We do not know exactly how many households in our society use commercial cleaning products, but the number is quite high. In a survey conducted in the Seattle area, 97.5% of the respondents said they had household cleaners in their home. In a 1979 consumer survey of the most-used item sold in the supermarkets, soaps and detergents topped the list, and other cleaning products such as scouring powders and air fresheners were bought by more people than staples such as milk and butter.
Survey yourself and your family members to find out attitudes and beliefs people hold about toxics. NOTE: handling toxic products can be dangerous to your health.
2. Use the right column to check off products that your parents had in their homes when they were kids.
3. Were there any items that YOU checked off in the left column that your parents did not include in the right column? What were they and where are they found in your home?
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4. List the ways you can reduce the amount of hazardous products in your home.
5. How can you and your family safely dispose of household hazardous waste?
6. In your house, which room contained the most hazardous products? Why?