Technology

Your ‘Junk Drawer’ Could Be a Ticking Time Bomb and Here’s Why

If your home is like most, you have a “junk drawer.”

Storing 9 Volt Batteries in Junk Drawer Could be Dangerous

This is not something that is typically part of a standard kitchen design. Junk drawers just happen. Take-out menus, coupons, pens, spare keys, and batteries all end up getting shoved into a single drawer. However, junk drawers can be ticking time bombs that can start a fire. All that’s required to cause a tragedy is a single 9-volt battery, a key, and something flammable like a single tissue.

If you need proof of the danger, watch this video from CBS News in Pittsburgh. (They also offer a simple solution that easily prevents battery-sparked fires.)

 

Comments (69)

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  • Time2fixthismess
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 5:13pm

    The reason stories like this are written is because we have a generation of kids and young adults, for the most part, who do not know common sense things like: steel wool is not better than bubble wrap when you try to keep batteries from rolling around in a drawer!

    Wisdom and life lessons, like this, used to be shared by parents and grandparents when kids were spending time with family members. It takes kids a while to develop common sense, and until they did an adult was there to help them out. That is a rarity now. When parents and grandparents don’t step up, we get over-reaching government agencies that try to….but they fail. Ask your kids if they know how to start a fire with a battery…….the lack of a response may surprise you.

    Report Post »  
    • Two Sheds
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 10:12am

      Kids today don’t have science lab, shop class, gym, band, or even recess. No time to learn practical science they are left to book learning and disecting virtual frogs on their iPads.

      Report Post » Two Sheds  
    • strewth_cobber
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 11:51pm

      Common sense isn’t that common. Then again, if everyone is thinking alike then nobody is thinking!

      Report Post »  
    • WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges12
      Posted on August 25, 2012 at 3:38am

      Sh-h-h-h! You’re giving away all our make-shift-arsenal secrets!

      Report Post » WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges12  
  • TexBork
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:55pm

    Whew! I think that article really may have saved our family! I went and looked, sure enough, there’s 5 of them 9 volts in there with a bunch of other stuff, so I took the 9 volts and put them in the firework drawer for safe keeping. You can bet I’ll be sleeping better tonight knowing my family is much safer!

    Report Post » TexBork  
    • KevINtampa
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 5:16pm

      Whew nice catch bork!

      I found three in my junk drawer. I didn’t have a fireworks drawer I could safely place them in, it was already full of roman candles and strike anywhere matches. But right next to my Fireworks drawer was an old gas can, and wouldn’t you know they fit right in the nozzle.

      I’ll sleep better knowing my batteries are now safely submerged in half a gallon of petro.

      Report Post »  
    • Eblaze44
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 7:01pm

      @KevINtampa Posted on August 23, 2012 at 5:20pm “But sir I have a CJP for this drawer.”
      Ah, to the fancy Progressive intellectuals I’m sure Concealed Junk Permit has a nice ring to it.

      Which drawers will they be checking, the ones below your waist?

      Report Post » Eblaze44  
    • Melika
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:15pm

      There is something wrong with you two. lol

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 10:49pm

      That’s the same reason the Volt starts fires when parked. They are junk cars.

      Report Post »  
    • kbo
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 12:00pm

      Wow! Amazing. I had no idea 9 volts were that dangerous. After looking around the apparent I found 3 of them right next to the Fertilizer and Kerosine in my small storage space next to the Heater. I immediately moved the batteries.

      Report Post »  
  • mgandrew
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:29pm

    I have had a 9 volt battery in my pocket that was shorted with a coin and the coin got hot enough to get my attention.

    Report Post »  
    • jespasinthru
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 10:36pm

      That happened to me once when I stuck a 9 volt battery into my back pocket right against my car keys. It got real hot real fast, and boy did it burn! It took me a few seconds to figure out why my butt was on fire.

