Should You Remove Batteries from Stored Devices?

If a torch, radio, toy or remote is going into a cupboard and will not be touched for months, take the batteries out first. The maker's own advice is plain: remove batteries from a device when it is not expected to be in use for several months¹. That single habit protects the device from a leaking cell, keeps the batteries usable, and means the torch you reach for in a power cut still works.

The same logic applies to anything with a rechargeable battery inside, but the action is different. You cannot always take a lithium-ion battery out, so the instruction becomes: follow the maker's storage and charging guidance, keep the device out of escape routes, and never leave it charging overnight or while you are out². Lithium-ion batteries can overheat, catch fire or explode if improperly charged, handled, stored or disposed of, so storage is a safety matter, not just housekeeping⁵.

This page sets out when to remove batteries, how to store the ones you take out, what to do about sealed-in batteries, and how to keep button cells away from children. It is written for an ordinary UK household getting a torch, radio or emergency kit ready for winter.

When to take the batteries out

The trigger is time, not the type of device. If something will sit unused for several months, the batteries come out¹. That covers the spare torch in the hall cupboard, the wind-up radio you keep for emergencies, the children's toys that rotate through the loft, remote controls for the second television, and the battery-powered candles in the Christmas box.

The reason is leakage. Batteries left in a device that is not being used can leak over time, and the maker's advice is to remove them from devices being stored to avoid future leaks¹. A leaked cell corrodes the contacts and can write off a torch or radio you were counting on. Removing the batteries also means you can see them, check them and keep them somewhere sensible rather than discovering them flat and furred with white deposit a year later.

There is a second reason, which is that a device in storage is a device you are not watching. A battery that starts to swell or overheat inside a sealed torch body in a drawer goes unnoticed. Taking it out lets you look at it.

• Take them out: anything unused for several months, spare torches, seasonal toys, stored radios, remotes for unused sets¹.
• Leave them in: devices you use and check regularly, such as the torch by the front door.
• Check as you go: look for swelling, corrosion or leakage before you store a battery, and do not put a damaged one back.

For a fuller picture of what to keep in a kit and how to rotate it, see the Power Cut Backup Power Checklist and Emergency Lighting at Home.

Lithium-ion devices in storage: take the battery out

For devices with a removable lithium-ion battery, the same principle applies, with more at stake. Fire and rescue services across the UK say that if a lithium-ion battery will not be used for an extended period, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper storage and maintenance³. Where the battery can be removed, removing it is the cleanest way to store the device safely.

Storage conditions matter as much as removal. Store e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries in a cool place, avoiding extreme temperatures¹². Avoid leaving a battery outside overnight in winter, but if you keep it indoors make sure it will not block your escape route if it starts a fire¹³. Do not charge or store a battery in the hallway or anywhere it could block your escape¹⁴. The ferocity of a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery can be significant and prevent you from escaping from your home³.

Charging is the other half of storage. Unplug devices once fully charged and avoid leaving them plugged in overnight⁵. Do not leave items continuously on charge, for example a phone plugged in overnight or charging under a pillow or on the bed¹¹. Covering a device while it charges traps heat and increases fire risk⁵. Electrical Safety First advises unplugging your device after charging, not leaving it on prolonged charge when not in use, and keeping it uncovered and in a well-ventilated place while charging⁷.

Follow the storage and charging guidance in the user guide

No single rule covers every device, because makers design their batteries differently. The fire service advice is to always follow the battery usage, storage and charging guidelines in the user guide⁶. That is the document that tells you whether a device should be stored at a particular charge level, whether the battery is removable, and what the maker considers normal.

For lead-acid leisure batteries, the Caravan and Motorhome Club gives a worked example: always recharge a battery after use and, if storing the caravan for more than one month, remove the battery and store it fully charged in a cool, dry place¹⁶. That is a different regime from a lithium-ion pack, which is why the maker's guide matters more than any general rule.

If you are storing a power station rather than a small device, the same principles apply: see How to Store a Power Station When Not in Use and What Temperature Should Batteries Be Stored At?.

Storing the batteries you have taken out

Once the cells are out of the device, they need a home. Keep them cool and dry, away from children and pets, and do not tip a mixture of part-used and new cells into the same tub. Do not mix and match different battery brands in the same device, and remove batteries from devices being stored, to avoid future leaks¹. The same discipline applies to the storage box: keep brands and types apart so you know what you are putting back in.

