Maintaining the Home:
Environment Issues
Household Hazardous Waste
Proper use, care and disposal of hazardous household cleaning products is important for the user’s safety and for the preservation of the environment. In some cases, alternative procedures can be used to handle common household tasks so that hazardous products need not be used.
The chart below discusses selected household products, alternatives, harmful effects and disposal options. For additional information, contact your local county extension office.
| Product | Alternatives | Harmful Effects | Disposal Options |
| Drain, Oven and Toilet Cleaners | Prevent clogged drains by pouring boiling water down drain weekly; clean with vinegar, baking soda, boiling water; use plunger; clean toilets & ovens with salt, baking soda, water & elbow grease; use small dish of ammonia standing overnight to loosen stains. | Some can burn skin; mixing drain & toilet cleaners: ammonia and bleach creates deadly gas; see 1, 2, 4 in the key. | Drain & toilet cleaners: Oven cleaners: See A, B in the key. |
| Furniture & Shoe Polish | Polishes without trichloroethylene, methylene chloride or nitrobenzene; many recipes available including 1 pint mineral oil with 1 tsp. lemon oil (may strip finish). | Short Term: irritate and damage skin eyes, lungs; cause nausea, poisoning. Long term: cause allergies, nervous system disorders; damage kidneys and lungs: see 1, 2, 3, 4 in the key. | See A, B, C in the key. |
| Mothballs | Cedar chips; sachets of herbs such as lavender, bay. | Poisonous fumes cause headaches, nausea; see 1, 2, 3, 4 in the key. | See A, B, E in the key. Never D! |
| Oil based Paints (including spray | Latex paint | Irritate eyes, skin, lungs; cause headaches, nausea, require solvents to clean up tools see 1, 3, 4 in the key. | See A, B, C, E in the key. |
| Paint Remover & Other Solvents | No substitutes for most solvents; instead of paint remover, sand off old paint or use heat gun (wear goggles and mask); never use gasoline as a solvent. | See furniture & shoe polish | See A, B in the key. |
| Pesticides Herbicides Fungicides Insecticide | Soapy water (use 1 tbsp. of insecticidal soap per gallon of water to kill aphids, mites); citronella to repel many insects; use natural predators; pull weeds; remove breeding areas; keep areas clean and litter free. | Can be absorbed through skin and by breathing; cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, tensions; see 1, 2, 3, 4 in the key. | See A, B, E in the key. Never D! Only use A for old, banned or restricted pesticides. |
| Used Motor Oil & Car Batteries | No alternatives available; wear gloves & goggles when handling. | Some poisons in used oil may be absorbed through skin, eyes; see 1,2,3,4 in the key for oil; see 4 for acid. | Oil: recycle at gas station or at store or A; never C, D. Battery (including battery acid): return to place of purchase or A. |
| Window Cleaners, Ammonia Cleaners, Bleach, Powdered Cleansers | Baking soda instead of powdered cleansers & ammonia cleaners; non-chlorinated powder bleach instead of liquid bleach, try borax; use 2 tbsp. vinegar & 1 qt. water instead of window cleaners; and elbow grease. | Some can burn skin; mixing ammonia and bleach creates deadly gas; see 1, 2, 4 in the key. | Powdered cleansers, window cleaners: C. Ammonia cleansers: A, B, D. |
| Key to Letters and Numbers | IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL |
|
1 Deadly if swallowed 2 May cause cancer 3 Flammable 4 Causes air or water pollution A Turn in on toxic waste collection day. B Use it all up and dispose of container as in step C. C Wrap container in lots of newspaper, place in plastic bag and put out with the trash. D Dilute leftovers with water and pour down sink. Do not do this if you have a septic tank! E Share leftovers with neighbors. |
The New Mexico Poison Center 1 800 222 1222 For more information call your county extension office. |
This material was adapted from publications produced by New Mexico State University.
Next: Hazardous Household Substances: Alternatives That Are Relatively Free of Toxic Effects
