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Most homeowners accumulate, over the years at least a few things are going to require special methods of disposal. Unlike your basic toss-outs or recyclables, hazardous waste can be harmful to people, animals, and the environment if not disposed of properly, making it extra important to get rid of these sorts of materials the right way.

Below are a few tips regarding how to dispose of hazardous waste safely.

What items are considered to be household hazardous waste?

You’d be surprised to learn that you probably have a lot of these substances in your home already.

• Combustible and flammable materials. Substances that ignite and burn easily.
  • Spare cans of gasoline
  • Propane tanks
  • Oxidizers
  • Liquid with a flashpoint of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Corrosive materials. Substances—usually liquid—that can corrode metal.
  • All industrial strength cleaners
  • Items that contain common strong acids such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid – like drain cleaners
• Reactive materials. Substances that are unstable and prone to possible explosion.
  • Aerosol cans
• Toxic materials. Substances that can be seriously harmful or even deadly upon contact, consumption, or inhalation.
  • Paint
  • Antifreeze
  • Motor oil
  • Weed killers

How to dispose of hazardous waste

• Research the laws of hazardous waste disposal where you live. Different counties have different rules, so read up on them before you do anything else. Simply search “how to dispose of hazardous waste” + “[your county]” to see what comes up.
• Read the product labels. Many household hazardous materials come with general directions about how to (and how not to) store and handle them.
• Schedule a home pick up. Contact your local waste management company and ask them if they offer home pick ups for hazardous materials. Many do, though you may incur a fee.
• If they don’t do home pick-ups, your local waste management authority might be able to recommend drop off services.
• Many waste management facilities are hazardous waste mail-in recycling kits. These kits are especially useful if you live in an area without home pick-up services. With the mail-in service, the company will mail you a special container to put your hazardous items into. Then you just mail it back. This is useful for properly disposing of used batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and printer cartridges—all of which cannot be simply thrown in the trash or recycling bin.
• Donate. If you can, try to donate your hazardous materials to somebody else who needs them. If you have leftover paint, for example, you may be able to donate it to Habitat for Humanity or a charity that is remodeling their facilities. And your local nursery may be able to put your extra fertilizer to use, while the auto garage can possibly take leftover motor oil.

Other tips for disposing of hazardous materials

• Keep materials in their original packaging. Certain hazardous materials pose a heightened threat when exposed to air or when moved into another type of container than they came in, so always stay on the safe side and leave these types of substances in their original containers.
• Handle empty containers with care. Chemical residue on the insides of containers can pose a hazard even after the material itself is gone. If you have empty hazardous waste containers, they’ll have to be disposed of just as carefully as if they still had product in them.

The CDC reports that over 230,000 people (15 years and older) visit emergency rooms every year due to injuries that happen in bathrooms—and 14 percent are admitted for prolonged hospital stays. Injuries include burns, falls, and near drowning.

In order to stay safe, here’s what to look out for in the bathroom:

Tub Safety

It should be common sense but bares repeating – child bath-time is for splashing, playing, and getting squeaky clean, but it should never be done without supervision. Children can drown in a matter of minutes in as little as two inches of standing water. So if you’re filling up the tub or letting it drain, stay in the bathroom until it’s empty.

Many seniors also have accidents in the tub. Most falls occur while seniors are transferring in and out of the tub or shower. You can eliminate the risk with these safety features:

• Install grab bars in the shower, beside the tub and at the toilet.
• Place a non-slip mat or decals on the floor of the shower or bathtub and a non-slip rug on the floor outside the tub or shower. Non-slip mats – rather than fluffy rugs – are also the way to go in front of the toilet and the sink.
• Use a shower chair so your senior can sit while showering and prevent slips and falls. Make sure the chair has a non-slip seat and rubber tips on the feet so it won’t slide in the shower or tub.
• For seniors who need assistance stepping out of the tub, a bath or transfer bench can help. The bath bench extends over the side of the bathtub with two legs resting on the floor. Seniors can sit on the bench, swing their legs over the side of the tub, and more safely stand.
• Use a nightlight or motion-sensor lighting to ensure seniors have adequate light for nighttime visits to the bathroom. Use a nightlight in any hallway along the path to the bathroom from the bedroom or living areas.

Many seniors and elderly purchase a Medical Alert pendant – a water-proof button that will connect with emergency personnel, contact family members and off peace of mind. Learn more about this life-saving device here.

Scald Guard

Keep kids and yourself burn-free by installing scald guards on all of your home’s sinks and tubs. Scald guards are built into the plumbing to control water temperature, so your faucets don’t become boiling water dispensers.

