Water Quality District - Hazardous Waste
Cleaners
What Are They?
Cleaners come in many forms. They help degrease, disinfect, deodorize, and clean virtually anything.
What Makes Them Hazardous?
Many cleaning products contain hazardous and/or toxic ingredients. Read the label and look for signal words: Caution, Warning, Danger, and Poison. These signal words indicate the level of hazard (caution is the least hazardous compared to poison which is highly toxic).
Consumer Tips
Many cleaners have less toxic alternatives.
Safety Notes
- NEVER mix cleaners containing ammonia with those containing bleach – a very toxic gas will be produced.
- NEVER pour solvent-based cleaners or products down the drain or toilet. Vapors could build up and cause an explosion.
- Avoid pouring unwanted products down the drain or toilet. If you can’t use it up, see disposal options below.
- If you have a septic system, do not dispose of unwanted household cleaners down the drain, because of the risk of destroying the beneficial bacteria that makes your system operate effectively.
Disposal Options
Reuse:
- Use them up or give them away to someone who can.
Dispose:
- Some small amounts of certain products may be safely disposed of through your city sanitary sewer system. Call the Missoula Wastewater Treatment Plant at 523-4880 for more information.
- Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event: If you cannot use them up or give them away, bring cleaners to Haz Waste Days.
The Residential Disposal Guide is provided by the Missoula Valley Water Quality District as a public service and is not an endorsement of specific businesses, services or products. Any omissions or inaccuracies are unintentional. Please contact us with corrections or additions. Call businesses or agencies to confirm hours, locations and charges for services, if any. For information on disposal of items not listed, email or call the Water Quality District at 406-258-4890, M - F, 8 am to 5 pm.
Much of the information provided is from the Washington County, MN, Dept. of Public Health and Environment website.
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