Common household cleaners often contain some very toxic ingredients. The words "Danger," "Warning," and "Caution" printed on product labels mean just what they say. These products can create serious health hazards right in your home.

In fact, more than 300 Vermont children were seen by medical personnel in 1995 due to exposure to household chemicals. In that same year, 120,000 children were poisoned across the U.S. A quick look at a few kinds of cleaners shows how it can happen.

Crystal drain cleaners and oven cleaners contain lye, a corrosive chemical that can cause permanent eye and skin damage. Many metal polishers and cleaners are both toxic and flammable. These products may contain petroleum distillates, which can harm the lungs if inhaled and can result in chemical pneumonia. Furniture polishes may also contain petroleum distillates, and the lemon-scented brands can fool children into thinking they're food products.

Children under the age of 6 are at a higher risk for poisoning by household chemicals. (Keep the Poison Control Center number by your telephone-800-222-1222.) In this age group, children identify things by color, size, and pattern. Because of that, children may be fooled by toxic look-alikes-cleaning products that look like familiar foods.

This resemblance may be due to the color of the product, such as a clear plastic jug of apple juice and a clear plastic jug of a common wood cleaner. Or, it may be due to the shape and color of the packaging.

MANY CHOICES. There are a variety of ways to make household cleaning less hazardous. Suggestions include:

• Clean more frequently--don't wait for it to become a big job that's more difficult to clean.
• Choose manual solutions to household problems, like using a mechanical snake to clear a clogged drain.
• Choose less toxic cleaners at the store. Read the label for the warning words, which are your key to just how toxic a product is. For example, the word "Danger" means the product is highly toxic--a taste to a teaspoon may be fatal for a 60-pound human or animal. The word "Caution" means the product has a lower toxicity. Better yet, choose non-toxic products safe enough to require no warning words.

Scouring Powder
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup vinegar
* Mix in small bowl and rub on surface with damp sponge. Let stand a few minutes. Rinse well.

SAFE DISPOSAL. If you've decided to rid your house of toxic cleaners, be sure to dispose of them carefully. Nearly 1% of the material found in a garbage landfill is waste from household hazardous products--which adds up to 15 million pounds a year.

Take them to a hazardous waste collection instead. The CVSWMD runs collections May through October; check the household hazardous waste link for the schedule. Call for more information and disposal rates.