Cleaning products are necessary for every home and workplace in order to preserve much of the furniture and items that we own. However, we may not use them all the time and knowing how to store them is essential for the safety of you, your family and your pets.  

First Things First, Always Read the Label 

Every cleaning product has a label on it that tells you how to properly store it. Follow the instructions and you will already be preventing potential disasters. Do not remove the original labels. You may not remember what was in a certain bottle and make an error regarding the storage and use of that product. You may also not remember when the product expires. 

Do Not Mix Two Products Together 

If you do not know what kinds of products go together, you run the risk of mixing chemicals together that can harm you. For example, bleach combined with ammonia creates fumes that make you extremely sick and can even lead to death depending on how long you are exposed to the dangerous gas. People make this mistake more often than you think, so it is important to be aware of these dangers. 

Store in Hard-to-Reach Locations 

This is especially important if you have children or pets but can be important in any home because you may have friends with kids that come over at times. It may not just be always you in your home. It is better to be prepared and to watch out for the safety of those around you before something bad happens, than to put out fires that come up because you did not prepare. You could even put a lock on the door to cleaning supplies if you are worried kids might climb up and try to get ahold of the products even with them stored out of reach. Buying bottles where the nozzle needs to be pushed in is a good idea as well, so they supplies are difficult to open for little ones. 

Pick a Room  

Many people use spaces such as laundry rooms or the closet under the stairs to store their supplies. Adding shelves or high cupboards elevates the products so they are out of reach. These spaces are typically cool and dry, so the temperature is moderated. If temperatures are too hot or stored with too much light exposure, they will lose their potency. If your cleaning supplies no longer kill germs like they are supposed to, then they have little value to you anymore. Also be careful in the winter to keep your water-based supplies out of the cold. If you accidentally leave just-bought supplies in the car for too long in the cold, you might be wasting money. Cool is good, but freezing is bad. Chemical bonds get broken down in water-based cleaning products that freeze, and it can lead to a similar effect that heat has on your products; the chemicals lose their ability to destroy germs as effectively. The garage might be too much of a risk your cleaning supplies, so best to keep in more temperature-controlled rooms. 

Use Plastic Bins 

To prevent leaking bottles with bleach and other substances from ending up on your carpet, simply purchase a cleaning supply caddy. There are many on the market that are large and have a handle to make cleaning life so much easier. If you know what supplies you need to clean your bathroom, then you can put them all in one bin, while putting cleaning supplies for your kitchen in another bin. You can separate cleaning supplies by purpose, place them in their corresponding bins and then they are not only in safe locations but organized locations for ease of use. 

Ventilation 

Be aware that your cleaning products do need some ventilation, so if you store them under the stairs, remember to leave the door open while you clean or pick a different location with more ventilation if you have a better option in your home. Every home is different and has different options for ideal cleaning product storage. 

Remember that cleaning supply safety is up to you. We all want clean homes, and we all want to be safe when using chemicals. If you are aware and abide by these recommendations, then you will be living in combined cleanliness and safety.