What can you do to reduce the amount of hazardous products in your home?

1. Use multi-purpose cleaners.

Selecting and using multi-purpose cleaners can reduce the number of cleaners you use, reduce the number of hazardous products in your home and save you money, too! Read and follow label directions carefully.

2. Buy the least harmful product available.

The product must include a statement telling you how to avoid the hazard and how to use the product safely.

To reduce the danger sn your home, buy cleaners labeled "warning" or "caution" and pesticides with "caution" on the label. These products are less harmful.

When reading labels, do not be fooled by the words "non-toxic." This is an advertising term. It is not defined by the federal government, so it can be used on toxic products.

It is very important that you know as much as possible about products before you use them, so that you can protect yourself and your family. If a product label doesn't give a list of ingredients or adequate instructions for its safe use, choose another product.

The word "caution" means that the product is slightly toxic. It would take over one ounce to kill an average person.

3. Use preventative measures.

(For example, harsh abrasives gradually scratch the shiny finishes of sinks, bathtubs and appliances. Chlorine bleach can dull the shiny finishes on sinks, bathtubs and other porcelain enamel surfaces. Once the surface becomes dull and rough, it will get dirty faster and stain deeper. Then it becomes almost impossible to keep clean.)

Wipe away grease and spills in the oven after each use, or put a liner on the oven bottom to catch spills and you can reduce the need for an oven cleaner.

Cover sink and shower drains with a screen to keep out food scraps and hair. Don't pour grease down the drain. Collect it in an empty can and put it in the trash. These steps will reduce your need for a drain cleaner.

Open windows to air out the house occasionally to avoid the use of chemical air fresheners.

4. Use alternative or less toxic homemade products.

What do you gain by making your own products?

• Economy - Many of the ingredients are inexpensive, so you may save money over time.

• Storage space - Many of the ingredients are common household products you already have, and you can mix up small batches so that you don't have to store many products.

• Control of the chemicals in your home - Since you mix them, you decide the amount and type of chemicals in the cleaning products you use.

• Safety - Homemade products generally have less toxic chemicals in them. They are safer for you, the air in your home stays cleaner, and disposal of these products is less dangerous.

What are the problems related to homemade products?

• They may take longer to clean effectively. Since they may not be as strong, they may take more time to work. You may need to let the product "sit" on the surface for longer than usual, or you may have to go over a surface several times.

• More elbow grease may be required. You may have to scrub harder.

• They may not clean as well. If you have used harsh cleaners on surfaces over a long period of time, the surface may be scratched. Then you'll need strong chemicals to truly clean deep stains.

If you decide to make your own cleaners, you must use and store them safely. While the ingredients in homemade cleaners are safer, they are not all non-toxic. Keep these guidelines in mind:

1. Be careful what chemicals you mix. Some chemicals, such as chlorine bleach and ammonia, produce a very toxic gas if they are mixed together.

2. Do not mix more than a month's supply at a time. The chemicals may lose their effectiveness.

3. Mix solutions in a well-ventilated area.

4. Store all cleaning solutions out of reach of children.

5. Store solutions in unused, store-bought containers. Use permanent storage containers which are kept in a permanent location. Never put them in old food containers. They may interact with residue from the original contents or they may be mistaken for food or beverage.

6. Label containers carefully. This is especially important if other people in your home clean or have access to the cleaners.

Managing Hazardous Cleaners

When Buying:

1. Read labels. Make sure the product will do what you want and that you will feel safe using it. If ingredients aren't listed, choose another brand.

2. Select the least hazardous product. Let the signal words - poison, danger, warning or caution - be your guide.

3. Buy only as much as you need and use it up in a short period of time.

4. Avoid aerosol products. Choose the pump spray or another alternative. Aerosols have toxic propellants which can explode. The fine mist also is more easily inhaled.

5. Choose water-based paint, glue, shoe polish and similar products rather than solvent-based products.

When Using

1. Read the directions and follow them. Using more of a product

2. Wear protective equipment - such as ruWer gloves - as rec ommended by the manufacturer.

3. Handle products carefully to avoid spills. Keep the container closed tightly when it's not being used to avoid fumes and spills.

4. Use products in well-ventilated areas. When working indoors, open windows and use a fan to circulate the air toward the outside. Take plenty of fresh-air breaks.

5. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while using hazardous products. Traces of chemicals can be carried from hand to mouth.

