The hazards of storing household chemicals.
You find them behind closed doors—some secured with child safety locks or even under lock and key. Some of them even have their very own cupboard, maybe out in the garage or in a small shed outside of the house. What am I talking about? Household cleaners! That’s right. The things we use to clean our home are stored under lock and key or away from the house because they are easy to misuse and if they fall into the hands of a child or pet they can be deadly. Why then would you choose to use them to clean your home?
Do you understand how you can be exposed to hazardous household products? It might be easier than you think. You can be exposed by:
- Ingestion, including accidental ingestion by drinking, eating or smoking when a substance is on your hands or on the utensil being used
- Breathing dust or fumes (inhalation)
- Contact with skin or eyes.
The potential for harm from exposure depends on the following factors:
- The type and concentration of chemical in the product
- How much of the chemical you are exposed to
- How frequently you are exposed
- Your size, weight and health
- Your age
Sometimes it takes a long time to notice the harmful effects of hazardous household products that have entered the environment. When products are not stored or used properly, some products can contaminate food, water and air.
What can you do?
If at all possible, try and purchase a non-toxic version of the product you need. Sunrise Cleaning offers several non-toxic products and we will try to post formulas for non-toxic cleaning products that you can make at home. And these formulas work! If you must purchase a household cleaner, here’s what you need to know:
- When buying from various brands of the same type of product, read the labels to decide which product most safely meets your needs.
- Select the least toxic product. For example, choose a detergent-based cleaner instead of a solvent-based cleaner. It may work just as well.
- Make sure the label and container are in good condition.
- Read the label before you purchase a product.
- Know what the words on the label mean.
- Buy only the amount you need. Containers may get damaged and leak when products remain unused for long periods of time. Sometimes the products may change chemically. Keep in mind that you should not base your purchase decision on price alone.