Hazardous Chemicals

Use child-proof locks on all cabinets that contain cleaners or anything that can harm a child.

Toilet Safety

If you have little ones, always keep the toilet seat down and secured with a toilet seat lock. They can fall in and drown if they’re small enough. Plus, a toilet is full of icky germs you definitely don’t want them touching.

For elderly, Install a raised toilet seat, which raises the seat height by 3 to 4 inches to reduce the amount of effort needed to sit and stand when using the toilet.

Flood Sensors

Bathrooms are the number one source of flooding because of toilets, sinks, and showers.

Catching a leaky pipe or massive burst before it becomes catastrophic will save you time, money, and a major headache. That’s where flood sensors come into play. Most are equipped with smart technology, so you get an alert on your phone if it detects water.

Are the hallways in your house considered to be necessary but wasted space? Hallways get us from Point A to Point B, but they can do much more for home security and household safety.

Three safety measures to consider in your hallways:

1. Smoke detectors

The National Fire Protection Association reports that nearly 3,000 people died in structure fires per year, 60% of them didn’t have smoke alarms. Smoke alarms are essential for detecting life threatening fires, and could mean the difference between life and death. Even better, monitored smoke alarms – reduce the risk greatly. EMC Security monitors for fire at no additional monthly cost.

It’s recommended you place a smoke detector outside of every bedroom and on every floor of your home, so hallways are an ideal place to install them.

2. CO Detectors

Cars, gas stoves, and other appliances emit poisonous, odorless carbon monoxide gas that can knock you unconscious and kill you. Carbon monoxide detectors can save your life. Install one on every floor in your home—including the basement and garage.

3. Baby and Pet Gates

Keep kids and pets out of harm’s way—and out of rooms that are off-limits—by installing gates. Depending on your needs, choose gates that span large spaces, protect kids and animals from falling down the stairs, or that are aesthetically pleasing.

I think we can all agree – no two basements are alike. Whether your basement is a livable space or rough around the edges, it’s important to keep in mind that basements require a little extra attention than the main living areas of your home.

Below are some tips for basement safety.

Flooding

Basements are a magnet for moisture and flooding. Many homes store the water heater, which can leak after so many years of service. Protect against costly damage with a flood sensor or water bug. You’ll be alerted when any water is detected.

Radon Detection Kits

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the soil. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and since it’s odorless and invisible, it’s impossible to detect without equipment to test for radon in the house. If levels are higher than what’s deemed safe, you can hire a radon remediator.

Carbon Monoxide

Anything that burns emits carbon monoxide—that includes your furnace and hot water heater. It’s important to install carbon monoxide detectors in your basement, otherwise this odorless, invisible, and poisonous gas accumulates undetected. EMC Security monitors for carbon monoxide at no additional monthly cost.

Storage Areas

Basements are a stockpiling station for our excess belongings. If you have shelving for storage, double check weight limits, so your stuff doesn’t come crashing down onto your kids, pets, or yourself. Proper storage of hazard materials such as paint and aerosols is crucial to prevent fire and poisoning.

Burglary Prevention and Detection

Basements doors and windows are popular areas for intruders to enter a home. Ground floor doors and windows (including those in the basement) should be protected with entry sensors that communicate with the alarm system. If a door or window is opened, the alarm will alert you, and authorities can be dispatched. EMC Security offers alarm systems for as low as $99 down.

Contact us today to get started.

Garages are home to our cars, lawn mowers, and—usually—lots of chemicals. Depending on how you secure your garage, it can be easy prey for burglars and for fire.

Below are some tips for garage safety:

1. Garage Door Locks

Garage doors are often overlooked when it comes to home security. Always remember to your garage door closed – even when you’re home. But sometimes, that’s not enough. Tech-savvy thieves can break into automatic garage doors in under six minutes if given the chance. Prevent intruders from getting into your garage by adding a smart plug that you control from your mobile phone.

2. Hazardous and Flammable Materials

If you do have to keep hazardous materials on-hand, store them high up on shelves away from children and direct heat sources. Read more about what constitutes a hazardous material to determine the best way to store and dispose of items.

3. Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, poisonous gas that’s produced when you burn coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Carbon monoxide becomes deadly when confined, so you should never leave a car running inside of the garage. Without proper ventilation, toxic levels of carbon monoxide build up, seep into your home, and cause illness or worse.

4. Car Security

Protect your car while it’s parked in the garage or driveway with the help of steering wheel locks and car alarms.

5. Door to the House

Protect the garage door into the house with a security system that will sound the alarm and notify you when the door sensor is triggered. This is the best way to deter would be thieves from entering your home if they happen to breach your garage.