For many families around the world, household chores are often seldom enjoyable. One chore in particular that always seems to elicit the loudest groans, though is cleaning. Now, this term will often include different methods for every family. For some, maybe this just means a full vacuum and dust of all rooms in the house. For others, this could mean the disinfecting of commonly used amenities such as the bathroom. Regardless of how your family brings out the tidy in your home, you should always be storing the products you use to clean your home properly. These products might be particularly potent at disinfecting surfaces and killing germs, but their chemical make-up are also hazardous if not used and stored properly. For the safety of yourself and your family, be sure to become educated on the safest ways to handle and store these products.

Now, don’t think this means you need to hide your cleaning product supply behind lock and key. Items that you feel safe enough with the family using can generally be stored in convenient places for your family. Disinfectant wipes, kitchen soaps, Swifter pads, etc. can all be safely stored in the most accessible places for your family. The more chemically hazardous products, however, should generally be stored somewhere specifically hidden away from the wrong hands, or paws. Bleach, toilet and drain cleaners, paint thinner, etc. are all examples of products you should avoid leaving exposed in any way.

If you’re still feeling worried about which products should be stored in a less accessible manner, the best way to discern is through reading the label and safety information of the products in your home. Each of these products will also likely include warnings and precautions of the use by young adults and children. Even if you think your children are capable of using these products, it’s likely best to safely store them away to avoid any mistakes. For some families, cleaning products in the house can last for much longer than other families. In instances where these products’ labels fade, be sure to make note of any important use or safety information that shouldn’t be lost.

Ultimately, the best way to mitigate the risk on your family with these household chemical products is to take a more minimalistic approach. Rather than having an excess of these potentially hazardous products taking up space in the house, buy only what your family needs and frequently uses and safely ditch the rest. In addition to this, set aside a designated space for these safe to use products for your family. Whether it be an all-inclusive linen closet, or under the kitchen sink, create a space that will safely house all the products your family frequently uses that is out of harms way. In the same way, you can set up a designated space for these less than safe chemical products, somewhere where the younger hands are unable to reach them.

For more information on how to safely store your household chemical products or create a customized storage system for your family, check out the featured infographic ‘Household Chemical Storage Guide’ below.

Author bio: Lynn Place is Vice President of Marketing for SolvChem Custom Packaging Division. She has 30 years of professional experience in the manufacturing industry and specializes in consumer packaged goods, new product development and strategic planning.