Articles
Search:

Home | Home



3 Safety Tips for the Use of Household Chemicals

Most of us buy numerous types of cleaning supplies off the grocery store shelves. Ammonia, bleach, and a host of other chemicals fill our grocery carts, and then our homes. Many products containing these substances have been used for decades or longer, yet not everyone knows how to clean with them safely, which can lead to serious and sometimes dangerous safety hazards.

If you purchase and use a variety of chemical products to clean or repair your home, you may want to check out the following suggestions for keeping your family safe from fumes, burns, and even explosions that can occur when products are used inappropriately or incompatibly with each other.

1. Store lethal compounds in a safe, locked area away from pets and children. Anything that a child or a pet might be tempted to open and get into must be considered a safety concern, especially if the product is a known toxin. Dogs, for example, like the sweet smell of anti-freeze and will lap up any spills that occur. But this can prove fatal to them, which is why owners must be responsible in protecting pets from this type of accident. Kids, too, are drawn to the color of products like windshield wiper fluid that, to them, resembles a fruit punch color. But drinking it is harmful and possibly fatal, so it is imperative that parents keep things like this out of the reach of young children. Keep the caps tightly secured on the containers, and lock them in a cupboard with non-flammable items in the garage or shed.

2. Follow package directions when using chemical products. For example, when pouring acid down the sink or tub to loosen a clogged drain, you should wear protective gloves and eye gear in case the product splashes onto your skin or in your face. Acid is very dangerous due to its corrosive nature, and must be handled carefully. The same holds true for products like oven cleaner. These items, too, should be stored away from milder cleaners in child-safe cupboards or areas.

3. Never combine products unless the directions tell you to do so. Bleach and ammonia, for example, form a lethal gas that in large amounts, usually at the commercial level, can be fatal. Even at home, however, using bleach to clean a toilet or diaper pail can result in irritating fumes that could harm someone's eyes or throat. Use the correct amount of product that is indicated on the package for the job you have in mind. Too much can have unexpected negative results.

Don't let children use cleaning products without your supervision. Train older kids how to use chemicals appropriately and safely, and then watch to be sure they follow your directions. Teach them how to clean up afterwards, including putting things away, mopping up spills, and washing their hands. Always vent an area well where you are using chemicals that create fumes.

Today's products make cleaning easier than ever before. But it is still important to follow directions for safe, reliable usage.


Information and Articles: http://www.mastersmba.com

Providing Information on various topics, please browse our other Articles for more informative resources, we house information on every topic imaginable so regardless of your needs you can be assured to find the answer here. If you wish to reprint this on your own website, simply click the "Web Version" in the right menu, and you are presented with a pre-formatted document to use.

A lot of the information is written by the Master Article team, and published exclusively on the MastersMBA.com website, and we do our best to research all information to ensure it's as accurate as possible. However at times we also publish documents given to us by other sources, we do examine these documents to ensure they are as accurate and correct as possible however at times they discuss highly specialized fields making it hard to authenticate the validity of every fact in the document. These are written by specialists in their respective fields, and we do trust their integrity and judgment however it's always a good idea when doing any research to consult a number of sources and form your own conclusion based on a number of view points.

RSS

You can click the XML Icon Above to Read Home Articles Via RSS!

Design by SEO Info: SEO Forum

Providing Articles on everything from Credit and Finance to Health and Beauty