Household chemicals around the home: REDUCE YOUR USE!

Some chemicals, such as those in shampoo or washing powders, will inevitably go down our drains. The wastewater treatment works cannot remove all the chemicals we rinse ‘away’, so some end up in our water environment. One step to minimise the harm that these chemicals can cause is to use only the right amount for the job, so always read the label and use products carefully. Another step is to use natural alternatives wherever possible.

Other everyday products – such as cooking oil and paint stripper – shouldn’t find their way down our drains. They can pollute the environment and harm wildlife, so we need to take care to dispose of them properly. Always read the label for directions on appropriate disposal. If there are no directions, this site offers advice on how to safely dispose of various household products.

Click on the rooms below to discover more about the chemicals we use around the home and how you can minimise their impact on the environment.

For further information please contact WWF Scotland: phone 01350 728200, email info@watersense.org.uk, or write to WaterSense, c/o WWF Scotland, Little Dunkeld, Dunkeld, PH8 0AD