The Simple Trick That Helps You Avoid Starting A Fire With Old Batteries

Batteries — you literally need them for all of your electronic devices. You probably have a stockpile of them in your junk drawer right now. But what do you do with them once they're dead? Back in the day we just tossed them in the garbage like savages, but now we know better. And once you know better, you do better. So, we stockpile our dead batteries like little corpses and then recycle them. But did you know it's not safe to have batteries just lying around? Yup, they need to be stored safely so they don't cause a fire. You can use some simple transparent tape to do just that.

Even though you may think a dead battery is just that — dead — it still may hold enough electrical charge to short circuit and cause a fire. If they are stored in a drawer or a bag, the batteries are a safety hazard, because they can bang around and touch metal or other batteries, which can cause them to discharge a spark. Because most of the time they are in a drawer out of the way, you may not even notice until it is too late. And before you think storing them somewhere like the garage is a good idea, your garage might not be the best place to store spare batteries either. The extreme temperature changes in your garage can cause your dead batteries to become a fire hazard. If you don't have the original packaging for your old batteries, the best thing to do is put some transparent tape on both ends of the battery and (depending on the type) throw them away or store them until you can take it to be recycled.

Before storing or tossing your batteries, you should know that not all batteries fall under the same rules. Although, in most states, it's safe and legal to throw alkaline batteries — like your typical AA or AAA — in the regular trash, it's always a better idea to recycle them. Rechargeable, lithium, and other specialty batteries must be recycled. If you have the original packaging, that is the best method to store them, if not this simple tape trick is recommended. Simply wrap transparent tape around both terminals of your battery — the positive and negative ends — before storing. The reason you want to use transparent tape is so that the battery type is easily identifiable. You should immediately dispose of your batteries if you notice they are leaking or have a crusty substance on them.

These days, it's much easier to find battery recycling programs or centers than it was 10 or 20 years ago. And with new technology, it's especially important to know how to safely dispose of lithium-ion batteries as they pose a bigger risk than your average alkaline battery. Your best bet is to contact your local hardware store, electronics store, or recycling center. These locations will usually be able to point you in the right direction to dispose of your batteries properly and keep your home safe.