COUNTYWIDE : Household Products Can Be Hazardous

That bottle of window cleaner in the kitchen cabinet and those old rusty cans of paint in the garage might seem harmless, but if improperly stored or thrown away, they could cause a fire or contaminate the ground water.

Yet many people remain unaware of how hazardous some common household products can be and carelessly pour oil down the drain or keep harsh cleaners within reach of children and pets, officials said.

Nail polish remover, after-shave, bleach and furniture polish are considered potentially hazardous materials, along with such items as aerosol cans, antifreeze, bathroom cleaner, car wax, fertilizer, glue, paint, oven cleaner, varnish and rat poison.

“If you buy something from the supermarket, it can still have chemicals in it,” said Maria Sabol, spokeswoman for the Orange County Fire Department. “Even if you buy something over the counter, you need to always read the label and follow the instructions. You need to take responsibility for what you buy.”

Here are some tips from Orange County’s Hazardous Materials Program Office:

* Try to reduce the number of hazardous materials you have in your home. If you have leftover material, give it to a friend or neighbor rather than discarding it. Give half-used paint or varnish cans to a local church or school.

* Store all materials in their original container. Keep away from pets and children. Never throw hazardous materials in the trash or pour them down the drain or in the gutter.

* Don’t mix different products together, and never store hazardous materials near a heat source.

* Read labels carefully and consider buying “environmentally friendly” products, which often contain fewer hazardous materials and might be biodegradable.

Disposal of hazardous materials varies depending on the product. Empty aerosol cans, for example, can be put in the trash, but half-used cans must be taken to a materials collection center.

Some materials, such as antifreeze, motor oil and turpentine, can sometimes be recycled.

There are three hazardous household materials collection centers in Orange County: in Anaheim, at 1131 Blue Gum St.; in Huntington Beach, at 17121 Nichols St.; and in San Juan Capistrano, at the Prima Deshecha Landfill near Ortega Highway and La Pata Road.

The collection centers will accept household products only.