The Home Chemical Almanac
Room by room
Correct as of November 2026.
How to use this chapter
Pick a room, find the product, and see which chemicals from this book it can contain. A product will contain only some of them, and Australian cleaning products don't have to list all their ingredients, so check the label and the safety data sheet, then turn to the chapter.
Each room ends with its poisons: every โ chemical that can turn up there, with the worst fact from its chapter.
โ Poison schedule (Australia) ยท โ Officially classed skin allergen ยท ๐ข Made from a hazardous chemical ยท ๐ง Contaminant risk
In an emergency: Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26 (24 hours, anywhere in Australia). Call 000 for an ambulance.
Kitchen
Kitchen products range from everyday dishwashing liquid to caustic oven and drain cleaners.
Keep acids and alkalis locked away, not under the sink. Kidsafe NSW: "Don't keep any cleaning supplies, including dishwasher detergent and dishwashing liquids, under the sink." Use safety latches, and don't rely on child-resistant caps alone. Never decant cleaners into food or drink bottles, and never mix an acid with bleach. (Chapter 10)
What's in the cupboard
Anything scented, in any product: see Chapter 8 (fragrance).
The poisons in this room
Every โ chemical above, with its worst fact from the chapter:
- Sodium percarbonate (Ch 4): Strong powder can permanently damage eyes
- Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) (Ch 4): Can cause serious eye damage
- Ammonia (Ch 4): Mixed with bleach, it makes chloramine gas
- Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) (Ch 6): Allergy hit "epidemic proportions" in parts of Europe
- Triclosan (Ch 7): Banned from US antibacterial soaps in 2017
- Butyl diglycol (DEGBE) (Ch 9): EU bans it at 3% or more in consumer aerosol cleaners
- Sodium hydroxide (Ch 10): 4 Queensland child deaths in 20 years, reported to the regulator
- Potassium hydroxide (Ch 10): Burnt gullets can narrow years later
- Sodium metasilicate (Ch 10): Causes severe burns; the strongest dishwasher powders were banned in 2006
- Sulfamic acid (Ch 10): A poison at any strength in Australia
What we make for the kitchen
We're The Australian Eucalyptus Oil Company, and we sell these. Read our labels the same way you'd read anyone's.
- Bench Spray: benches, tables and stovetops
- Dishwash Liquid: dishes by hand
- Dishwasher Powder: the dishwasher
- Stainless Steel Cleaner: fridges, rangehoods and sinks
- Multi Purpose Cleaner: floors and general cleaning
- Room Spray: scenting the room
Bathroom and toilet
Bathroom products include both acids (toilet and scale cleaners) and bleach (mould and toilet products), which must never meet.
Never mix bleach with anything but water. Australian health advice: "Do not mix bleach with ammonia, acids or other cleaners โ this can release hazardous chlorine or chloramine fumes." Acids include vinegar, toilet cleaners and some glass cleaners. Urine contains ammonia, so take care with toilets and nappy buckets. (Chapter 4)
What's in the cupboard
Anything scented, in any product: see Chapter 8 (fragrance).
The poisons in this room
Every โ chemical above, with its worst fact from the chapter:
- Hydrogen peroxide (Ch 4): A toddler died after swallowing 3% (pharmacy-strength) peroxide
- Sodium hypochlorite (Ch 4): 85,104 US chlorine/chloramine gas cases in 8 years
- Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) (Ch 4): Can cause serious eye damage
- Ammonia (Ch 4): Mixed with bleach, it makes chloramine gas
- Paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) (Ch 7): Linked to lower lung function; banned in EU air fresheners
- Potassium hydroxide (Ch 10): Burnt gullets can narrow years later
- Sulfamic acid (Ch 10): A poison at any strength in Australia
- Hydrochloric acid (Ch 10): 60 mL of strong acid killed a woman
What we make for the bathroom
We sell these. Read our labels the same way you'd read anyone's.
- Shower Cleaner: shower screens, tiles and taps
- Mould Remover Wall Cleaner: mould on painted walls and ceilings
- Clove & Eucalyptus Mould Spray: mould on tiles, grout and silicone
- Glass Cleaner: mirrors and glass
- Castile Hand Wash: hands
- Room Spray: scenting the room
Laundry
The laundry holds detergents, pods, fabric softener, stain removers and bleach.
Never mix bleach with anything but water, including other laundry products, and store pods out of reach and sight: the researchers' advice is in Chapter 11. (Chapters 4 and 11)
What's in the cupboard
Anything scented, in any product: see Chapter 8 (fragrance).
The poisons in this room
Every โ chemical above, with its worst fact from the chapter:
- Sodium percarbonate (Ch 4): Strong powder can permanently damage eyes
- Hydrogen peroxide (Ch 4): A toddler died after swallowing 3% (pharmacy-strength) peroxide
- Sodium hypochlorite (Ch 4): 85,104 US chlorine/chloramine gas cases in 8 years
- Calcium hypochlorite (Ch 4): Can explode if mixed with TCCA tablets and water
- Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) (Ch 6): Allergy hit "epidemic proportions" in parts of Europe
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone / methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT) (Ch 6): Classed an allergen from just 0.0015%
- Toluene (Ch 9): "May damage fertility or the unborn child"
- White mineral oil and petroleum distillates (Ch 9): 284,085 US swallowings of hydrocarbons by under-20s, 34 deaths
- Tetrachloroethylene (perc) (Ch 9): US is banning it from all consumer products
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) (Ch 9): Known to cause kidney cancer in humans
- Sodium hydroxide (Ch 10): 4 Queensland child deaths in 20 years, reported to the regulator
- Boric acid and borax (Ch 11): 11 babies fed formula made with boric acid: 5 died
What we make for the laundry
We sell these. Read our labels the same way you'd read anyone's.
