Kitchen
- Do not mix different household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaners can produce a toxic gas.
- Make sure all products are stored up high in secured or locked cabinets. A variety of safety devices are available for different types of cabinets. Child resistant caps also help keep children from accidentally opening containers.
- All products should be kept in their original containers and away from foods.
- Alcoholic beverages can be harmful if ingested by small children and should be kept in a secure place.
- Medicines should not be left on tables within sight.
- Oven cleaner, drain cleaner and furniture polish are particularly dangerous. Find a cabinet located up high or in a utility room with a lockable door to store these dangerous products.
- Don't keep them under the kitchen sink; this is well within a young child's reach.
Hazardous Products Found in the Kitchen
- Metal cleaner
- Ammonia
- Oven cleaner
- Rust remover
- Carpet and upholstery cleaners
- Medicines/vitamins
- Alcoholic beverages
- Drain cleaners/lye
- Furniture polish
- Dishwasher detergent
- Cleanser and scouring powders
Facts about household cleaning products:
- All-purpose cleaning agents are a large cause of poisonings because they are easy to get into under the kitchen sink.
- Youngsters often confuse cleaners and food items because packaging is similar.
- Safety latches will not keep children out of cabinets and drawers, but they will slow children down.
- Soaps can cause choking and vomiting. Soaps are usually considered harmless, but call us when a child eats soap, especially the antibacterial type.
- Toilet bowl cleaners (even the drop-in tablets) can cause burns in the mouth, esophagus and stomach.
- Most unintentional poisonings happen when a cleaning product is being used. Keep the product out of reach of children. Never leave a child in a room with an open container, even for "a few seconds."
