Most of us tend to store pesticides and other gardening products like fertilizers where it's most convenient. A spot in the garage or the garden shed makes it easy to quickly get at what we need when we need it. But these may not be the safest places either for the sake of our children and pets or for the product itself.

For human safety, pesticides should always be kept out of the reach of children and preferably in a locked storage cabinet. Ideally, use locked file cabinets or old kitchen cabinets mounted high on a wall and fitted with a lock.

Pesticides should not be exposed to extremes of heat or cold. Nor should powders and dusts be subjected to high humidity. Select a location with moderate conditions year round. These guidelines apply to garden pesticides as well as to many household cleansers, mildew-killing paints, flea and tick pet products, and bleach.

Always store pesticides in their original containers. Never transfer them into containers that were once used for food. Protect product labels by covering them with clear tape or contact paper. Write the month and year you purchased them on the label, too. File away any attachments or inserts that came with the product so you can refer to them when you are ready to use them.

For information about the storage and disposal of pesticides, contact your local Cooperative Extension office.