Chemicals in Your Home

Labels may contain key words to let you know the severity of the product's hazard, such as...

• Danger: Harmful or fatal if swallowed or used improperly. A teaspoon is fatal to an adult.
• Warning: If swallowed, a teaspoon to an ounce is lethal to an adult.
• Caution: If swallowed, an ounce to more than a pint is terminal to an adult.
• Poison: Harmful or fatal if absorbed through the skin, ingested or inhaled.
• Toxic: Harmful or fatal if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
• Irritant: Causes soreness or swelling of skin, eyes, mucous membranes or respiratory system.
• Flammable: Easily catches fire and tends to burn rapidly.
• Corrosive: A chemical or its vapors that can cause a material or living tissue to be destroyed.

• Share unused chemicals with family members and friends.
• Read the instructions on the container for proper disposal methods.
• Check out Oakland County Waste & Recycling website for more information on handling household waste.

If a household chemical...

• Gets in your eyes: Rinse your eyes with water for 15-20 minutes.
• Gets on your skin: Remove wet clothing and rinse skin for 15-20 minutes.
• Is swallowed: Call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 or 9-1-1.
• Is inhaled (e.g. poisonous gas): Quickly get to fresh air and call Poison Control or 9-1-1.

• Carefully clean up the spill using a towel. Make sure you wear rubber gloves for extra protection.
• If you have a mercury spill in your home, ventilate the area and keep children and pets away. Do not vacuum the spill. For more information call Oakland County Environmental Health at 248-424-7191 or go to the Oakland County Health Division website.

Never mix bleach and ammonia, this mixture forms deadly fumes.

• Automotive fluids: oil, antifreeze, fuel, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, transmission fluid, waxes and gasoline.
• Barbecue products: propane, charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid.
• Bathroom products: air freshener, toilet bowl cleaners and aerosols.
• Heath and beauty products: hairspray, hair remover, fingernail polish, fingernail polish remover, hair coloring products and some medications.
• Home maintenance: paint, varnish, stains, oils, mouse/rat poison, rust remover, turpentine, roofing tar, swimming pool chemicals, furniture strippers and driveway sealer.
• Household cleaners: bleach, ammonia, disinfectants, carpet freshener, air freshener, window cleaner, furniture polish, mold and mildew cleaner.
• Kitchen products: dishwasher detergent, drain cleaner and oven cleaner.
• Laundry products: laundry detergent, fabric softener and degreasers.
• Lawn and garden products: fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides.
• Miscellaneous: photo developing chemicals, mercury thermostats/thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs.
• Pet products: flea collar and powders.

• Use baking soda to clean bathtubs, sinks and toilets.
• Apply lemon juice mixed with vegetable oil to clean wood.
• Combine vinegar and water to make a non-toxic window cleaner.
• Use isopropyl alcohol as a disinfectant.

• Follow instructions on product's label for proper usage and storage.
• Store all products in their original container with a legible label.
• Buy only what you need.
• Never store chemicals near food.
• Keep chemicals out of the reach of children.
• Store volatile materials away from the house.
• Never mix household chemicals.
• Keep an A-B-C rated fire extinguisher readily available.
• Use safer alternative products.

Many communities sponsor hazardous waste collection programs which are a great way to dispose of unwanted chemicals. To find out when a collection program will be near you, contact your local community.

An emergency caused by the improper use of household chemicals.