• Skip to page content
• Skip to site menu on this page

Guide for Handling Household Chemicals

Each year new environmental regulations are created around the world that effect the way industry creates the goods we consume. We expect industry to properly handle their hazardous materials and waste, yet have you ever stopped to think about how you use and dispose of hazardous materials around the home?

All of us have many products in our homes and garages that may be hazardous if used, stored or disposed of improperly. They may pose serious fire, health or environmental hazards. If they are used, stored and disposed of properly, however, they can be relatively safe.

Things to make your home safer

Inventory all products in your home

Familiarize yourself with each product, its location and purpose. More products are hazardous than you may think. Here are a few of the common ones:

• Automotive fluids (oil, anti-freeze, fuel, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, transmission fluid etc.)
• Household cleaners (bleach, ammonia, disinfectants, carpet freshener, air freshener, window cleaner, furniture polish, etc).
• Laundry products (laundry detergent, fabric softener, etc)
• Health and beauty products (hairspray, hair remover, fingernail polish, fingernail polish remover, hair coloring products, medications, etc.).
• Lawn and garden products (fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, gasoline, oil, etc.)
• Barbecue products (propane, charcoal briquettes, lighter fluid, etc.)
• Home maintenance (paint, varnish, stains, oils, mouse/rat poison, etc.)

Some of these products we wouldn't think of as hazardous because we use them on our bodies, however, if misused they can be dangerous. For instance most hairsprays and aerosols are highly flammable.

Read the product labels

Hazardous products must be handled with respect! Read labels and follow directions carefully. Words to look for:
DANGER - WARNING - CAUTION

• Poison: can injure or kill if absorbed through the skin, injested or inhaled.
• Toxic: can cause injury or death if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.
• Irritant: causes soreness or swelling of skin, eyes, mucous membranes, or respiratory system.
• Flammable: easily catches fire and tends to burn rapidly.
• Flammable Liquid: has a flash point below 140°F (100°F for US DOT purposes).
• Combustible Liquid: has a flash point from 140°F (100°F for US DOT purposes) to 200°F
• Corrosive: a chemical or its vapors that can cause a material or living tissue to be destroyed.

Buy only what you need

Do not purchase more than is need for the job, you'll only have to contend with left over material. If you have an unneeded product that was recently purchased, well-stored, and well labelled, give it to a friend neighbor or community group that could use it.

Keep out of reach of children

Cleaners and other household chemicals can be very deadly and should be stored in cabinets that are out of reach of children. Lock the cabinets if necessary. Teach children about the dangers of chemicals. In addition keep emergency phone numbers right next to the phone or attached to the phone. These numbers should include Ambulance, Fire, Police, Poison Control (or equivalent if you don't live in the United States), and your personal doctor.

Don't store chemicals with food

Household chemicals should not be stored with food products as they could spill contaminating your food.

Don't store flammable liquids or gasses in the home.

Propane cylinders, gas cans, charcoal lighter and automotive fluids should not be stored in the house. Compressed gasses like propane should be stored outside or in sheds that are extremely well ventilated. Never store flammable liquids or gasses near sources of heat or ignition, and only store them in their original containers or containers approved for the flammable liquid or gas. In the United States these containers should approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Keep chemicals in original containers

Household chemicals should not be transferred to different containers unless the container is properly labeled and compatible with the chemical. In addition chemicals should never be transferred to containers that originally contained food (such as soda bottles or milk jugs).

Recycle

Many products are recyclable. Contact your recycling coordinator or local department of environmental services to find out what is being recycled in your community.

Use alternative products

Less hazardous products can be used for common household chores. For instance occasionally pouring baking soda and vinegar down your drains will keep them from clogging up.

Dispose of properly

Products should NEVER be discarded on the ground or poured into storm drains. Many products shouldn't even be disposed of in the trash or down the toilet. These products should be saved and taken to Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collections. Contact your sanitation department, local or state department of environmental services for information on HHW collections in your area.

Post emergency contact telephone numbers

Post the emergency contact telephone numbers by your telephone and on your refrigerator. These numbers should include: your fire department, police, ambulance your personal doctor and if you live in the United States the Poison Control Center. In most areas of the United States (but not all) the emergency telephone number for fire, police and ambulance is 911. The Poison Control Center now has one central toll free number that can be used anywhere in the United States, it is: 1-800-222-1222. For more information on Poison Control Centers please visit the American Association of Poison Control Centers webpage.

Preferred handling options for common products

Product type	Personal Safety	Options
Use Up Recycle Save for HHW Collection All hazardous products should be: kept out of reach of children & pets; used in well-ventilated areas only; and kept in original containers & labelled. Always thoroughly wash your hands after handling hazardous products. Labels that can be printed and attached to products
HOUSEHOLD
Abrasive Cleaner	May contain ammonia (see ammonia)
Ammonia	DO NOT mix with bleach (poisonous gas)
Bleach	DO NOT mix with ammonia or acids (poisonous gas)
Disinfectant	May contain bleach (see bleach)
Drain Opener	May contain lye (corrosive)
Flea Collar	Avoid skin contact
Furniture Polish	Keep away from heat & flame
Household Batteries	Beware of leakage corrosive
Mothballs	Keep away from children & pets (resembles candy)
Mouse & Rat Poison	Keep out of reach of children & pets
Furniture Oils	Don't bury oily rags in a rag bucket, clothes hamper, etc. (may spontaneously combust if not allowed to air out)
Oven Cleaner	May contain lye (corrosive)
Roach & Ant Killer	Keep out of reach of children & Pets
Rug & Upholstery Cleaner	Avoid skin contact
WORKSHOP
Enamel or Oil-Based Paint	Keep away from heat & flame
Latex or Water-Based Paint	May contain mercury (toxic)
Paint Thinner	Avoid skin contact
Paint & Varnish Remover	Keep away from heat & flame
Photographic Chemicals	Use exhaust hood and avoid skin contact
Stains & Varnishes	Keep away from heat & flame
AUTO
Antifreeze	Keep away from children & pets (highly toxic and sweet taste)
Auto Battery	Beware of leakage; corrosive
Used Oil	Avoid prolonged exposure
Transmission Fluid	Avoid prolonged exposure
Windshield Wiper Fluid	May contain methanol (toxic)
LAWN
Fertilizer	Keep seperated from fuel oil, gasoline, etc.
Insecticides	Avoid inhalation, skin contact
Herbicides	Avoid inhalation, skin contact

Related Articles

• The Dangers of Lawn Chemicals at Home
  Each year consumers paint their lawns with various fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. These chemicals are designed to kill and it is important to use them correctly.
• Protecting Wildlife from Trash
  Many solid waste companies and municipal landfills have the situation well in hand; do you?
• How Well Do You Know Recycled Paper
  Just like anything else, the recycled paper you buy may not always be what it seems.
• Plastics - From Recycling Bin to New Product
  If a plastic makes it into the recycling loop, it will go through many processes before it emerges as a recycled product.
• RoHS: Europe's Initiative to Control Technological Waste
  What will be done with the debris of the information age? The European Union (EU) member states are taking action and holding manufacturers responsible for the hazardous materials in their products.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Guide for Handling Household Chemicals. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1997. Accessed on-line: 11/21/2024
https://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/environmental/household.html
.