Smart Safety: Laundry Room and Kitchen Safety

 Spring cleaning is on the horizon, a great time to take a look at items that can be poisonous in the kitchen and laundry room. California Poison Control Center reports that in the U.S. there were more than 9500 exposures to laundry and dishwasher detergents by children under six years in 2021. The largest hazard among these products is single use detergent sacs or pods, which have created a spike in calls to poison control centers as well as increased hospital admissions of young children.

“They are colorful and can easily be mistaken for candy or a toy,” said Rais Vohra, MD, an Medical Director at California Poison Control System, Fresno-Madera. “The dangers in the laundry area go beyond the pods.”

Dr. Vohra says, “Keeping any cleaning and/or potentially toxic products out of the reach of our children is something we need to be extremely vigilant about as parents.” He suggests locking a laundry room door, or if that is not possible, put child proof locks on all cabinets in the kitchen and laundry room where poisons are stored. Storing these products at a height and keeping them hidden also add protective barriers that reduce the chances of accidental ingestion. Some additional recommendations from Dr. Vohra to help prevent poisonings include: 

• Household cleaners contain substances that can be harmful if swallowed. Keep them up away from children’s reach -- not under the sink. If that’s your only option, be sure to use cabinet locks.
• The washer and dryer can be a great place to play hide and seek. Make sure to keep the appliance doors closed at all times, and install child locks so kids cannot start the washer or dryer. Do not teach young children how the appliances work.
• Wrap electrical cords, and use childproof plugs all outlets when not being used.
• Never use empty beverage or food containers to store chemicals or cleaners. Leave the liquids in the original containers, and toss these out as soon as they are empty.
• While children are young, use traditional powdered laundry and dishwasher detergents since there is less likelihood that they will eat them.
• If you want to see what a child does, get down on the floor and explore the area, seeing it through a child’s eyes. You might be surprised to see hazards that look like food, candy or toys. Remove all dangerous items like mouse traps, ant poison, etc., from areas where children are likely to play and explore.
• Oven cleaner, cooking oils, non-stick sprays, food supplements containing iron, bleach, spot removers, scouring powder, drain cleaner/lye, carpet and upholstery cleaners and ammonia are all poisons that need to be locked up or put on a high shelf.
• Add poison control’s number 1-800-222-1222 to all your phones, and call immediately if you have a question or a child with an exposure. Trained certified pharmacists, nurses and poison information providers are available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is free, confidential and interpreters are always available.   

About California Poison Control

CPCS (www.calpoison.org is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date information regarding poison prevention. In case of an accidental poisoning, consumers should immediately call the nationwide number from any state -1-800-222-1222. Pharmacists, nurses, physician-toxicologists and poison information providers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help. Weekly tips about safety are available by texting TIPS to 20121 for information in English or text PUNTOS to 20121 for Spanish. Follow CPCS on Facebook and on Twitter @poisoninfo. CPCS is part of the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy and is responsible to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.