How To Dispose of Cleaning Products The Right Way
Cleaning products are indispensable for maintaining any property. They ensure a neat and healthy space in which to carry out daily activities.
It’s important to clean your spaces regularly and properly dispose of any waste that is produced to keep them in good condition, and sometimes, even your cleaning products become waste.
When you want to get rid of your cleaning products, you must bear in mind certain guidelines, as these products may often contain chemicals that could be harmful if they’re handled incorrectly.
In this guide, our waste management experts show you how to dispose of cleaning products safely and effectively. Read on!
Getting Rid of Your Old or Unused Cleaning Products
Perhaps you bought a product thinking you’d use it, and the time never contains. Other times, you are forced to downsize due to moving or making room for other necessities. Whatever the reason for you wanting to dispose of your cleaning products, there are some recommendations to consider, which we’ve detailed below:
Try To Use As Much of Your Household Cleaners
If you want to get rid of your cleaning products but there is still some left, we encourage you to use them first. This will always be the most responsible and environmentally friendly alternative, even if you want to switch to less chemical-heavy cleaning supplies because throwing them away would cause more waste.
Donate, Sell, or Gift Your Unused Cleaning Products
If you don’t want to keep using a product but want to avoid throwing it away, you can give your unopened or gently used old cleaning products to local shelters, schools, or communities. Many organizations are happy to receive cleaning supplies, as they often operate on tight budgets.
Another alternative to getting rid of unused products is to sell them on marketplaces or community groups. Someone might be interested in acquiring your cleaning products for a more cost-effective price.
Lastly, if you are not interested in waiting or have gently used cleaning products, you can also gift them to friends or neighbors, which fosters a sense of community and is an environmentally friendly initiative.
Follow Label Instructions
If you want to know how to dispose of cleaning products, the best way to do so is to read the instructions on the label. Manufacturers include instructions and some disposal recommendations in their products, which gives you an idea of how to dispose of them.
For instance, if a product is safe to pour down the drain, it means you can discard it the same way. This is typically the case with soluble cleaning products, laundry detergents, chlorine bleach, glass cleaners, and others.
The composition of the product is also a good indicator of how to dispose of it. If you have any powdered cleaners, you can pour them down the drain, but one at a time, to prevent clogging. Solid cleaning products such as soap and wipes can be tossed in the trash can with the rest of your household waste.
Avoid Mixing Products During Disposal
One important safety precaution when disposing of your cleaning products is never mixing them. Mixing products, especially those containing bleach and ammonia, can result in dangerous chemical reactions that produce harmful fumes. For instance, combining bleach with ammonia creates chloramine gas, which is highly toxic and can cause respiratory issues. Each product should be disposed of separately, following the specific instructions.
Empty & Recycle Containers
When considering how to dispose of cleaning products, we can’t omit talking about the containers. Most containers are recyclable, but they need to be free of residue.
After you’ve dumped the cleaning chemicals inside, rinse or remove any leftover product from the containers. Then, you can recycle them. To learn more, check your local waste disposal facility’s recycling regulations.
Beware of Hazardous Cleaning Products
Most household cleaning products are designed to be safely used in homes, but some may contain hazardous chemicals. You should always check the product’s label to see if it is flammable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic enough to be deemed hazardous waste.
Some cleaning products that fall into this category are oven cleaners, stain removers, toilet bowl cleaners, drain cleaners, and certain surface cleaners such as disinfectants and deodorizers. Aerosol products are also hazardous. All these items should be disposed of under hazardous waste disposal regulations in your area.
Your Trusted Hazardous Waste Disposal Solution
With this guide, you won’t have to keep old cleaning products you no longer want or need while preventing unnecessary contamination of our water supplies or other hazards.
Most cleaning products can be easily disposed of, but if you have any hazardous household waste to get rid of or recyclable containers, at The Pick-Up Artist Junk Removal, we ensure safe disposal and recycling through our hazardous waste disposal services and trash pick-up solutions.
Services are the most convenient option for residential and commercial clients in Las Vegas to get quick, high-quality, and affordable solutions. We recycle up to 60% of what we haul and offer competitive rates for every job.
