Start here · Essential guide
Reading Cleaning Product Labels and Hazard Symbols
A plain guide to the pictograms, signal words and warning statements on cleaning product labels, and what they do and do not tell you about a product.
Products and Waste
Understanding labels, chemistry and safe handling of household cleaning products.
Start here · Essential guide
A plain guide to the pictograms, signal words and warning statements on cleaning product labels, and what they do and do not tell you about a product.
Concentrates and refill systems can cut packaging, but they bring trade-offs. Learn how to dilute correctly, handle concentrated liquids safely and judge the claims.
Cleaning removes dirt and some germs; disinfecting aims to kill them. Learn the difference, when disinfectants are worth using at home, and how to use them safely.
Why leftover cleaners should not go down drains or into general bins, how local hazardous waste collection typically works, and how to cut down on leftovers.
Why fragrance and some other ingredients in cleaning products irritate skin or airways, how patch testing works, and what fragrance-free really means.
Practical advice on keeping cleaning products in original containers, choosing safer storage spots, labelling, and what to do and who to call after a poisoning scare.
A simple look at acids, bases and surfactants, and what vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and soap can and cannot clean, including surfaces they can damage.
Why combining bleach with ammonia or acids, and other cleaner mixes, can release harmful gases, plus what to do straight away if an accidental mix happens.
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