Keep kids safe when using cleaning products and air fresheners.
Is cleaning on your family’s agenda this week? When it seems like there’s a new chore at every turn, it’s essential to remember the safety risks cleaning products can pose – especially for kids.
The data behind the dangers of cleaning products
Exposure to cleaning products is consistently among the most common reasons people contact poison centers.
In 2025, our Virginia Poison Center received:
- 2,485 calls related to household cleaning products. Of those, 1,214 – or 49% – were for children 5 years old or younger.
- 135 cases related to air fresheners for people 18 and under.
Why are household cleaning products and air fresheners risky for children?
Small children are quick and curious. They learn by touching, tasting and smelling things – and, of course, cleaning products are enticing because they can be brightly colored and have pleasant scents.
Air fresheners have their own appeal. The plug-in kind are typically placed low to the ground and easy to access, while aerosol room sprays are often left in sight of children and easy for them to grab and spray. Liquid refill cartridges and scented oils may be swallowed or spilled.
Kids’ smaller size means even small amounts of a chemical can have serious effects.
Cleaning products can cause:
- Respiratory irritation or breathing difficulties, particularly from fumes or aerosols
- Skin and eye irritation, or chemical burns
- Toxic chemical exposures, especially when products are misused, overused or mixed together
Health risks for air fresheners (liquid and aerosol) include:
- Respiratory irritation or breathing difficulties, particularly from the release of fine particles and volatile organic compounds
- Skin irritation from direct contact with liquid fresheners or aerosol mist
- Chemical irritation and burns
- Aspiration risk
Cleaning product safety tips
- Keep products in their original containers with labels intact. Avoid pouring cleaning products into other containers such as milk jugs or water bottles because someone in the home may accidentally drink them.
- Always read the directions on the label and use as instructed.
- Keep cleaning products out of sight and reach from children and pets. Many people store household cleaning products under the sink in the kitchen and/or bathroom. Consider locking them up with a child-safety lock or latch, or relocating them somewhere that’s not easily accessible.
- Be particularly cautious about dishwasher and laundry pods. They’re brightly colored and squishy, making them look like candy or toys to small children. Regular liquid detergent is dangerous enough, but pods contain highly concentrated surfactants and chemicals in a small dose.
- DO NOT mix cleaning products. A common mistake is mixing products containing chlorine bleach with ammonia, ammonia based products or acidic products (such as toilet bowl cleaners and vinegar). This produces chloramine gas, which can be extremely irritating to the eyes and lungs. The product label will tell you if it contains ammonia.
Mixing these products can be very dangerous and even deadly:
Bleach + ammonia = toxic chloramine gas
Bleach + vinegar = chlorine gas
Drain cleaner + anything else = potential explosion or deadly fumes
- Use cleaners in well-ventilated areas. Open windows or turn on fans. Strong fumes can irritate lungs, especially for kids, pets and people with asthma.
- Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin.
- Don’t leave products out while cleaning. It only takes a second for a curious little one to get into something, so it’s a good practice to keep bottles capped and move them out of reach even during use.
Save the Poison Help Line number in your phone:
1-800-222-1222
Poison Help is free to call and has medical experts ready to provide guidance for your family 24/7.