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| Low Risk | Medium Risk | High Risk | Your Risk | |
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| Household cleaners | Pay attention to warnings on labels before purchase and buy only what is needed. Try to dispose of these at a hazardous waste collection point. | Try to buy only what is needed. Dispose of these along with the regular trash. Stored in the most convenient place. | Buy in larger quantities to save money. Pour out what is not used in yard or storm drain. Stored within reach of children. | High Medium Low |
| Drain openers | Most often try to handle plugged drains with hot water, a plunger or a mechanical snake. | Usually use drain cleaners. Purchase only what is needed. Always stored in original container. | Try to keep a good supply of drain cleaner on hand. Purchase on the basis of the most powerful. | High Medium Low |
| Paints and solvents | Only buy what is needed for the job. If there is any leftover, try to share it with a friend or take to be recycled. | Try to use up the pain that is bought. If there is extra, store it in a safe area. Try to keep some solvents on hand, but they should be stored in a safe area. | Buy whatever size is cheapest. Store extra paint in the shed out back. Dispose of used solvents in the back yard or the storm drain. | High Medium Low |
The products we use to help us with our daily chores are not necessarily bad. They make our lives easier and allow us to have more free time to spend on the things we enjoy. We need to be careful how we use the products though, and how we store and dispose of them.
If you rated a “medium” or “high” risk in any of the areas above read through the following section.
If you rated only “low” risks, congratulations and keep up the good work. You may skip to the next section.
When Buying Household Products:
While Using Hazardous Household Products:
If Products Must Be Stored:
When Disposing of Hazardous Household Products:
Keys to Reducing the hazards of Household Products
Pay attention to warning labels when purchasing
products. Select less hazardous products whenever possible.
Use alternative products that are safer. Some of
these may requre a little more work than more hazardous products;
however, they do not pose a disposal or starage problem like their more
hazardous counterparts. A list of safer alternatives is
included at the end of this section.
Purchase only what you need or reasonably expect to use.
It may not really be saving money to purchase the large quantity if it
ends up just sitting around the house for long time periods.
Be aware of the dangers of the products you purchase and
store these products safely.
Products should be stored in their original container.
Try to use up all of the hazardous product purchased or
give it to someone else who can use it. This eliminates the
disposal problem altogether.
If a product must be disposed of, do so according to a label directions. Some products may be poured down the drain while others may not.
The best method for managing paint, solvents and cleaning products is to use them up. To avoid wasting any of these products, buy only the quantity that you need. Store them in well-ventilated areas, away from children and pets.
How Do You Store and Dispose of Your Paints and Solvents?
The best way to use up old paint is to find a painting project or give it to someone who will use it. Store paint in a dry place where it won’t freeze. Paint generally is usable if it mixes well when stirred and hasn’t been frozen and thawed repeatedly.
Any paint that needs to be disposed of should first be dried out in a well-ventilated area away from children, pets, flames or anything that might spark. For small quantities of paint, remove the lid and let it dry in the can. For larger quantities, find other uses for the paint by contacting service agencies, such as Habitat for Humanity, or your original paint dealer.
After the paint has dried, it may be put out with your household trash. But, paint can be recycled at the Washington County household hazardous waste collection site in Springdale. Call the 4-County Solid Waste District at 444-1860 for more information.
Disposing of solvents by dumping them on the ground or in a storm drain can allow the solvents to move into the groundwater.
Always use solvents in a ventilated area. Store them in the original containers and out of the reach of children.
How Do You Dispose of Your Hazardous Household Products?
Materials or products containing toxic or harmful substances – including empty pesticide bags – should not be burned.
While burning may destroy some toxic substances, others will concentrate in the smoke, ash and sludge which result from the burning. Repeated burning in the same location may cause the toxic substances to accumulate around the burn area.
Regional Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) round-ups and the permanent HHW trailer provide a free, safe and environmentally sound means of disposal for certain unneeded household products.
