Plant Pathology Infobytes

October 9, 1998
Safety First - Pesticide Storage Tips

Leftover pesticides can be saved for use next season -- provided they're stored properly. Over the course of the gardening season, purchases of fungicides, insecticides, and other pesticide products can represent a fairly sizable expense, so it makes sense to save any leftover products for later use.

Not only will correct storage prolong pesticide shelf life, but doing it in the right way helps protect people and pets from injury (and possible death). Also, proper storage decreases chances for pesticidal contamination of the home environment.

Pesticide labels have a section that covers proper storage practices for the specific product. Look for information about storage temperatures and other factors which may need to be taken into consideration in selection of the storage site.

Additionally, the following common-sense pesticide safe storage tips should be followed as these products are put away for use another season:

  • Pesticides are best stored in a locked, well-ventilated space. As an additional precaution, store away from pilot lights or other open flames, since the fumes could catch fire.
  • Always keep pesticides in their original containers. Never remove the labels. Never store garden chemicals in soft drink bottles, or any other container that could lead to anyone, especially a child, to mistake the contents for food or drink.
  • Make sure that pesticide containers are tightly sealed. Dry formulations such as wettable powders, dry flowables, granules, and dusts tend to cake when wet or kept in humid areas. Opened original containers can be placed in sealable plastic bags. This will reduce the absorption of moisture and will help prevent a spill if the original container tears.
  • Shelves used for pesticide storage should be strong, stable, and not too high to reach easily, but out of the reach of children.
  • Keep all chemical containers back from the front edge of the storage shelf. Some liquid pesticides come in glass containers. Be especially careful and take extra care when handling and storing breakable containers.
  • Pesticides should not be stored with or near feed, seed, clothing, or similar articles. When possible, formulations of wettable powder, granular fungicides, and insecticides should be stored separately from herbicides to avoid possible contamination which could lead to later crop injury.
  • Ideally, the storage room temperature should not fall below freezing. Products subject to "inversion" and similar breakdown as a result of freezing temperatures probably will not perform in a satisfactory manner the following gardening season if this occurs. In fact, crop injury may result from application of temperature altered pesticides.

Remember - pesticides are potentially dangerous materials, so be careful! You can never be too cautious when it comes to protecting yourself, your family, and the environment.


Written by the late Dr. Frank Killebrew

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