Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Household Products
The products you use for cleaning, carpentry, auto repair, gardening, and many other household uses can contain ingredients that can harm you, your family, and the environment. These include :
- Oven and drain cleaners
- Cleaning and disinfecting products, including bleach and antibacterial cleaners
- Laundry powder
- Floor polish
- Paint thinners, strippers, and removers
- Pesticides
- Grease and rust removers
- Motor oil and fuel additives
- Arts and crafts supplies
Toxic substances in these products can cause harm if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. People respond to toxic substances in different ways. At high doses, a toxic substance might cause birth defects or other serious problems, including brain damage or death.
To avoid problems, keep products in the containers they come in and use them exactly as the label says. Follow label directions or get medical help if you swallow or inhale them or get them on your skin.
Environmental Protection Agency
It sits within Poisoning, Toxicology, Environmental Health and Safety Issues.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Household Products
3 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research already completed
- The Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing in Reducing the Use of Household Chemicals and Personal Care Products During PregnancyIstanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Increasing Household Purchase and Child Consumption of Calcium ProductsUniversity of British Columbia
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Household Chemical EmergenciesDepartment of Homeland Security
Diagnosis and Tests
- Poisoning: First AidMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Household Hazards to PetsAmerican Veterinary Medical Association
- Read the Label First! Protect Your HouseholdEnvironmental Protection Agency
Related Issues
- Chemical Emergency PreparednessAmerican Red Cross
- Poison-Proof Your Home One Room at a Time: Pesticide Poison Prevention ChecklistEnvironmental Protection Agency
- Recalls and Product Safety WarningsConsumer Product Safety Commission
- SaferProducts.govConsumer Product Safety Commission
Statistics and Research
- Poisonings Among Children Ages 0-14 in 2018Safe Kids Worldwide
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Household Products. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Household Products, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.