Solvents & Home Cleaning Products
Many household cleaners have corrosive chemical ingredients and may cause short-term and long-term health hazards if not used according to label directions. Programs can range from mild skin irritations to respiratory failure. These problems occur most often because chemicals are used improperly. Read the label before using any home cleaning product and never mix products unless directed by the label.
Some cleaners include "organic solvents" such as petroleum distillates. Organic solvents do not dissolve in water and are used to dissolve difficult stains or greases. Although solvents are useful, they can cause health hazards if improperly used or thrown away. Short-term poisoning symptoms include dizziness or nausea within a day after use. Long-term exposure - occurring when solvents are used on a regular basis over a long time - can cause liver damage, cancer or birth defects.
If you have a septic system for waste disposal, you need to take special precautions when disposing of cleaning products. Septic systems can only partially treat chemical wastes. Waste water from the septic system is discharged into the ground and can move back into the well water. Septic system users should attempt to use up, share or evaporate unwanted products.
This page will help to identify cleaners containing solvents and how to dispose of solvents as well as abrasive cleaners, aerosols, bleach, detergents, drain openers, general home liquid cleaners, germicides/disinfectants, oven cleaners, rug and upholstery cleaners and bathroom cleaners.
If you have further questions about disposal of specific home cleaning products or other hazardous home products not listed here, please contact your local or county public health or solid waste department or your county extension agent.
PLEASE NOTE: In view of rapidly changing information about the toxicity of hazardous substances, readers are cautioned to take personal responsibility for following these guidelines. If you need additional advice, contact your county extension office or your district DNR office or your district DNR office hazardous waste section.
Identifying Organic Solvents
Your cleaning product may contain an organic solvent if it meets one or more of the following criteria:
- It hardens on surface after application (such as polishes or waxes
- It is used to dissolve difficult stains or greases
- The label says the product is flammable
- It comes in an aerosol can (such as air fresheners or oven cleaners)
- It is used as a home deodorizer, spot remover, dry cleaning fluid, polish, wax, hardwood floor cleaner, rug & upholstery cleaner (some are detergent-based), disinfectant
- The product contains one of the following chemicals: benzene (listed separately or as part of an ingredient name), carbon tetrachloride, chlorinated solvents, diethyl or dimethyl phthalate, methylene chloride, paradichlorobenzene, perchloroethylene (same as tetrachloroethylene), petroleum distillates, phenol (listed separately or as part of an ingredient name), toluene (mineral spirits), 1,1,1 trichloroethane, xylene
This is only a short list of organic solvents. Please call your local or county health or solid waste department or county extension agent if you have any doubt about your product.
Disposing of Solvent Cleaners
If your unwanted product contains an organic solvent, don't throw it in the trash. Instead, try to use it up, share it with a neighbor, friend or community organization, evaporate small quantities (less than half a gallon) and dispose of hardened material in the trash, or save it for a household hazardous waste collection program. If you choose the evaporation method, you can dispose of the remaining hardened material in the trash because the chemicals are usually locked in the solid and won't leach into the soil. However, burning the solids releases the chemicals and may raise the level of potentially toxic chemicals in the ash. For that reason, if your community incinerates trash, check with your municipal sanitation department to see whether you need to separate organic solvent solids from the trash to be burned. Home products containing an organic solvents should not be evaporated in urban areas experiencing summer ozone alerts due to smog conditions. You can use it, share it or wait out the ozone alert.
Disposing of the rest........
- Abrasive Cleaners - Share if possible. Or flush small amounts down a toilet or kitchen drain with plenty of water.
- Aerosols - Share. Avoid using when possible. Many home products sold as aerosols (for example, oven, bathroom and rug cleaners) contain organic solvents even though the solvent is not used for cleaning. Because the aerosol does not play an active role in the cleaning process, it may not be listed as an ingredient. If you purchase an aerosol cleaning product, use it up or share it. Only empty aerosols should be thrown in the trash. Materials in clogged aerosol sprays may still be usable. Unclog aerosol spray cans carefully by cleaning the slit at the end of the spray stem. Replace parts and turn can upside down and spray for a few seconds. If you can't use or share your aerosol, spray the remaining ingredients into a box while outside and away from flames, pets and children. Avoid breathing the fumes.
- Ammonia - Share if possible. Or flush down toilet or kitchen drain with plenty of water. Do NOT mix ammonia and bleach. The combination forms a deadly gas. If you have a septic system, minimize both use and disposal of ammonia. Ammonia adds nitrogen to septic water discharges which may contribute to health problems in drinking water.
- Bleach - Share if possible. or flush down toilet or kitchen drain with plenty of water. Bleach is extremely irritating to skin. The prime ingredient is usually a strong acid, but varies depending on product. NEVER MIX BLEACH WITH AMMONIA. Bleach is very reactive and forms a deadly gas when combined with ammonia. If you have a septic system, minimize your use and disposal of bleach. The chlorine in bleach may interact with other chemicals in your septic system to make "chlorinated hydrocarbons." These may cause a variety of health problems in people and animals.
- Detergents - Share if possible. Or flush small amounts down laundry drain with plenty of water.
- Drain Openers - Share. Evaporate if organic solvent is present. Flush small amounts down drain if no solvent is present. Most drain openers are made of a strong acid or base. If it contains an organic solvent, refer to the solvent disposal directions described earlier.
- General Home Liquid Cleaners - Share. Evaporate if organic solvent is present. If it is a detergent only, flush down drain. Home liquid cleaners may contain organic solvents, detergents or ammonia. Follow the advice listed for the appropriate ingredient.
- Germicides/Disinfectants - Share. Save for household hazardous waste collection program if it is labeled "germ proofing" or if chlorophenol is listed in the ingredients. Evaporate if an organic solvent is present. If no solvent is present, flush small amounts down drain. Recently purchased, unwanted home disinfectants can be flushed down the drain, but industrial-strength disinfectants should be packaged and saved for a hazardous waste program.
- Oven Cleaners - Share if possible. Or flush small amounts down kitchen drain or toilet with plenty of water. Most oven cleaners are made of a strong base such as sodium hydroxide or lye. Use them carefully. Refer to directions for disposing of aerosols if you have unwanted aerosol oven cleaner.
- Rug & Upholstery Cleaners - Determine main ingredient. Refer to "Identifying organic solvents." If your product contains an organic solvent, follow solvent disposal directions. Other cleaners contain detergents and may be disposed of by flushing down drain with a lot of water.
- Toilet, Tub & Tile Cleaners - Many toilet, tub and tile cleaners are made of strong acids. Unwanted cleaners could be shared. Strong acids can be flushed down the toilet or drain with a lot of water. Never mix different bathroom cleaners such as lye, ammonia or bleach.
For general disposal of specific items, please visit
Information provided by University of Wisconsin - Extension
For more information, please contact:
Kewaunee County Emergency Management
416 Fremont St., Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 487-2940