Accordingly to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than a third of people (39%) fail to safely or correctly use cleaning products or disinfectant in the home.

People are making dangerous choices in order to do what they think might prevent coronavirus, according toWith many of us hunkered down for the last month or two, it makes sense that 60% of people indicated in a CDC survey they are cleaning the house more frequently during the pandemic. However, more than a third (39%) of people that CDC surveyed reported engaging in high-risk behaviors that they thought would prevent the virus from spreading. The survey of 502 adults in the United States revealed other unsafe behaviors:

• 19% said they washed food with bleach
• 18% reported applying household cleaning or disinfectant products to bare skin
• 10% misted the body with disinfectant, intentionally inhaled vapors from cleaning products (6%), or admitted to drinking or gargling bleach or other cleaning solutions (4%).

Emergency physicians urge everyone to use household cleansers and disinfectant products only as directed, wear appropriate protective equipment while cleaning and store all products safely and away from children or pets.

Inhaling toxic chemicals can cause severe lung or tissue damage. Ingesting hand sanitizer can be dangerous, too, particularly for children or pets. If you are mixing chemicals to create cleaning solutions, use water at room temperature, wear eye protection to avoid dangerous splashes and work with a window open to encourage necessary ventilation.

More tips for cleaning and disinfecting your home are available here.