Safely Store Household Hazards

Ladie's Home Journal - February 2011

safely store household hazards - the average home contains 3 - 10 gallons of hazardous waste. clear your garage of what you don't need, then cut your risk with these storage tips.

pesticides - they kill bugs and can be hazardous to people and pets too. store them on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet and follow the advice on the package for safe disposal.

leftover paint - some paint products are flammable, but if you must keep them for touch-ups, seal the cans tightly, covering the top with plastic wrap before closing the lid. since paint can freeze, keep cans on a high shelf indoors, not in the garage.

gasoline - store extra fuel in an approved container with a tight sealing lid and a safety lock feature. keep it out of sunlight and away from heat sources. clean your garage floor regularly to get rid of oil and fuel tracks.

car products - antifreeze, brake fluid and motor oil are all poisonous if ingested. keep them in locked cabinets and out of reach of pets and kids.

air it out - some new furniture made with particleboard or fiberboard and wall-to-wall carpet (as well as the padding and adhesives used to install it) emit VOCs. to help limit exposure, leave windows open and run a fan for 48 hours after you've had carpet installed or furniture delivered to remove chemical vapors.

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5 ways to clear the air - ladies home journal - also feb 2011 - pg 58

scary but true - the air inside your house is up to five times more polluted than what you breathe outside. use these strategies to improve the air quality.

don't let anyone smoke. secondhand smoke contains hundreds of carcinogenic and toxic chemicals. research shows they linger in furniture, carpets, and drapes and mix with indoor pollutants to form dangerous carcinogens.

ventilate - crack a window and run exhaust fans (make sure they vent outdoors and not into other parts of the house). move furniture away from outside walls for better air circulation.

switch paints - most paints release volatile organic compounds even after they've dried. these gases have been linked to cancers, memory loss, developmental damage and reproductive problems. cut your exposure with low VOC paints.

rehab your closet - use toxin free moth repellents like cedar chips and take plastic off dry cleaning before putting clothes away.

keep moisture down - mold and mildew can aggravate allergies and asthma. to keep them from infiltrating, regularly check your roof, foundation and basement for leaks or evidence of moisture problems.

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6 spots your cleaning routine might miss - ladies home journal - feb 2011 - pg 58

dirt alert! twelve percent of surfaces in the home that look clean are actually crawling with germs. remember to give these hot spots some extra attention with disinfectant.

doorknobs

light switches

refrigerator door handles

telephones

remote controls and

video game controllers

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5 steps to a healthier Bathroom - ladies home journal - feb 2011 - pg 60

close before flushing - studies have found that bacteria filled mist can travel several feet every time you flush, so get your family in the habit of putting down the toilet lid. telling them this fact may help!

rearrange toothbrushes - if your toothbrushes touch one another they can spread germs. keep them separated, buy new ones every few months (or after you have been sick) and rinse thoroughly after using.

change your shower curtain - plastic curtains are likely to contain phthalates and other plasticizers, chemicals that have potential hormone-disrupting effects. instead of a pvc liner, go for a fabric one.

switch to a safer toilet cleanser - some traditional toilet-bowl cleaners may contain odor-killing p-dcb a potential carcinogen. try healthier alternatives from clorox green works, seventh generation or method, among other brands.

discourage mold - turn on an exhaust fan to remove humidity, and let it run for 20 minutes after you shower, to keep mold spores from growing. scrub tiles with mold killing borax or hydrogen peroxide to keep grout lines clean, and change towels and rugs frequently to avoid moisture buildup.