Cleanup Methods for Residential Chemical Spills

Alert Occupants

• If the chemicals you spill in the home have toxic fumes or can be dangerous to the touch, you should alert anyone else in the house that the spill has occurred. Open windows if necessary to ventilate the area, and tell others to stay away form the spill until you have cleaned it up completely.

First Aid

• If chemicals spilled directly on your skin or clothes, you must decontaminate yourself immediately. Remove any clothes that were in contact with the chemicals, and wash them before you use them again. If the chemicals are on your skin, you should immediately go to a sink and wash the skin with fresh water for several minutes to ensure that there are no residual chemicals left on your skin that might cause irritation or burns.

Protective Equipment

• Before cleaning up a chemical spill, you need to gather the appropriate protective equipment to do the job. You shouldn’t handle dangerous chemicals without wearing gloves and safety goggles or glasses. Use rags to clean up the chemicals, and allow the rags to air outdoors. Wrap the rags in newspaper, and put them in sealed plastic bags before putting them in the trash outside. If the chemical gives off toxic fumes, you should consider using a respirator, or at least cover your nose and mouth when you are close enough to breathe in the fumes.

Follow Label Instructions

• Consult the warning and emergency labels on the chemical container. There is usually adequate information on the label to instruct you on what to do in case of a chemical emergency. This may include information on poison control and when you should seek help from emergency personnel. Always follow the chemical labels exactly for cleanup, storage and use of the product.

Symptoms of Chemical Poisoning

• If chemical poisoning is a possibility with products you keep at home, you should make sure you know the signs of this potentially life-threatening condition. Symptoms of chemical poisoning include difficulty breathing; irritation of the eyes, skin, throat or respiratory tract; changes in skin color; headaches; blurred vision; dizziness; lack of coordination; cramps; and diarrhea or nausea. If any of these symptoms follow a chemical exposure, you should seek immediate medical attention.