      Report Post » jespasinthru  
  • lukerw
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:28pm

    I have a Two Car… JUNK… Garage!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Ghengas
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:19pm

    Tried it. Didnt work

    Report Post »  
  • cranberry
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:42pm

    wow, never thought of batteries as a fire danger. Hubby likes to keep the in the fridge, not sure if that is an old wives tale that they stay “fresh” longer.

    Report Post » cranberry  
    • Melika
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:28pm

      You really shouldn’t keep them in the fridge, as they can build condensation inside when you bring them out and it doesn’t make them last longer. An old photography adage goes: keep your film cool and your batteries warm. Also, if you use them right away, the shock of going from so cold to so warm/hot can burst them (all this depends on the demands you put on the battery and the construction of the casing). You should keep them at comfortable room temperature. If you don’t have year-round heating/cooling, I find it best to keep them in the basement high up off the floor. Basements tend to have a steady temperature year round. Keeping them up high will help keep condensation from forming if you have a slightly damp basement. The goal is to prevent wide temperature swings while storing and to not let them get cold (or wet). Think of a car battery in winter. When the battery is reaching the end of it’s usable life, it may start fine when its warm, but when it is cold it won’t work.

      PS. film should never be refrigerated as well, for the same condensation reasons. Cool not cold.

      Report Post »  
  • MrKnowItAll
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:23pm

    Did all you under the water homeowners get this?

    Report Post » MrKnowItAll  
  • The_Cabrito_Goat
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:52pm

    Don’t tell the EPA….

    Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
  • SREGN
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:29pm

    I’m safe. Now that I’ve finally gotten rid of all the smoke detectors, I don’t have nine volts kicking around anymore.

    Report Post »  
  • Mutiny
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:21pm

    Outlaw batteries, keys, and tissue. Its the only solution to this!!!!!

    Report Post » Mutiny  
    • DJR
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:31pm

      It would be for your own good

      Report Post »  
    • njolsson
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:11pm

      No, outlaw junk drawers. The TSA will be coming around to check your drawers for “junk”. Inspections start Nov. 7th.

      Report Post »  
    • KevINtampa
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 5:20pm

      “But sir I have a CJP for this drawer.”

      Ah, to the fancy Progressive intellectuals I’m sure Concealed Junk Permit has a nice ring to it.

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 10:58pm

      NJOLSSON:
      If TSA hires those illegals, they can clean my whole house while their here. Shovel ready jobs.

      Report Post »  
    • kevinj319
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 9:35am

      But… the TSA already inspects my junk.

      Report Post »  
  • Mapache
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:13pm

    Also, do not keep loose ammunition in a pant pocket with a battery or cellphone…..otherwise you may end up walking with a limp.

    Report Post » Mapache  
    • Wolfgang the Gray
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:41pm

      Also don’t carry dynamite in the same pocket as your matches. Hehehe

      I never have any problems. My batteries are all stored separately so there is nothing that can spark or ignite.

      Report Post » Wolfgang the Gray  
  • SREGN
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:12pm

    As an aside, it‘s really fun to wrap a pice of wire around both leads of a nine volt and slip it into a friend or family member’s back pants pocket. Removal can only be accomplished via rapid disrobing unless you carry tongs around with you.

    Report Post »  
  • Mapache
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:12pm

    Note to arsonists: now you have your technique……..some things should not be shared with the public. Just say that batteries should be kept separate from everything else and preferably in their original packaging or a container made for batteries. Geesh!

    Report Post » Mapache  
  • John 3:16
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:10pm

    Our bloated government is the biggest and most dangerous junk drawer. What you say we clean it out not using government sanitary engineers to do it. Just “we the people” get busy and clean it out?

    Report Post » John 3:16  
  • tweetybird
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:05pm

    This is totally true. I had it happen to me. Luckily we were home. I happen to come into the kitchen and could see smoke coming from the area where the drawer was. I was checking around and opened the drawer and it was on fire. Thank God the drawer was the only damage done to our home. I knew it was the battery because it was melted to the bottom of the drawer. However, it wasn’t a 9 volt battery…..it was a AA battery. Hmmmm……..

