Cleaning products and cleaning accessories are an essential part of every home's equipment. We buy and use cleaning agents to create a clean, fragrant, and hygienic environment for ourselves and our household members.
However, many people forget how important proper storage is, not only to maintain order but also to protect against potential hazards and increase the effectiveness of cleaning products.
Safety first
Cleaning chemicals contain various substances that can cause a lot of harm if used improperly. For example, dishwashing detergent packaged in a sealed container poses little risk. On the other hand, bleach for curtains, which can be easily unscrewed, is very dangerous due to harmful fumes.
Find a safe placeCleaning agents should be kept out of sight. Not only because the packaging does not add to the attractiveness of the home decor, but primarily for safety reasons. For this reason, if you have children, it is good to provide additional security for the places where chemicals are stored. Pet owners should also pay special attention to the safe storage of cleaning agents in the home.
The ideal solution is to store chemicals in a closed, ventilated room. However, if your home does not have such conditions, a locked cabinet or padlock is a good solution.
A cabinet in the hallway or bathroom seems to be the perfect place for cleaning agents. However, it should be remembered that chemical substances also emit various types of fumes. Therefore, the room where they are stored should be ventilated regularly (at least once a week). Additionally, you can buy a plastic container, preferably with a lid. This way, detergents will not fall, spill, and injure children or pets.
Cleaning agents should be kept out of sight. Not only because the packaging does not add to the attractiveness of the home decor, but primarily for safety reasons. For this reason, if you have children, it is good to provide additional security for the places where chemicals are stored. Pet owners should also pay special attention to the safe storage of cleaning agents in the home.
The ideal solution is to store chemicals in a closed, ventilated room. However, if your home does not have such conditions, a locked cabinet or padlock is a good solution.
A cabinet in the hallway or bathroom seems to be the perfect place for cleaning agents. However, it should be remembered that chemical substances also emit various types of fumes. Therefore, the room where they are stored should be ventilated regularly (at least once a week). Additionally, you can buy a plastic container, preferably with a lid. This way, detergents will not fall, spill, and injure children or pets.
Pay attention to expiration datesStoring expired cleaning agents can be very dangerous. When a product is expired, some substances may react with each other and transform into dangerous chemical cocktails. For this reason, it is worth checking the condition of cleaning agents from time to time and disposing of those that have passed their expiration date.
Storing expired cleaning agents can be very dangerous. When a product is expired, some substances may react with each other and transform into dangerous chemical cocktails. For this reason, it is worth checking the condition of cleaning agents from time to time and disposing of those that have passed their expiration date.
PackagingOne should avoid using packaging from chemical cleaning agents for other purposes. Harmful substances settle deeper than it seems. Therefore, rinsing the bottle with water is not enough to reuse it.
It is also a bad idea to pour or pour chemicals into containers that were previously used for storing food. Children, encouraged by colorful packaging, can suffer serious poisoning, just like adults who mix up containers. A moment of inattention is enough to not realize that instead of juice, we are drinking corrosive substances.
One should avoid using packaging from chemical cleaning agents for other purposes. Harmful substances settle deeper than it seems. Therefore, rinsing the bottle with water is not enough to reuse it.
It is also a bad idea to pour or pour chemicals into containers that were previously used for storing food. Children, encouraged by colorful packaging, can suffer serious poisoning, just like adults who mix up containers. A moment of inattention is enough to not realize that instead of juice, we are drinking corrosive substances.
Practical storage
Clutter is also an enemy of cleaning! Regularly searching for spare sponges, window cleaning liquids, or fresh cloths is a waste of time and energy. If every time before cleaning you have to search for everything for many hours, you will quickly lose your already low desire to clean the house. Therefore, all cleaning supplies and small accessories should be stored in one place.
You can take a cue from professionals: In large spaces, cleaning companies use special cleaning carts. First, to avoid leaving bottles of chemicals lying around, but also to clean effectively. Few households need such a cleaning cart, but you can create something similar in your home to achieve the same goal. Store the most commonly used cleaning supplies, cloths, and sponges in a bowl, container, or basket that you can keep with you while cleaning.
A tidy and organized corner for cleaning supplies and equipment will also be useful when making the next shopping list. At a glance, you can see which products are needed for the next visit to the store.
Organized cabinet for cleaning suppliesIt is also important to keep the cleaning supplies cabinet organized, which will not only save you time but also help you keep track of what cleaning supplies you have in stock. First of all, you should throw away all cleaning supplies that have expired or whose packaging is damaged. When disposing of them, you should follow the instructions to avoid harming the environment or injuring yourself with chemicals. Next, you can sort the cleaning supplies in various ways, depending on which ones are more practical for you. On one hand, you can sort by product type. This means sorting products by categories such as sponges, cloths, all-purpose cleaners, hygiene products, upholstery cleaners, etc. You can also prepare boxes for specific purposes. Gather all the cleaning supplies and sponges needed for cleaning the kitchen in one box, and the cleaning supplies for the bathroom in another. They can also be used for other purposes, such as cleaning upholstered furniture and carpets or washing windows. This way, on cleaning day, you have everything you need at hand.
It is recommended to use transparent boxes for sorting cleaning supplies. This way, you can divide the cabinet into different compartments, immediately see what cleaning supplies are in the cabinet, and transport them collected in the appropriate box to the appropriate room where they will be used for cleaning. You can also label the boxes with a higher-level category for their contents.
Do your cleaning supplies emit a chemical smell even when closed? In that case, storage boxes that can be hermetically sealed with a lid may be helpful. This will also extend the effectiveness of the cleaning supplies.
It is also important to keep the cleaning supplies cabinet organized, which will not only save you time but also help you keep track of what cleaning supplies you have in stock. First of all, you should throw away all cleaning supplies that have expired or whose packaging is damaged. When disposing of them, you should follow the instructions to avoid harming the environment or injuring yourself with chemicals. Next, you can sort the cleaning supplies in various ways, depending on which ones are more practical for you. On one hand, you can sort by product type. This means sorting products by categories such as sponges, cloths, all-purpose cleaners, hygiene products, upholstery cleaners, etc. You can also prepare boxes for specific purposes. Gather all the cleaning supplies and sponges needed for cleaning the kitchen in one box, and the cleaning supplies for the bathroom in another. They can also be used for other purposes, such as cleaning upholstered furniture and carpets or washing windows. This way, on cleaning day, you have everything you need at hand.
It is recommended to use transparent boxes for sorting cleaning supplies. This way, you can divide the cabinet into different compartments, immediately see what cleaning supplies are in the cabinet, and transport them collected in the appropriate box to the appropriate room where they will be used for cleaning. You can also label the boxes with a higher-level category for their contents.
Do your cleaning supplies emit a chemical smell even when closed? In that case, storage boxes that can be hermetically sealed with a lid may be helpful. This will also extend the effectiveness of the cleaning supplies.
Effectiveness
Proper storage of cleaning agents is not only a matter of safety in the household. It is also a guarantee that they will work effectively from the first to the last use. Cleaning agents are not cheap and are designed to last as long as possible. Therefore, they should always be stored according to the following criteria:
- The appropriate temperature (from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius).
- Storing in the undamaged, original packaging
- Protected from external conditions such as sunlight, moisture, or high temperature
The best rule for the effective use of chemical cleaning agents, besides proper storage, is of course to follow the instructions provided on the packaging labels. This will ensure safety and reduce the likelihood of premature expiration of the product.