Cleaning Supplies Stored In The Garage

For extended durations, the garage is frequently the most practical location to store your cleaning goods. Where and how you keep household cleaning goods will decide whether they have the potential to cause harm, though, as many of them include chemicals that can be dangerous if improperly handled.

In order to reduce the possibility of chemical reactions, the most important thing to bear in mind when keeping cleaning materials in the garage is to keep incompatible cleansers apart. For their safety, you should also keep cleaning supplies out of children’s and pets’ reach.

There is a risk of fire, explosions, and the discharge of harmful chemicals and fumes if these crucial safety precautions are not followed. However, by keeping your cleaning materials in the garage, you can prevent all of this.

Guide to Cleaning Materials Kept in the Garage

Recognizing Hazardous Cleaning Materials

Every cleaning product will have a warning label outlining its toxicity. It will be conspicuously placed on the exterior of the container containing the chemical.

According to the label, hazardous household cleaning goods will be divided into two categories:

• Risk: Extremely poisonous; merely a teaspoon of it can be lethal (e.g., drain cleaner, toilet bowl cleaning, oven cleanser).
• Caution/Warning: Moderate to low toxicity; it takes a teaspoon to a pint to be lethal (liquid washing detergents are an example).

You are advised to search online for the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the solution if you believe the warning or instruction label has not given you enough information about the product. Since these sites offer a wealth of helpful information about the chemistry of the product, professionals must use them frequently. Consider the Clorox Bleach MSDS, for instance.

Included in the MSDS data should be:

• Effects on human health
• Information about flammability
• Suggested storage circumstances
• How a chemical spill can be cleaned up and disposed of
• How to manage exposure to humans

Cleaning Materials Not Suitable for the Garage

Liquid Cleaners (Summer/Winter)

Liquid cleaners, including home cleaners like Windex, should not be kept in your garage in the summer or winter when they are more likely to be exposed to high temperatures. Since the containers aren’t really made to withstand severe temperatures, you don’t want to keep these cleansers in your garage during these seasons due to the possibility of damage from the sudden temperature changes. Additionally, a cleaner will lose its cleaning capabilities if it gets partially frozen.

Bleach in the Home (Summer or Hot Weather)

It should be said from the outset that keeping household bleach in your garage is not inherently unsafe. The important fact that many people may not be aware of is that bleach does have a shelf life. The bleach will lose its effectiveness after a specific amount of time, which is referred to as its “shelf life.”

The typical household bleach solution lasts for a full year. When the chemical is subjected to high temperatures, its shelf life is drastically shortened. A cool, dry, well-ventilated area with a temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal place to store household bleach.

Airborne Particles

As much as possible, you should refrain from using and keeping aerosol products in your garage. Fine particles included in these cleaners can be breathed and build up in the lungs. If you have a history of upper-respiratory problems, you are strongly advised to stay away from these.

Pump spray products are an alternative. Pump spray products are not as easily inhaled as aerosols, despite the fact that they also produce a mist. This Lemi Shine Daily Cleaner is an illustration of a pump spray cleaner.

Cleaning Materials That You Can Keep in Your Garage

If the safety measures outlined later in this article are followed, it is safe to keep some chemicals in the garage. The cleaning supplies kept in the garage shouldn’t be impacted by variations in humidity or temperature.

It is OK to have the following cleaning supplies in a garage:

• Things that don’t catch fire; if you do have something that can catch fire in your garage, keep it in minimal amounts.
• Cleaners for aluminum and other metals
• Dish soap
• Liquid soap
• If the garage has adequate ventilation, use a drain cleaner.
• Sprays for all-purpose cleaning

Advice for Garage Storage of Cleaning Materials

Keep Toxic Lookalikes Out of Your Reach

Many toxic household chemicals are packaged in containers or forms that seem remarkably similar to foods and drinks. This makes them especially dangerous for kids, who might not be able to tell these cleaners apart from the things you already have in your cabinet.

Among the examples are:

• Windex could be confused with a blue sports drink.
• Pine-sol could be confused for apple juice.

Avoid Keeping Incompatible Chemicals in the Same Storage Space

You should be able to determine which kinds of chemicals are incompatible with one another by consulting the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any particular cleaner. Incompatible materials should be kept at least 3 meters (10 feet) apart to avoid chemical reactions.

Store Corrosive Cleaning Agents in Dry, Cool Environments

A chemical that will harm a particular material is referred to as “corrosive.” Metal is corroded by cleaners such as aluminum brighteners. Some cleansers, such as chlorine bleach, are corrosive if consumed and irritate skin.

Do Non-Toxic Cleaners Exist?

If you prefer cleaners that are not flammable, corrosive, or overly odorous, you may always select a cleaning solution that doesn’t contain any of the potentially harmful ingredients you see in some of the cleaning solutions discussed in the sections above.

Alternatives for a safer home include, for instance:

• All-purpose cleaner: warm water, vinegar, borax, and liquid soap
• Drain cleaner: hot water, vinegar, and baking soda
• Grout/Stain Cleaner: a mixture of vinegar spray and water or baking soda and water

Conclusion:

Although they are not usually seen as major problems, homeowners should be cautious of the hidden risks associated with household cleansers. However, heed these proper storage guidelines to help you steer clear of these possible risks:

• It is advisable to store cleaning materials below eye level and out of the reach of any children or pets.
• Products that are flammable and corrosive shouldn’t be stored together.
• Certain cleaning supplies can be confused with foodstuffs or drinks. Verify that labels are consistently readable and properly attached to the container.
• Allowing household cleaning products to come into contact with chemicals they shouldn’t be used with can make them hazardous.
• It is not advisable to reuse any cleaning supply container, particularly if you intend to utilize the original packing to house a completely different product.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks while keeping your garage well-organized and safe.