What's in your house?
Do you use chemicals in your home? Most people use hazardous chemicals every day without thinking about it.
Common household chemicals
Common chemicals include:
- Paint, solvents and paint strippers.
- Wood preservatives.
- Glues.
- Garden chemicals.
- Pesticides.
- Fertilisers.
- Petrol, oil and other vehicle products.
- Toilet and drain cleaners.
- Kitchen and oven cleaners.
- Pool chemicals.
- Bleach and disinfectants.
- Batteries.
- Furniture and shoe polish.
- Nail polish and nail polish remover.
Why are these products hazardous?
They can harm people and the environment because they are:
- Toxic (poisonous).
- Flammable.
- Corrosive or caustic (cause burns).
- Chemically reactive.
If you have these chemicals in your home, they must be:
- Stored properly.
- Labelled accurately.
- Disposed of safely.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Do your bit for our environment
- Buy environmentally friendly products - look out for the New Zealand Environmental Choice logo.
- Only buy what you need and read the label first to avoid highly toxic products.
- Share left-overs with neighbours, friends or community groups to ensure products are being used efficiently.
- Find safe substitutes - this booklet will help you to do this and gives helpful hints on easy alternatives to using chemicals!
Safe storage
- Store in a dry place, away from heat or flames.
- Keep product in original container.
- Re-label if necessary.
- Keep tightly closed.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Safe use
- Always follow directions on the package.
- Use all the product if possible but do not use more than recommended by the
manufacturer. - Do not mix products.
Safe disposal
- Never pour chemicals down the sink, stormwater drain or onto the ground.
- Do not put hazardous materials out with your household rubbish.
- Reuse or recycle where possible.
- Take unwanted hazardous chemicals to a household hazardous waste drop-off
facility.