Submitted by Public Health and Social Services
Fall is a great time to clean out your garage, shed, medicine cabinet and under your sinks. These storage spots often have household hazardous products that can pose health and safety risks to you or your family. If you haven’t used a product for years, take it to HazoHouse for free disposal. If you plan to use it, store it safely. For safe storage ideas, keep reading.
The safe storage and disposal of medicines is a special concern. Medicines can be misused and cause long-term health effects and if not properly disposed of, they can get into our drinking water. For medicines that you are actively using: use a handy pill box to measure a weekly dose of prescriptions and keep them in a safe, supervised place. The remaining pills should be kept in their original container in a locking cabinet or safe. For medicines that you no longer need, or if they are expired, take them to any one of the free Medicine Return Program sites located at local law enforcement or city hall offices.
Safe Storage
Keep household hazardous products stored in tubs or buckets with lids. This will catch drips, spills and keep hazardous materials contained during an emergency like an earthquake or flood. Remember not to store anything that contains ammonia, bleach or other reactive chemicals in the same tub.
Keep hazardous products out of reach of children. Kids are great climbers and can squeeze their hands into small spaces. Keep household hazardous products locked up. If products are not locked up, they can be reached by children!
Safe Use
Learn the product hazards and take steps to protect yourself and your household before you use the product. Read the precautionary statements on labels and carefully follow instructions. To avoid breathing in fumes from cleaning products increase ventilation in the area where you’re using the product. Keep windows open and run fans to exchange the indoor air for fresh outdoor air. Wear long sleeves, gloves, safety glasses, and a mask when needed.
Most childhood accidental poisonings happen while the product is in use. Keep hazardous products out of the reach of children, even when in use. Never turn your back on a child when a spray bottle is handy! For more tips on preventing poisonings visit the Washington Poison Center website.
Safe Disposal
Drop off household hazardous products for free and safe disposal at HazoHouse, located at the Thurston County Waste & Recovery Center at 2420 Hogum Bay Rd. NE in Olympia’s Hawks Prairie area. They are open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. and accept nearly all of your household’s unwanted hazardous materials. If you’re not sure where to safely dispose of something, look it up on www.wheredoitakemy.org.
Choose Safer Products
Reduce the risks of hazardous products by avoiding them in the first place. When shopping for products, compare labels. Signal words will help you figure out the safest choice. “Danger” and “Poison” indicate the most hazardous type of products. “Caution” and “Warning” mean that the product is less hazardous. Products that don’t have signal words are the safest choice. Non-toxic cleaning products like baking soda, vinegar, water and liquid soap will leave your house shining without the need to take extra care to protect yourself or family members. For yard-related products, check the Grow Smart, Grow Safe website to choose the safest options.
Questions about air quality, mold or ventilation? Contact our Healthy Homes Program at 360-867-2674, e-mail us at healthyhomes@co.thurston.wa.us, or sign up for the free “Thurston Home and Garden” e-newsletter for healthy home and garden tips.
