Storing Chemicals Safely In Your Garage

The garage often ends up being a storage place for a variety of chemicals and automotive products. Follow a few of these simple rules to keep your garage safe.

• A locking cabinet should be used to store items such as pesticides, automotive fluids, charcoal lighter fluid, paint thinner, antifreeze, ice-melting products, and turpentine. Fire-proof cabinets provide even greater protection.
• Store all products in original containers and keep original labels legible.
• Never transfer dangerous products to glass jars, soda bottles, or other containers. This leads to several problems including: products being mistakenly consumed or otherwise improperly used, containers that leak or break, and forgetting what product was placed in which container.
• Promptly put away products after use and immediately wipe up spills.
• Store only a small amount of gasoline in the garage, and always in an approved vented container designed and labeled for gasoline. Because of its highly volatile flammable vapors, gasoline must never be brought indoors, even in small amounts.
• Use a siphon hose if you must transfer gasoline. Never try to siphon gasoline or other fuels by mouth.
• To prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, never use a barbecue or grill or keep a generator running in a garage. Always pull the car out of the garage after starting it.

For more information on Poison Control, please visit The Home Safety Council.