Household Chemicals: Safe Use, Storage, and Disposal

Many household products can cause problems if not used, stored, and disposed of correctly. Chlorine-based cleansers can even be deadly if used in combination with ammonia-based products. Common household products can be dangerous because the chemicals they contain:

• May burn or irritate the skin, eyes, or lungs
• May burn or explode if close enough to a heat source or spark
• Are poisonous if swallowed
• May cause cancer, depending on the length and level of exposure

Such hazardous substances also pose dangers to sanitation and sewer workers and create environmental hazards when they're thrown away, poured down a drain, or dumped on the ground.

A Chemical Safety Checklist
To avoid any dangers to yourself or your loved ones, follow these guidelines:

• Store chemicals in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
• Follow the instructions and warnings on a chemical's container, not just for use and storage but also for disposal. Even if you've used the product before, read the label again; don't trust your memory. If the instructions are illegible or have been removed, contact the manufacturer to find out how to dispose of the product safely, but never pour chemicals down the drain, sewer, or on the ground. Never smell a chemical to identify it.
• Don't mix chemicals unless the label recommends it.
• Keep chemicals away from children, toys, pets (including fish and birds), and exposed food, dishes, pans, and eating utensils. Keep a poison control center number posted near the telephone in case of accidental poisoning.
• Keep rooms well ventilated when using chemicals in the home.
• Goggles, impermeable gloves, and respirators are usually available at home building supply or paint stores. Use them to immediately clean up spills of household chemicals. If any other protective gear is recommended on the container, use it.
• If you spill an irritating chemical, such as a drain unclogger, on your unprotected hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water and rinse them for at least 15 minutes before you touch your eyes, mouth, or nose. If the skin gets inflamed, cover the area with a dry, clean dressing (rather than an ointment) and call your doctor.
• Avoid smoking while using chemicals. A burning cigarette or flame could ignite undetected fumes.
• Maintain proper ventilation and always cover containers of chemicals tightly. Inhaling even common ammonia can irritate your lungs.
• Have a multipurpose (ABC-type) fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it correctly. Make sure its date of effectiveness hasn't expired.
• If you have any questions about a chemical that the product's label doesn't answer, ask your local fire department. The fire department may also provide or be able to refer you to an approved chemical and hazardous waste disposal site or reclamation center.
• Avoid storing incompatible chemicals together. Check the label or consult the MSDS.
• Clean your house annually and dispose of any unknown or unmarked items.

Common Household & Vehicle Products with Potentially Harmful Chemicals

Aerosol products
Air deodorizers
Ammonia
Antifreeze
Auto oil
Bathroom deodorizing cakes
Batteries and battery acid
Bleach
Cement and concrete mix
Cleaning fluid
Correction fluid
Deodorants
Detergents
Disinfectants
Drain cleaners
Dyes
Fertilizers
Fungicides
Furniture polish
Glass cleaners
Glues
Hair sprays
Hydrogen peroxide
Herbicides
Kerosene
Lighter fluid
Medicines
Metal polish
Mothballs and moth crystals
Nail polish removers
Oven cleaners
Paints, stains, and varnishes
Paint thinner
Paint strippers
Perfumes and colognes
Pesticides and rat poison
Pine-scented disinfectants
Rubbing alcohol
Scotchguard
Solvents
Toilet bowl disinfectants
Turpentine
Wood preservatives

Source

Parlay International ©2010

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