Items in the home that are ignitable pose a serious threat in storage. A sample list of common household items that are ignitable includes gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel ammunition, matches, and items containing alcohol. Reactive Reactive materials are those which, during routine management, tend to react spontaneously, to react vigorously with air or water, to be unstable to shock or heat, to generate toxic gases, or to explode. Reactive processes can best be illustrated by the image of the cartoon mad scientist working feverishly in the laboratory mixing chemicals that suddenly explode or by the simple process of putting vinegar into a container with baking soda. As with ignitable items, reactive items must be stored carefully.
Some drain cleaners rely on the reactive process.
They may contain sodium bisulfate which, when mixed with water, makes a weak sulfuric acid. Toxic materials are those that may release toxicants or poisons in sufficient quantities to pose a substantial hazard to human health. Most cupboards and closets are full of toxic materials. From air fresheners to carpet deodorizers, medicines to vitamins, mothballs to oven cleaners, the potential poisons are numerous. The effects of toxics can be acute when damage is a result of a one-time exposure to relatively large amounts, and they can be chronic when damage is a result of repeated exposure to relatively low levels of a chemical.