Way to Store Batteries
According to advice from both Bujold and Hondnicki, the ideal spot to store your batteries in your home should be somewhere that is:
- Room temperature
- Out of reach of kids and pets
- Out of direct sunlight
- Dry (this includes low humidity)
- Away from anything metal to prevent a fire (like paper clips and coins)
Additionally, Bujold points out that you don't need to purchase a special storage container for your batteries. Their original packaging is actually perfect for keeping the positive and negative terminals from making contact and potentially causing a fire.
How you store your used batteries before recycling them matters too. Aside from keeping them away from your new batteries to prevent a mix-up, you should also take an extra precaution.
"Prior to disposal, consumers should tape the terminals of lithium batteries or place them in a clear anti-static bag to prevent short circuits," Bujold says.
3 Things You Can Store in the Fridge
While there's really no benefit to keeping your batteries in the fridge, it does actually make a great holding place for these non-food-related things.
- Skincare: If you're someone who deals with face puffiness, keeping your eye cream and face moisturizer cool in the fridge is a great life hack. It may also extend the life of these products, especially if they are preservative-free and filled with actives prone to oxidation.
- Flowers: Think like a florist and pop your bouquet in the fridge when you're not enjoying its beauty, like overnight and when you're at work. This will extend its life.
- Clothes with something sticky on them: We now know that putting a stale pair of jeans in the freezer really doesn't kill the odor-causing bacteria (it only temporarily puts the bacteria to sleep). But there is one reason to put a pair in there. If you have any clothing with a sticky substance stuck to it, like gum, wax, or play putty, let it sit in your freezer for a few hours. Once it hardens, you should be able to peel it away from the fibers more easily.
Read the original article on The Spruce