6. Do not mix products unless directions say that you can do so safely. Even different brands of the same product may contain incompatible ingredients.

7. If you're pregnant, avoid exposure to toxic chemicals. Many toxic products have not been tested for their effect on an unborn infant.

8. Don't wear soft contact lenses when working with solvents and pesticides. They can absorb and hold the chemicals next to you eyes.

9. Carefully and tightly seal products when you finish. Escaping fumes can be harnzful and you will avoid spills.

10. Use common sense.

When Storing:

1. Follow label dlrectlons.

2. Leave the product in its original container with the original label attached.

3. Never store hazardous products in food or beverage containers.

4. Make sure lids and caps are tightly sealed.

5. Store hazardous products on high shelves or in locked cabinets out of the reach of children and animals.

6. Store incompatible products separately. Keep flammable products away from corrosive products.

7. Store volatile products - those which warn of vapors and fumes - in a well-ventilated area.

8. Keep containers dry to prevent rusting.

9. Store rags used with flammable products, such as furniture stripper and paint remover, in a sealed, marked container.

10. Keep flammable products away from heat, sparks or sources of ignition.

11. Know where flammable materials are located in your home and know how to extinguish them. Keep a fire extinguisher or materials to control fires where you can get to them.

12. Never store hazardous products in the same area as food.

All-Purpose Cleaner I

Dissolve baking soda in warm water. Apply with a sponge. Rinse with clear water.

All-Purpose Cleaner II

All-Purpose Cleaner III

Mix ingredients and put in spray bottle. Spray on surface. Wipe. Rinse with clear water.
*Ammonia is a toxic ingredient. Handle it with care and store it safely.

Drain Cleaner*

Pour baking soda down the drain. Add white vinegar and cover the Mix together until well blended. drain, if possible. Let set for 5 min- Use a clean, soft cloth to apply to utes. Then pour a kettle of boiling the furniture. water down the drain. (Ihe vinegar and baking soda break down fatty acids into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain.)
*Do not use this method if you have used a commercial drain opener and it may still be present in the drain.

Drain Opener*

Drain Cleaner and Opener

Furniture Cleaner and Polish I

Mix together until well blended. Use a clean, soft cloth to apply to furniture.

Furniture Cleaner and Polish II

Lime and Mineral Deposit Remover

Aluminum Cleaner

Brass Cleaner I

Make a paste about the consistency of toothpaste. Rub onto brass with a soft cloth. Rinse with water and drv. Recipes for a Healthy Home

Brass Cleaner II

Make a paste about the consistency of toothpaste. Apply to surface, leave on for 5 minutes. Wash with warm water. Dry with a soft cloth.

Chrome and Stainless Steel Cleaner

Oven Cleaner I

Oven Cleaner II

Toilet Bowl Cleaner I

Toilet Bowl Cleaner II

Sprinkle bakmg soda into the toilet bowl. Add vinegar. Scour with a toilet brush.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner III

Summary

• Buy and use multi-purpose cleaners on a variety of surfaces, rather than buying a different product for each surface.

• Buy the least harmful product available. Read the label and buy products marked "Warning" or "Caution" rather than "Danger" or "Poison."

• Wipe up spills when they happen to avoid the need for strong chemicals to remove stains later.

• Make your own cleaning products.

Reducing the number of hazardous products you buy reduces the sources of household hazardous waste later. Wise buying decisions and good management practices can reduce the hazards in the home, in the air we breathe and in the water we drink.

References

Hammer, Marie. Hazardous Household Substances: A Primer for Extension Professionals. Gainsville, Fla.: Florida State University.

Hammer, Marie. Comrnon Household Products/More Than One Use. Gainsville, Fla.: Florida State University.

The World Is Full of Toxic Waste. Your Home Shouldn't Be. San Diego, Calif.: Environ- ment Health Coalition.

Guide to Hazardous Products Around the Home. Springfield, Mo.: Household Hazardous Waste Project.

Consumer Tips. Household Hazardous Waste Fact Sheet #1, Springfield, Mo.: Household Hazardous Waste Project.

How to Reduce, Recycle and Safely Dispose of Household Hazardous Wastes. Seattle, Wash.

Household Waste: Issues and Opportunities. Washington, D.C.: Concern Inc.

Know Your Chemicals: Alternatives and Precautions. Vermont Agency of Environmental Conservation.

Hazardous Household Products: A Guide to Safer Use and Disposal. Research Triangle Park, N.C.