Every family’s dynamic when it comes to cleaning is different. Perhaps certain members of the family prioritize dusting and vacuuming while the others prioritize disinfecting and polishing. Regardless of how your family approaches cleaning, the one constant always seems to be the chemical products used throughout the cleaning process. While these products might be the best in class at keeping our homes safe and disinfected, they are also chemically hazardous if not properly handled and stored. Similarly to cleaning, however, every family handles and stores their household chemical products differently. It’s hard to say there is only one right way for families to store these products, but it is imperative for every family to develop a storage solution that works for their family.
For those families who may be struggling to figure out the most optimal storage solution, there are a few tips below that could ease the process.
Accessibly Cautious: most families will find it hard to establish a balance between accessibility and caution when it comes to their household cleaning products. How much security is too much security? In the case of families with young children (infants or toddlers) there can never be enough security. Parents would rather sacrifice accessibility if it means their children don’t wander into a cabinet and get their hands on something potentially life threatening. However, for families with much older children, teenagers for example, accessibility becomes the premier focus. Luckily, both of these families can find a healthy balance between safe and accessible. Products that aren’t particularly hazardous can be stored within arm’s reach of adults or older children, but out of reach for those still crawling.
The more dangerous products, think paint thinners or toilet cleaners, should be thought of completely differently. Regardless of the age of the children in the family, these products should always be kept out of commonly accessed places in the home. These products should never be stored in the same place as disinfectant wipes, for example. They should have their own specific space away from other commonly used products to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
The Label Is Your Friend: for any member of the family unsure about the use or safety of any particular cleaning product, always be sure to consult the label. Each of these products will have labels that detail the chemical composition of the product in addition to safety information for anyone using the product. Every member of the family capable of using a product should be willing to read the label prior to use for the sake of safety. One thing to be aware of, though, is that these labels will often fade. Some families have a lasting stock of cleaning products that can date back many years. These products’ labels are bound to fade, so if you’re unsure about a particular product, it may be worth ditching the old product for the sake of a new one with a clear label. Alternatively, if you or any member of your family notices some signs of fading on any label, it may be worth creating your own label to maintain the safety and instruction information.
Less is Always More: as previously mentioned, plenty of families around the world maintain a stock of sometimes older cleaning products. While preserving these products is great financially, it can be disastrous from a health perspective. The more hazardous products lying around the house, the higher the chance for younger children or pets to come into contact with these products and potentially face life threatening consequences. Reduce the amount of these products at every chance your family gets. In addition to this, it’s important to separate all of the products in the home. Rather than having a single location for all chemical products, split them up around the home. Bathroom products can be stored below the bathroom sink, kitchen products below the kitchen sink is one example of this. The more storage zones throughout the house the better.
While these suggestions are a great foundation for reducing the amount of risk your family could face as a result of hazardous chemical products in the home, your family may require a more specialized approach. Always prioritize security and safety for your family when developing these storage zones for your household’s chemical products. For more information, be sure to check out the featured resource coupled with this post as well.
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.
