LETTERS: Household cleaning chemicals are designed to assist cleaning, pest control, house maintenance and general hygiene purposes. They are often stored in the kitchen or garage.
Household cleaning products are available in powder, liquid or spray form. The basic ingredients determine the type of task for which they are made.
Some cleaning products are marketed as general-purpose cleaning materials, while others are targeted at specific cleaning tasks, such as drain clearing, oven cleaning and furniture polishing.
Cleaning products provide aesthetic and hygiene benefits, but they also contain chemicals hazardous to health. Most cleaning product chemicals are not hazardous if properly handled.
The exposure routes to hazardous household cleaning chemicals include absorption through the skin, inhalation and accidental splashes into the eyes.
Users should use goggles and gloves to protect the eyes and skin.
Users need a respirator when using materials that emit vapours. Otherwise, they should consider the use of water-based materials.
When buying household cleaning products, buy less hazardous products for the job, especially when there are children in the house.
Never mix household cleaning products. Some chemicals can be confused as food or drink if they are not kept away or securely stored.
There is a growing consumer and government interest in the use of natural green cleaning products.
The use of non-hazardous household chemicals is growing as consumers become more informed about the health effects of household
chemicals.
Wong Soo Kan
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times