S-62
Safety Makes Sense: with household cleaners and other items

by F. R. Willsey, Extension Safety Specialist, Agricultural Engineering Department

■	WHAT PRODUCTS ARE INCLUDED?
•	bowl cleaners • drain cleaners
•	wall cleaners • electric dishwashing-compounds • lye • ammonia • bleaches
•	dyes • metal cleaners and polishes
•	furniture waxes and polishes
•	deodorizers • soaps • detergents
Paint and Petroleum products:
brush cleaners • paint thinners and removers • turpentine • kerosene
•	gasoline • paints • varnish • shellac
Cosmetics:
Hair removing solution •
nail polish and remover • hair sprays
•	permanent wave solutions • shampoos
•	colognes • perfumes • shaving creams and lotions • etc.
NOTE:
For information on:
Safety with medicines and related products, see, S-61
Safety—first aid for poisoning, see, S-60
■	WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
Adults wouldn’t think of eating or drinking any of the above named products. They can’t imagine children doing it either. Strange as it may seem, children often swallow products that taste or smell bad to adults. In fact, there are many cases where they have repeated the process after having been seriously ill from previous experiences.
Many cosmetics have a pleasant odor but children don’t always use them as they are supposed to be used. Even adults do not realize the hazards associated with many common products found around their homes. For example, the mist from hair spray may explode in the presence of an open flame
from match, cigarette lighter, etc. An adult wouldn’t think of drinking paint brush cleaner as a child might do, but the same adult might inhale a harmful amount of the fumes. Or, ignite them by striking a match or letting the fumes drift to a pilot light or other flame. EVEN WHEN ADULTS RECOGNIZE HAZARDS THEY WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT NO TROUBLE WILL OCCUR IN THEIR HOME.
■	SAFE STORAGE?
EDUCATION? OR, BOTH?
Safe storage is a must!
Education is very important but very small children just can’t understand all the “don’ts” nor the reasons for them. In some cases, even severe punishment may only challenge children to try again. Often the damage is done in a matter of seconds so careful supervision isn’t a fool-proof solution.
■	WHAT IS SAFE STORAGE?
The space under the kitchen sink seems like a natural place to store many household cleaners. Unfortunately, this is within easy reach—even for crawlers under 1 year of age. Placing things a little higher may solve the problem for a few months but 1 year-olds can get to the tops of tables, chairs and counter tops. By age two most children are able to climb to surprising heights and often get there in surprising ways.
Locked cabinets are still the safest space to store hazardous products. This may seem unnecessary to people who have raised children without this safety precaution. It may seem reasonable to those who haven’t been so fortunate.
Cooperative Extension Service, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, Lafayette, Indiana