Flashlights (torches, in UK): they're the thing you don't need 99% of the time, but when you do, you need them badly. It's storing the things that's the hard part. Or rather, storing them with batteries installed.
After being caught short needing a flashlight for the last time, I bought one or two, put in brand new batteries, and hung them up in a place I'd always know where they were. A month later, I needed one, so I went for it...and the batteries were practically flat. I know batteries discharge naturally, especially in warm places, but not that quickly.
How can I store these things without the batteries discharging? Sure, I could store them seperately, but that's hardly very convenient if I'm in suddenly the dark or need the flashlight for something quick like looking behind furniture. Is there a clever trick someone knows to store them but keep them ready?
