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Kids and Chemicals Don’t Mix
Are hazards lurking where you live? Try these tips for a safer home
Kids are smart, curious and investigative and especially vulnerable to toxins.
“Even the best parent can’t supervise a child every minute. Easy-to-do prevention can make your home a safe place to learn.” Dr. Beth Ebel, Director of Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center (external link), University of Washington
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STORE PRODUCTS SAFELY
Help keep kids safer by storing hazardous products away from their reach. Lock cabinets or take a new look at where products are stashed. |
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KEEP HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONTAINERS
Product labels have critical product information on them including the hazards and first aid information. Unmarked and reused containers are too easily confused with food - like these containers that were used for automotive fluids. If you have to store a product outside of its original container, clearly label and safely dispose of it. |
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STORE AND USE HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS AWAY FROM FOOD
Products can look like food. Children and adults can easily confuse edible products that are in look-a-like containers. And a young child will naturally taste what they find. Contact the Washington Poison Center (external link) 1-800-222-1222 for free help in case of exposure to poisonous, hazardous, or toxic substances. |
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 READ THE LABEL
Read the label of products to look for the words DANGER, POISON, WARNING or CAUTION. Avoid products that say DANGER or POISON. Instead, buy safer versions of these products that say WARNING or CAUTION. If possible, buy products that have none of these four signal words.
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MAKE GREEN CLEANERS
Household cleaners are the third most common reason for accidental poisoning of children. Reduce your child’s exposure to toxins and make your own green cleaners (PDF). Y en español. (PDF) |
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SAFELY DISPOSE OF HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS - AT NO CHARGE
This video shows the easy drive-through disposal method to safely get rid of your household hazardous products. There is no charge at our roving Wastemobile or one of four fixed locations. |
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SAFELY STORE AND DISPOSE OF MEDICINES
Safely dispose of medicines that are unwanted or expired – use a no cost medicine take-back program at one of these drop-off locations (external link). Store medicines safely by keeping them out of reach - lock them in a drawer, cabinet or medicine lock box. Watch this video (external link) on medicine safety in your home. |
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Need more information?
- Call us at the Household Hazards Line, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. except holidays, at 206-296-4692 or toll free 1-888-TOXIC ED, 1-888-869-4233.
Interpreters are available but you will be on hold while we locate one. Please be patient with us.
- Or e-mail us at haz.waste@kingcounty.gov
- Or meet us at an event. Find out what is happening on our calendar.
