Most of us are dealing with household chemicals daily. However, we take precautions before handling them. But there are other members in the family, like seniors and children, who don’t know how to deal with them. Insufficient storage can also lead to spillage, and toxic fumes can enter airways. Such chemicals can even cause permanent disabilities and death.

Therefore, you need to store them in a proper place. It will prevent trespassing and give you complete peace of mind when you are around. The best option is to keep them under lock and key.

Read about more such ways to store hazardous materials at home.

Storing Corrosives

You need to keep corrosive chemicals at home sometimes for cleaning and home maintenance. However, you have to be cautious that they can cause severe injuries. You can also choose alternate options, but they might not prove potent. Therefore, you have to exercise a lot of caution while storing them.

Acids and bases are the most corrosive chemicals. However, there might be others you do not know about. Sodium Hydroxide is found in soaps. And, we use them on our bodies, without harm. However, you should also know about another application of this chemical. It is used to clean drains. It does so by melting dirt, debris, and substances stuck inside the pipe.

We will tell you about an acid that acts late. It is none other than Hydrofluoric acid. Once your skin comes in contact with it, you might not feel anything. Used in metal cleaning, this acid damages the nerves. So, you can feel its after-effects much later, when a lot of harm has already been done. Therefore, you should store such chemicals in a well-ventilated space, labeled, and at eye level. Additionally, you need to store them in corrosion-resistant vessels.

Storing Paints and Solvents

Many people store paints and solvents in the parking lot. It is a great idea, as the spot is outside the house. However, if you are not maintaining them well, it can be another hazard. If they are lying around unattended, people can also trip over and slip. Moreover, solvents can damage the tires.

You need to get proper garage organizer cupboards installed inside. Metal ones and corrosion-resistant ones are great choices. Keep the doors of the cabinets under lock and key all the time. Additionally, you should install spill trays under the vessels. They will help arrest any spills and leakages.

Some solvents are flammable. So you should keep them inside fire-resistant metal cabinets. Keep burners and gasoline away from such chemicals. Ensure to check with your local fire safety authority to ascertain the safe storage limits. Otherwise, you could be reprimanded by law.

We understand that you need to store your paints for use later, after a paint job. Store them in cool places, and the parking is one that suffices. Darker and cooler spaces such as these keep the paint fresh for a long period.

Storing Volatile Chemicals

Volatile chemicals evaporate easily if kept without a lid in the open. These are risky in hot climatic zones. The chemicals often evaporate through loose lids and caps and turn into fumes. You or anyone in your house might inhale the gas and fall sick. Non-organic volatiles like Hydrochloric acids and ammonia are things worth concern. You should always store such chemicals in their respective glass bottles.

And their lids should ideally be made of non-corrosive rubber and must be tight. This is to stop the fumes from escaping. If you sense that the fumes are out somehow, you must wear protective gear to aid in the area’s ventilation. Call the fire department if you feel that things have gone out of control.

Storing Flammables

You need to store flammable liquids such as petrol, gasoline, and diesel, away from other hazardous chemicals. Oxidizing agents and corrosive chemicals can create a massive fire if they contact flammables. Ensure to keep the space well-ventilated. Some security measures you can take are locks in storerooms, welded mesh, alarms systems, and CCTV surveillance. Underground tanks are also entirely appropriate for this purpose.

It is best not to store them in the parking. Cars are parked inside and pose a serious hazard if leakage or spillage of some sort appears to have had happened. It can also lead to blasts that can bring down the whole house. Keeping such materials in the backyard or storage is always better, with large open ventilation in place.

These are a few ways to store different hazardous substances and chemicals around the house. You should always keep them secluded and away from seniors, children, and pets, too, as they can be life-threatening.