Not every family prioritizes a clean and tidy house as much as others do. However, regardless of this fact, every family should consider how the cleaning products that are used in the home should be stored. While these household products are incredibly effective at disinfecting and ridding our homes of germs, they are equally as hazardous to us if not properly used or stored. In order to ensure the safety of yourself and your family, it’s imperative to understand the safest ways to handle and store these products.
Let’s clear something up right away, though: your family doesn’t need a maximum-security facility to store all of these products. A majority of them are used so frequently that they should be stored in all-purpose areas that are easily accessible. Think of products like disinfectant wipes, dish soaps, hand soaps and the like. These products are much safer in nature than some others, and as such, can be stored in a more accessible way. An all-purpose closet, or perhaps under the sink of a bathroom, whatever works best for your family. The products that are significantly more hazardous than those aforementioned, deserve their own space away from the family. Think of products like paint thinner, drain cleaner, toilet cleaner, bleach, etc. All of these products are quite dangerous to our health if not properly used and should be stored accordingly. A place away from the little hands of the family, and able to only be found by those who plan on using them.
But how can your family discern between which products are safe for the younger members and which aren’t? One of the most effective ways of determining whether or not a product belongs hidden away comes from the labels. Every product will have a detailed label containing information about the chemicals included in the product, as well as instructions as to how to properly use the product. These labels will also include precautions for younger children or pets and it’s important to realize this prior to use. Consulting the label is always priority number one in identifying where and how a product should be stored.
The easiest way to solve any household chemical product woes is through taking a less is more approach. While it may seem beneficial to have a seemingly endless supply of these products lying around, the more products that lurk throughout your home, the more potential danger. Families should prioritize only stocking the essentials and doing their best to reduce the amount of products around the home. This isn’t always easy, as disposing of these products can be particularly difficult in some cases. Improperly disposing of them could lead to the products still landing in the wrong hands (or paws) of your family.
For additional information on how to safely store these products and establish a storage system that works for your family, be sure to check out the accompanying infographic with this post, Household Chemical Storage Guide.
Author bio: Lynn Place is Vice President of Marketing for SolvChem Custom Packaging Division. She has 30 years of professional experience in the manufacturing industry and specializes in consumer packaged goods, new product development and strategic planning.