10/08/2026
🔋 Batteries!
They seem to be everywhere around your home… until you actually need one!
A little battery sort-out can save money, avoid frustration and help keep them stored safely:
• Gather your unused batteries into one place• Organise them by size in a proper battery case• Use a battery tester to check which ones still have life in them• Recycle any that are flat, leaking, rusty, swollen or damaged
I’ve put a yellow spot on every new, unused battery and I’m adding a little reminder inside the case:
🟡 Yellow spot = new battery
That way, I won’t accidentally mix new batteries with partly used ones.
Why does that matter? Batteries used together need to work as a team. If one is older or weaker, the newer batteries try to keep it going. This can make the weaker battery over-discharge, increasing the risk of leakage—and you won’t get the full life from your new batteries either.
For the best results, replace the whole set using batteries of the same size, type and charge level.
The date printed on a battery is usually a “best if used by” date. It may still work afterwards, but its performance can decline—so test it rather than automatically throwing it away.
Keep dead batteries in a small, labelled, non-metal container with a lid, safely out of children’s reach. Tape over the terminals of 9V, lithium and button batteries, then take them with you next time you visit a supermarket or another local battery collection point.
And remember: batteries should never go into your household rubbish or recycling bins. 🔋♻️
Do you know how many batteries are hiding around your home?
