A shopper at a Home Depot in California shared a supposed “life hack” for scoring a free bottle of water from the home improvement store. The only problem was that he found the bottle in a display fridge in the middle of the store. In a video with over 1.4 million views, @1plugeli discussed grabbing a water bottle at his local hardware store.
“If [you’re] ever thirsty at Home Depot just check the refrigerators,” he wrote in the caption. He claimed a friend grabbed a Gatorade from the fridge, assuming the drinks were free because they were easily accessible in the shopping area.
But viewers were quick to question: Why were the fridges stocked in the first place?
Does Home Depot have free water in its display fridges?
According to several Home Depot employees who commented on the TikTok, the water bottles aren’t free for customers. They’re often placed in display fridges so associates can stay hydrated while working on the floor.
“The water is for associates, probably not for customers,” one viewer wrote.
Still, some commenters pushed back, claiming the drinks are meant for everyone.
“I’m the AC vendor for a Home Depot. Those are literally free for the customers and the associates,” one user said.
Another disagreed: “This is definitely for employees. Please don’t take them.”
One Reddit post shed more light on the water bottle situation. A Home Depot employee complained about a store policy that banned outside food or drinks, leaving workers dependent on water that was “half stocked” in certain fridges, possibly referring to those placed outside the breakroom.
While Home Depot does provide fridges in its breakrooms, employees say those are often used for storing lunches and other goods. That makes the display fridges a convenient alternative for grabbing sealed, easily identifiable water bottles during shifts.
Based on the overwhelming majority of responses, most agree—it’s not a good idea to assume the drinks are free or to grab them from the display fridges.
Does every store keep water bottles inside their display fridges?
Not every Home Depot keeps employee drinks in the display fridges. In some locations, water bottles are stored in metal coolers placed elsewhere.
One commenter pointed this out, writing, “At my Home Depot I haven’t seen the waters in the fridge, but I don’t go a lot so I’ll check next time. I usually see them in a metal cooler in the garden center or the front entrance area.”
Others expressed concern that the company might eliminate the free water altogether, with one commenter claiming it was because “[associates were] finding water bottles all over the store.”
Regardless, it’s best to look–and not touch–anything found in a fridge or cooler without asking a store employee.
@1plugeli There was a gatorade, my Homie took in there too ? #homedepot #fyp #blowthisup ♬ CONFIDENCE HOODTRAP RMX – 9.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Home Depot via email and @1plugeli via TikTok direct message for comment.
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