How to Use Household Cleansers Safely

Added with a little elbow grease, household cleansers make kitchens and bathrooms sparkle and keep floors spotless. Regular cleaning, with the aid of cleansers, also destroys germs on food-preparation areas and rids home of mold, mildew, dust, and other allergens that can cause asthma and hay fever.

The bad news is that many cleaning products also have the potential to damage the health of people who use them. Some products emit hazardous fumes or are poisonous if swallowed. Some can burn the skin or present a fire hazard if mis-used or spilled. If poured down a storm sewer or a basement drain, cleansers can pollute local waterways.

Most homes have a collection of cleansers, and each product contains a specific hazardous element. For example, detergents contain ammonia, which is excellent for removing grime and grease; its fumes, however, can irritate eyes and lungs. If spilled on the skin, it may cause rashes, redness, or a chemical burn. Another example is chlorine bleach (present in mold and mildew remover) which, if splashed in the eyes, can cause serious irritation. Lye, found in many oven and toilet cleaners, can burn the skin on contact, irritate the respiratory tract when inhaled, and damage the esophagus and stomach if swallowed.

Cleaning-product labels are not required to list all the ingredients of a product, except for ammonia, chlorine, and other hazardous chemicals. So you may not know what's in the cleansers you buy. To minimize the health risks when using household cleansers, follow these safety tips:

- When using any cleanser, follow the label's directions. Never mix cleaning products unless the labels state you can; otherwise, you may brew up poisonous fumes.

- Many products should be used in well-ventilated areas: open the windows and use a fan if necessary.

- Never eat or drink while using cleansers; you might ingest traces of the chemicals.

- Keep all flammable products away from heat or flame, and, of course, don't smoke when using them.

- Remember that even cleaning products not labeled as poisonous can be toxic if they are swallowed. Although those that pose the most serious danger must have child-resistant containers, all cleansers should be stored out of the reach of children and pets, preferably in a locked cabinet.

- To avoid mistaking cleansers for something else, keep them in their original containers and make sure that their labels remain attached.

- Dispose of these products properly. If you can't use up a product, give it to a friend, neighbor, or non-profit organization. If this is not possible, you can pour ammonia, bleach, disinfectants, glass cleaners, and toilet-bowl cleaners into the toilet or the sink's drain and flush them away with plenty of water - unless you have a certain kind of septic system. If you have a septic system, call the wastewater-treatment plant in your area, or the municipal water department, to find out whether you can dispose of cleaning products in this way.

Keep in mind that most of the household cleaning products rely on one of three main ingredients: chlorine bleach, ammonia, and lye. If used properly, these products pose little risk to your health. [Read the Original Article]