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As a consumer you may assume a product is safe if it is offered for sale.
Unfortunately, many household products contain hazardous ingredients that can be
harmful when you use them or dispose of them improperly.
Common Hazardous Products
- Oil-based Paints
- Solvent-based Paint Thinners
- Furniture and Floor Polishes
- Lawn Fertilizers
- Drain Openers
- Mothballs
- Pesticides
- Motor Oil
- Bug Sprays
- Smoke Detectors (Should be returned to the manufacturer at their address
on base of detector)
Look for These Key Words & Symbols:
- Flammable/Combustible - Can easily be set on fire
- Corrosive/Caustic - Can burn and destroy living tissue
- Radioactive - Can damage and destroy cells and chromosomes
- Toxic/Poisonous - Capable of causing injury or death from ingestion, inhalation or absorption
- Explosive/Reactive - Can detonate or explode from exposure to heat, sudden shock or pressure
- Consider Alternative Products
- Buy Only What You Need. If you have leftovers, pass them on to someone else.
- If You Are Pregnant Avoid Hazardous Products
- Many chemicals are not tested for their effects on the unborn fetus.
Non-Toxic Alternatives
Outdoor Pesticides
- Use natural predators such as ladybugs, ground beetles, lacewings, praying mantis & spiders.
- Set traps to collect insects such as wet newspapers, stones, flat boards, lettuce, spinach leaves grapefruit rinds.
- Use companion planting.
Drain Cleaner
- Prevent clogged drain by
pouring boiling water down drain periodically.
- Plunger followed by handful of baking soda with 1/2 cup vinegar; cover drain & let sit for 15
minutes followed by 2 quarts boiling water.
- Use mechanical snake.
Disinfectants
- Use 1 teaspoon bleach mixed with 1 gallon water.
Use ammonia.
Oven Cleaner
- Sprinkle salt or baking soda on fresh spills when they're warm and scrape them off when oven cools.
- Line bottom of oven with foil(check oven warranty about foil use).
Air Freshener
- Ventilation is the best air freshener.
- Open box of baking soda.
Tile Cleaner
Indoor Insect Spray
- Screen in windows & doors.
- Promptly put discarded food
into covered containers.
- Keep kitty litter box clean & isolated.
- Use flypaper or flyswatter.
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