    Report Post » tweetybird  
  • flipper1073
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:04pm

    OMG my junk drawer looks exactly like the top picture.
    Please Washington DC make a law to save me.
    (sarcasm of course)

    Report Post » flipper1073  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:02pm

    UH.. Yellowstone is going to blow sometime in the next 100,000 yrs. some jackhead will set off an EMP bomb, a hurricane like Ike in 2008 will hit again, the potus might steal the election, the 80ft tree outside might fall on the house.
    All of our batteries that I know of are in one place – in the tool shed.

    Are we all supposed to live in fear? Thanks for the INFORMATION…ONE, count it ONE house burned because of this. I am all for better safety; but DO NOT try to instill fear in me. I store the gasoline for my yard toys in a small cinder block bunker; why? It keeps it cool,away from the house, and secure.

    OH I know! Government come inspect my house so i can be safe!

    Give me the information, without trying to instill fear, and I will act accordingly.

    Here is a greater danger in most houses: Under the kitchen sink. ever REALLY look at and understand the POTENTIAL chemistry that MIGHT HAPPEN ??????

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • J.st.n
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:57pm

    Back in the dark days of CD players, I stuck two “dead” AA batteries in the same pants pocket as an all-metal necklace I wore. The necklace managed to create a circuit, and I felt it get warm. Thankfully, I stopped it before it got too hot and did any damage.

    As an alternate suggestion, you could either retain the 9V battery (and any batteries, for that matter) in its packaging. Trim down the package if you have to.

    Report Post »  
  • billrow
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:56pm

    Just one more thing they want us to be afraid of.

    Report Post »  
  • tbo
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:49pm

    Didn’t I see that on an episode of MacGyver?

    Report Post » tbo  
  • DimmuBorgir
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:47pm

    Oh and make sure you don’t keep your steel wool in the same drawer as your brand new just unwrapped 9 volts. And don’t take a good half hour to arrange them in the exact way to start a fire.

    Report Post » DimmuBorgir  
    • Firefight
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:13pm

      Clearly you have no idea what your talking about. It happens and It doesn’t take a brand new 9 volt. It can be a near dead one carelessly thrown into a drawer where someone keeps steel wool.
      And per your other comment… many people do bring a 9 volt and steel wool camping, just in case, because it is a sure flame in any weather condition.
      What exactly do you have against fire prevention? Is cleaning out the lint trap on your dryer also foolish in your opinion?

      Report Post » Firefight  
    • DimmuBorgir
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:32pm

      It’s a damn joke man, chill out.

      And no, most people don’t bring a 9 volt and steel wool. Most people bring a lighter and lighter fluid.

      Report Post » DimmuBorgir  
    • DimmuBorgir
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:35pm

      and I clean my lint trap for the same reason everyone else does. So my clothes dry

      Report Post » DimmuBorgir  
    • Tractorboy
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 6:45pm

      Dimmuborgir, Smokey bear the cellar saver forgot to remind you about not leaving piles of rags with paint thinner on them in your drawers, or taking the turkey outside to deep fry.

      Report Post » Tractorboy  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:46pm

    All my drawers are junk drawers.

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
  • DimmuBorgir
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:44pm

    So if you have MacGyver stashed in your junk drawer get him out, he might start a fire using a 9-volt, a key, and a tissue.

    sure if you went camping and brought those supplies with you to start your fire, you’d get laughed at by your fellow campers. But stashed away they become an incendiary device just waiting to go off.

    Report Post » DimmuBorgir  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:42pm

    Well, obviously, we need some good old fashioned government regulation to protect us from this danger.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • SREGN
    Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:39pm

    Oh good. Something else to worry about.

    Report Post »  
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