Health Tips for April 15

Health Tip: Think Twice Before Mixing Once

Mixing your own cleaning products at home could be a recipe for disaster.

The Soap and Detergent Association warns consumers that instead of saving money or creating a more effective cleaner, you might be creating a safety hazard for yourself and others.

Homemade cleaners, even those made with natural products, could cause harm to the user, others and even the item that is being cleaned, the association says.

When it comes to making your own cleaning products, consumers should think twice before mixing once. There can be serious safety implications if proper care is not taken. In the frantic haste of an emergency situation, will the person who made the mix-at-home product know exactly what to tell a Poison Control Center on the phone?

Also, if left unlabeled or improperly stored, the cleaner might accidentally be consumed by someone, especially a child or pet, the association says, And, without proper testing, the concoction might prove to be an irritant to skin or eyes or damaging to a wood floor or a kitchen counter.

Whether cleaning products come from a store or are created at home, the association recommends these precautions be taken:

• Close caps securely. This is essential, even if the packaging is supposedly child-resistant.
• Lock up products. When not in use, keep them where children and pets can't get to them, using child-resistant locks on cabinets and doors, if needed. Also, never store cleaners with food.
• Retain original containers. The label should have information about the product's contents and advice on immediate first-aid if an accident occurs.
• Dispose of empty cleaning containers properly. Replace caps and discard in a sealed recycling bin or garbage container, away from children and pets.
• Know who to call in an emergency. If a poison-related emergency occurs, call the U.S. Poison Control Center's hot line at 800-222-1222.

Health Tip: Applying an Antiperspirant

If you sweat a lot, you've probably tried a number of different deodorants and antiperspirants. But if you still haven't found the right one, maybe it's not the antiperspirant that's the problem -- maybe you're not applying it correctly.

The International Hyperhidrosis Society offers these suggestions about applying antiperspirants:

• If the product doesn't appear to work when applied only in the morning, try applying it before you go to bed, as well.
• Let the product stay on the skin for at least six to eight hours.
• Make sure your skin is completely dry before you apply the product. You can dry the skin with a blow-dryer on the "cool" setting.
• Avoid washing your skin seconds before you apply the antiperspirant.