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Pollution Prevention
Cleaning your House
Some of the cleaning
chemicals used today have ingredients that can harm you. These ingredients are in products
for cleaning glass, restroom fixtures, metal, kitchens, carpets, and hard floors, to name
only a few.
Are Your Cleaners
Safe?
Read The Label
- Avoid products that have the words "Danger", "Poison", or
"Warning". When you must use a strong product to get the job done, protect
yourself by wearing gloves and goggles, and be sure that your work area has plenty of
fresh air.
Call Customer
Service - Most labels have a number to call with questions. Ask the customer
service people to tell you if the product you are using has hazardous ingredients that may
harm you. If there is no phone number on the container, ask the store where you
bought the product.
What
Cleaners Have The Most Risk?
| Product Type |
Hazardous Ingredients |
How This Can Harm You |
Glass Cleaner
General Purpose Cleaner
Carpet Spot Remover |
A solvent called "Butoxyethanol" |
Butoxyethanol absorbs through your skin and poisons your blood,
liver, and kidneys. Wear gloves when you use cleaners with this ingredient. |
| Toilet Cleaner |
Hydrochloric Acid
Phosphoric Acid |
These acids are very good for removing hard water rings, but they
can also blind you in seconds. Wear your gloves and goggles, or better yet change to a
milder product (one with Citric Acid - strong lemon juice). |
Oven Cleaner
Heavy Duty Degreaser |
Sodium Hydroxide |
Oven cleaner in a spray can - very convenient, but also very
dangerous. Sodium hydroxide can blind you, and the vapors can harm your lungs. Use it with
care - wear gloves & goggles, and provide lots of fresh air. |
For more on this, visit the
Department of Environmental Quality.
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