Everyone loves a clean home, but have you ever wondered what’s in those cleaning products? The corrosive chemicals that make cleaners clean can also make them hazardous products both to use and store. And when it comes to the disposal of used, old, or empty containers, not all can be disposed of at home. Know how to identify problematic cleaning chemicals, keep your home safe, and find the proper disposal options. For cleaning products that come in aerosol spray cans or contain muriatic (hydrochloric) acid, find more information using the link below:
Hazards
- It’s common for heavy-duty cleaners to contain corrosive chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and solvents that can be harmful if exposed to the eyes, skin, and mucus membranes in your nose.
- Certain chemicals found in cleaners can form dangerous reactions when mixed. For example, bleach and ammonia are present separately in many cleaning products, but when combined form both chlorine and phosgene gas, deadly in high concentrations.
- Surfactants like soap reduce the surface tension in water and suspend dirt and oils in it. Alone, these are the mildest of the products, like dish soap.
- Solvents are used to dissolve oils and grease, such as denatured alcohol or acetone. These should be used in well-ventilated areas and are often flammable.
- Alkalis and acids are at either end of the pH scale, and both can be corrosively strong. The further up or down the scale, the more caution that should be used.
Handling
- Read the labels before using or disposing of any cleaning product. It will provide instructions for use, including equipment and ventilation requirements.
- Since many cleaning products are toxic, store them in their original containers and keep them out of reach of both pets and children.
- Many cleaning products can be flammable or explode when heated. Store away from heat sources and sources of flames and sparks.
- Oven cleaners and soot removers contain products like sodium hydroxide (lye), solvents, chlorides, organic ethers, and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Use only as directed with proper protection.
- Carpet cleaners often contain butoxyethanol (and other glycol ethers), naphthalene, and perchloroethylene, known irritants, and are labeled possibly carcinogenic by the IARC. Use with caution and only as directed.
Management Options
- If you have no further use for the product and it is in usable condition, try to give it away to someone who has a use for it.
- Review the labels of products before disposing of them; they may have special requirements, including being unable to be thrown in the trash or down the drain. You can also contact your local wastewater or waste management agency to see if there are local restrictions on the chemicals these products contain.
- If you’re uncertain about at-home disposal, they should be taken to a Household Hazardous Products Collection Center.
This information was brought to you by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and NEDT. For more information, including links to their guides, visit our Fact Sheets & Links page, and make sure to check out our NEDT Blog and Household Hazardous Products Resources for more in-depth information.
