How to lock up medicines, chemicals and firearms
To store medicines and chemicals safely, keep medicines locked, out of children's sight and reach, and put them away after every dose. Store chemicals in their original containers behind latches. Keep firearms unloaded and locked, with ammunition locked separately. Take anything the seller left to a household hazardous waste collection site.
Latches, a medicine lockbox and other storage to buy
Moving is when this slips. Boxes get opened on the floor, and a bag of pills ends up on a nightstand for a week. Decide the storage spots before the truck arrives, and label the boxes that need to go straight to them.
| What you're storing | What to get | Rule to follow |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines and vitamins | A lockbox, or a latched cabinet up high | Relock the safety cap each time, then return it to its spot |
| Cleaners and laundry detergent | Cabinet latches | Original containers, with labels intact |
| Lighters, matches, knives | Drawer latches | Child-resistant doesn't mean childproof |
| Pesticides, antifreeze, pool chemicals | A locked cabinet or shed | Follow label storage directions |
| Firearms | A lock box or gun safe | Unloaded, with ammunition locked separately |
Pediatricians are blunt about firearms. The American Academy of Pediatrics says the safest home for a child is one without guns. If you keep them, children and teens must not be able to get to the keys or combinations. AAP also warns that teaching kids not to touch guns isn't enough on its own, and that about half of unintentional firearm deaths among children and teens from 2001 to 2021 happened at home. Storage laws vary by state, so check yours.
Safe medication storage at home and in the garage
Choose a spot a child can't see or climb to. CDC's rule is out of reach and out of sight, and a kitchen counter or purse fails both tests. Keep guests in mind too: their bags can hold medicine, so give them a high shelf.
In the garage, put chemicals up high and behind a lock, away from anything a child could stand on. Never move a product into a food or drink container, as EPA warns. Don't mix leftovers, because some products react, ignite or explode.
Guns shouldn't be kept in a nightstand, which AAP says is where many were accessed. A loaded, unlocked gun shouldn't be in a car or anywhere else on your property.
How to store medicines and chemicals safely, step by step
- Pick the storage spots before moving day
Choose one for medicines, one for cleaners and one for garage chemicals. Fit latches or locks first.
- Unpack medicines first
Move them straight into the lockbox. Keep them out of bags and off counters.
- Sort out the garage and shed
Look for paint, pesticides, oil, batteries and cleaners left behind. Set aside anything old or unlabeled, away from children and pets.
- Find your collection site
Search Earth911 with "household hazardous waste" and your ZIP code, or call your local solid waste agency.
- Clear out old medicine
Use a take-back site found through DEA's locator, or a mail-back envelope. With neither, follow FDA's instructions for the trash or Flush List.
- Lock up any firearms
Store them unloaded and locked, with ammunition locked separately. Keep keys and combinations from children and teens.
- Post Poison Help
Keep 1-800-222-1222 in your phone. If someone collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be woken, call 911 right away.
What a medicine lockbox and drop-off services cost
| Item | What it costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet and drawer latches | Varies; CPSC calls most devices relatively inexpensive | Count cabinets first |
| Medicine lockbox | Varies by size | Check that the key or code stays with adults |
| Gun lock box or safe | Varies widely | Match it to what you own |
| Household hazardous waste drop-off | Varies; ask your local program | Some areas only hold set collection days |
| Drug take-back | Varies; ask the site | Often at a pharmacy or police station; mail-back envelopes also exist |
| Poison Help and webPOISONCONTROL | Free | 1-800-222-1222 |
How to dispose of household chemicals without mistakes
- Keeping seller's leftovers in the garage because they might be useful. You don't know how old they are or what's in an unlabeled can.
- Pouring old chemicals down a drain, into a toilet, onto the ground or into a storm sewer. EPA says not to. Some shouldn't go in the trash either.
- Flushing unused medicine by default. FDA says to flush only drugs on its Flush List.
- Handling corroded containers. EPA says to contact your local hazardous materials official or fire department.
- Assuming empty containers are safe. They can still hold residue.
Questions on how to store medicines and chemicals safely
What should I do with chemicals the previous owner left?
Don't pour them out or mix them. Take them to a household hazardous waste site or a collection day, and call your fire department or hazmat office about corroded containers.
How do I get rid of old prescriptions?
A take-back location or prepaid mail-back envelope is best. Otherwise check FDA's Flush List. If the drug isn't on it, mix it with cat litter or coffee grounds, seal it in a bag and put it in the trash.
Is a high shelf enough for medicine?
It's a start, but children climb. CDC says to keep medicine where kids can't see or get to it, and a locked box adds a real barrier.
Sources: CPSC, EPA, fda.gov, CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, Poison Control
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.