Storing hazardous items properly is imperative. You may not even realize that some items are potentially hazardous. However, many products in the home can be harmful if not stored in the proper way.
Tips from Your Trusted Local Storage and Moving Company in Edmonton and Calgary
Use the following information as a guide for storing hazardous items in the home. You could keep other items or surfaces from being damaged. More importantly, appropriate storage practices can prevent unfortunate accidents. Do not allow your household to be exposed to such products. Instead, follow these useful tips from your local storage and moving company in Edmonton and Calgary.
Steps for Storing Hazardous Items in Your Calgary and Edmonton Home
- Take Inventory – Compile a list of all the hazardous materials in your home. Go from room to room, and take a look at everything in your cupboards and drawers.
- Know what Items May Cause Harm – You might not suspect that certain items are hazardous. Some products may seem innocuous but are not. These include windshield wiper fluid, bleach, furniture polish, and pesticides. Lighter fluid, paint, gasoline, and anti-freeze can also be dangerous. Even products such as laundry detergent, fingernail polish remover, and medications can be harmful.
- Protect Your Children – One of the first steps you should take is to place everything hazardous out of reach of children. Little ones may be attracted to brightly coloured packages or items they have not seen previously. Use child-proof locks on drawers and cabinets. As soon as your children are old enough to understand, teach them about the dangers of playing with hazardous items. Remember that if you do not take the proper precautions, you are liable for other children (and adults) who enter your home.
- Read Manufacturer Labels – Products that contain dangerous chemicals must come with a warning on their label. Read these warnings carefully. Always follow the storage instructions that accompany a product. Make sure that incompatible items are not stored together.
- Leave Flammable Products Outside – Do not store flammable items in your home. If you have materials like gas cans, automotive fluids, and propane cylinders, make sure that you store them safely outside. Keep them in a safely locked area, such as a storage shed.
- Keep Toxic Chemicals away from Food – Never store products that contain toxic chemicals near your food supply. If the materials are spilt or leak through their containers, they could contaminate the food.
- Use Original Containers – Keep potentially harmful items in their original packages. If you put toxic solvents and other substances in other containers, they could leak through them and cause property damage or bodily harm.
Ask Edmonton and Calgary Movers about Moving with Hazardous Items
Keep in mind that you may not be able to move with hazardous materials. If you plan to use an Edmonton storage facility or a Calgary storage unit, you probably will not be able to store such items in the facility either. Ask your moving company for a list of what you can and cannot pack along during a move. Also, request a similar list when you place items in a rental storage unit. Storing potentially harmful items in a public place puts everyone who uses the facility at risk, and you would be liable for non-compliance.
Matco Moving Solutions is a moving and storage company that countless area residents trust. We want to help you move safely, so consult us if you have any questions regarding the safe relocation of your belongings.
For all your residential storage and moving needs, call us at 1-800-661-3618. You can request a free quote via our website.