Even a flat battery is not harmless. Even used batteries that have run out of charge remain a risk, so keep them away from children and dispose of them safely⁹. Even used batteries need to be kept securely out of reach of children until you are ready to recycle them⁸. A simple lidded container, kept high and out of reach, does the job.

• Keep them cool and dry, away from radiators and direct sun.
• Keep brands separate and do not mix them in a device¹.
• Keep them out of reach of children, including used cells⁸.
• Check before reuse for swelling, corrosion or leakage.
• Recycle rather than bin when they are finished.

If a battery is damaged, do not improvise. You should contact the manufacturer for specific advice on how to dispose of a damaged battery or device safely, and to confirm that it is safe to transport it¹². For more on the warning signs, see Warning Signs a Lithium Battery Is Dangerous and What to Do If a Battery Starts Swelling.

Torches and radios in an emergency kit

An emergency kit is only as good as the batteries in it. The Scottish Government's emergency kit guidance includes a torch and spare batteries¹⁷. Which? recommends keeping spare batteries for torches, radios and medical equipment so you can keep using your torch or radio, or replace the batteries in an item¹⁸. A battery-powered torch or battery-powered candles, blankets, a warm coat, a portable charger, a mobile phone and flat shoes such as trainers or boots are the core of a weather emergency kit¹⁹.

The trap is relying on a phone. Most of us have a torch on our mobiles, but it drains the battery heavily, so it is best to use it only in emergencies and for short periods²⁰. A dedicated torch with fresh cells, plus a spare set, is the more dependable arrangement.

For the wider kit, see Power Banks: Keeping Phones Charged in an Emergency and Rechargeable AA and AAA Batteries and Chargers.

Button batteries and children

Button batteries deserve their own section because the risk is to life, not to kit. New safety features on button batteries and packaging are a big help in protecting children from swallowing button batteries, but not all brands have them, and it is still essential to keep them away from young children²¹. Keep products well out of your child's reach if the battery compartment is not secured¹⁹. If the back is not secured or the button battery is easily accessible, the product needs to be kept out of reach of young children²².

Toys are a particular concern. If any battery compartment is not properly secured, remove the toy, because it is no longer safe to play with²³. That applies to toys going into storage as much as toys in use: check the compartment before the toy goes in the box, and check it again when it comes out.

Rechargeable battery fire risk

Rechargeable batteries are safe when used properly and dangerous when they are not. Lithium-ion batteries can overheat, catch fire or explode if improperly charged, handled, stored or disposed of⁵. Lithium-ion batteries in phones, vapes, e-bikes and e-scooters can become a fire risk when exposed to high temperatures or charged incorrectly²⁴. Leaving items on charge continuously or overnight is a fire risk²⁵.

The practical rules are short and worth repeating:

• Unplug once charged, and do not leave devices plugged in overnight⁵.
• Do not charge under a pillow or on a bed¹¹.
• Keep chargers uncovered and ventilated while in use⁷.
• Never leave a device on charge when you are out of the house or asleep, and follow the maker's charging times⁴.
• Store in a cool place, avoiding extreme temperatures¹².

If a fire does start, get out and call the fire and rescue service. For the full procedure, see What to Do If a Lithium Battery Catches Fire and Lithium-Ion Battery Safety at Home.

Disposing of old batteries

Old batteries are not general waste. Lithium-ion batteries should never be placed in household waste³. Most local recycling centres accept lithium-ion batteries, and they should be disposed of alongside waste electrical and electronic equipment, so check with your local authority for specific guidelines in your area³. If the battery cannot be removed, for example in e-cigarettes or calculators, treat the whole item as electrical waste⁵.

The reason is fire. If you need to dispose of a damaged or end-of-life battery, do not put it in your household waste or normal recycling, because these batteries, when punctured or crushed, can cause fires in bin lorries, recycling and waste centres²⁶. Mobile phones and tablets contain lithium-ion batteries, and if they get crushed or damaged they can spark dangerous fires in recycling centres or bin lorries, so they must be recycled properly¹³. Many electrical items contain hidden batteries which can cause fires if they incorrectly enter the waste stream¹⁵.

• Take lithium-ion batteries to a household recycling centre³.
• Treat sealed-in batteries as electrical waste⁵.
• Keep damaged batteries separate and contact the manufacturer for disposal advice¹².
• Never put batteries in the bin or normal recycling³.

For damaged cells specifically, see How to Dispose of a Damaged Lithium Battery.