As National Cleaning Month approaches, safety experts are raising awareness about the growing risks associated with social media cleaning trends that prioritize aesthetics over safety in the home.
Brian Sansoni of the American Cleaning Institute and Torine Creppy of Safe Kids Worldwide joined We Are Austin to discuss how trends like “decanting” — transferring cleaning products into decorative containers — can unintentionally increase risks for children and lead to unsafe storage practices.
Experts emphasize that original cleaning product packaging is intentionally designed with safety features, clear usage instructions, and child protection mechanisms that should not be removed or replaced. Repurposing containers for appearance alone can make products more accessible and potentially hazardous in households with children.
As part of the conversation, safety leaders encouraged families to follow simple prevention steps, including storing cleaning products up, away, and out of sight, using cabinet locks when needed, and maintaining awareness of how quickly accidental exposures can occur in everyday environments.
In the event of an emergency, families are encouraged to keep poison control and safety resources readily available and to act quickly if exposure occurs.
For more information on safe cleaning practices and household safety guidance, visit the American Cleaning Institute online at cleaninginstitute.org.