The following items are accepted:
Cleaning Product Alternatives
Several types of cleaning hobs can be accomplished using safe products commonly found around the house. These include:
Linoleum Floor Cleaner - vinegar and waterMop with a mixture of 1/2 cup vinegar in a bucket of warm water. The vinegar odor will go away shortly after the floor dries
All-Purpose Cleaner - ammonia, liquid detergent, water2 tablespoons ammonia, 2 tablespoons liquid detergent, 1 quart water (Do not use liquid detergent with bleach added!)
Copper Cleaner - vinegar, water, salt, vegetable oil (optional)Mix equal parts vinegar and salt (a tablespoon of each should do) and apply to surface with a rag. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with water afterwards, otherwise it will corrode. Apply a little vegetable oil with a cloth and rub for a shiny appearance. (Don't use this cleaner on lacquered finishes.)
Drain Cleaner - baking soda, vinegar, boiling waterThis recipe will free minor clogs and helps prevent future clogs. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain first, then 1/2 cup vinegar. Let is fizz for a few minutes. Then pour down a tea kettle full of boiling water. Repeat if needed. If the clog is stubborn, use a plunger. If very stubborn, use a mechanical snake.
Oven Cleaner - Baking soda and waterMix 1 cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply to oven surfaces, and let stand for a little while. Use the scouring pad for scrubbing most surfaces. A spatula or bread knife is effective to get under large food deposits. This recipe will require a little elbow grease, but it is not toxic to you or a child. Try spot cleaning your oven regularly. A dirty oven is less energy-efficient. Do not use this cleaner on self-cleaning ovens.
Tub and Sink Cleaner - baking soda, liquid castile soap (Murphy's Soap)You can use baking soda in place of your scouring powder. Sprinkle it on porcelain fixtures and rub with a wet rag. Add a little soap to the rag for more cleaning power. Rinse well to avoid leaving a hazy film.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner - baking soda, liquid castile soap (Murphy's Soap)Sprinkle baking soda inside the bowl as you would any scouring powder. Squeeze a couple of drops of soap in also. Scrub with a toilet bowl brush and finish outside surfaces with a rag sprinkled with baking soda.
Window and Mirror Cleaner - Vinegar and water, or lemon juice and waterPut 1/4 cup vinegar in a spray bottle and fill to top with water. Spray on surface. Rub with a cloth diaper, other lint-free rag or sheets of newspaper. For outdoor windows use a sponge and wash with warm water with a few drops of liquid castile soap in it. Rinse well and squeegee dry.
Stain Removers -Perspiration stains from cloth - white vinegar, lemon juice
and water Cola, blood and chocolate stains from cloth - Soak in club soda.
Pet stains, non-oily stains from carpet - White vinegar
Soot stains, black heel marks - baking soda
Rust stains - cover spot with salt or baking soda, then rub with peeled
potato
Other Alternatives -
Club soda - Use as wax remover chrome and floor polish remover
Toothpaste - Use to remove crayon marks, use to remove discoloration
around tub and sink fixtures.
White vinegar - Removes adhesives (decals in tubs, stick-on hooks, price
tags, wall hangers) from glass, wood, china and windshields. Use as final
laundry rinse and fluff. Use as lime and mineral remover.
This chapter was written by Elaine Andrews, University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service; Wilma S. Hammett, Deana L. Osmond and Janet Young, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. It was adapted for Urban Home*A*Syst by John Gunsaulis, Washington County Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas.
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Washington
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make sure these products are helpful to us and not harmful. To do this it is
important to make sure they are used safely, stored properly and disposed of
correctly. Examine your activities that involve the use of hazardous products
and make sure that you really need all the products you are purchasing.
Carefully consider how to use the products safely, recycle or reuse them when
possible. Dispose of used or remaining products in a way that will not pose a
risk to surface water or groundwater. A few simple management principles apply
in every situation.