- Laundry Powder: everyday washing
- Laundry Liquid: everyday washing, if you prefer a liquid
- Wool Mix: woollens and delicates
Living areas
Living areas are where disinfectant sprays and wipes, aerosols, polishes and air fresheners are used.
A disinfectant label must name its active ingredients and how much of each, and (except for sprays and wipes) say "Do not mix with detergents or other chemicals". Clean first: dirt protects germs. (Chapter 7)
What's in the cupboard
| Product | Chemicals from this book it can contain |
|---|---|
| Disinfectant sprays and wipes | Peracetic acid โ (Ch 4); Benzalkonium chloride โ ๐ข ๐ง (Ch 6); DDAC (Ch 7); Cetrimonium chloride (Ch 7); Ethanol ๐ง (Ch 7); Isopropyl alcohol (Ch 7); Chloroxylenol (PCMX) โ (Ch 7); 2-Phenylphenol โ (Ch 7); Chlorocresol โ ๐ง (Ch 7); Chlorophene โ ๐ข (Ch 7); Thymol (Ch 7); Lactic acid (Ch 10); Acid Blue 80 (Ch 11) |
| Air fresheners and room deodorisers | Paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) โ ๐ข ๐ง (Ch 7); Butane and propane ๐ง (Ch 9); Sodium bicarbonate (Ch 10) |
| Furniture and stainless-steel polish | Butane and propane ๐ง (Ch 9); White mineral oil and petroleum distillates โ ๐ง (Ch 9) |
| Carpet, rug and spot cleaners | White mineral oil and petroleum distillates โ ๐ง (Ch 9); Tetrachloroethylene (perc) โ ๐ข ๐ง (Ch 9); Trichloroethylene (TCE) โ ๐ข ๐ง (Ch 9) |
| Aerosol cans | 2-Phenylphenol โ (Ch 7); Butane and propane ๐ง (Ch 9) |
Anything scented, in any product: see Chapter 8 (fragrance).
The poisons in this room
Every โ chemical above, with its worst fact from the chapter:
- Peracetic acid (Ch 4): Mixed with peroxide, a recognised cause of asthma
- Benzalkonium chloride (Ch 6): Linked to asthma in cleaners and nurses
- Paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) (Ch 7): Linked to lower lung function; banned in EU air fresheners
- White mineral oil and petroleum distillates (Ch 9): 284,085 US swallowings of hydrocarbons by under-20s, 34 deaths
- Tetrachloroethylene (perc) (Ch 9): US is banning it from all consumer products
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) (Ch 9): Known to cause kidney cancer in humans
What we make for living areas
We sell these. Read our labels the same way you'd read anyone's.
- Glass Cleaner: windows and glass tables
- Multi Purpose Cleaner: floors and hard surfaces
- Room Spray: scenting the room
- Curtain Mould Shield: curtains that hang against cold, damp windows; sprayed on clean fabric to help stop mould taking hold
Garage, shed and outdoors
The garage and shed hold pool chemicals, acids for brick and rust, workshop solvents and paint products.
Keep pool acid and pool chlorine apart. Together they make chlorine gas: in the US, nine people went to hospital after pool acid was mixed with a chlorinator. (Chapter 10)
What's in the cupboard
| Product | Chemicals from this book it can contain |
|---|---|
| Pool and spa chemicals | Calcium hypochlorite โ ๐ง (Ch 4); Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) โ (Ch 4); Hydrochloric acid โ ๐ง (Ch 10) |
| Brick, concrete and rust removers | Hydrochloric acid โ ๐ง (Ch 10) |
| Car, engine and workshop products | Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) ๐ข ๐ง (Ch 2); 2-Butoxyethanol ๐ข ๐ง (Ch 9); Butyl diglycol (DEGBE) โ ๐ข (Ch 9); DPnB ๐ข (Ch 9); Xylene โ (Ch 9); White mineral oil and petroleum distillates โ ๐ง (Ch 9); Tetrachloroethylene (perc) โ ๐ข ๐ง (Ch 9); Trichloroethylene (TCE) โ ๐ข ๐ง (Ch 9); Sodium hydroxide โ ๐ง (Ch 10) |
| Paint, paint strippers and solvents | Trisodium phosphate (TSP) โ (Ch 3); Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) โ โ (Ch 6); Benzisothiazolinone (BIT) โ (Ch 6); Toluene โ ๐ง (Ch 9); Xylene โ (Ch 9); Potassium hydroxide โ ๐ง (Ch 10) |
| Mothballs and lamp oil | Paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) โ ๐ข ๐ง (Ch 7); White mineral oil and petroleum distillates โ ๐ง (Ch 9) |
Anything scented, in any product: see Chapter 8 (fragrance).
The poisons in this room
Every โ chemical above, with its worst fact from the chapter:
- Trisodium phosphate (TSP) (Ch 3): Splashes have permanently clouded the cornea
- Calcium hypochlorite (Ch 4): Can explode if mixed with TCCA tablets and water
- Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) (Ch 4): A little water can make it release chlorine gas
- Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) (Ch 6): Allergy hit "epidemic proportions" in parts of Europe
- Paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) (Ch 7): Linked to lower lung function; banned in EU air fresheners
- Butyl diglycol (DEGBE) (Ch 9): EU bans it at 3% or more in consumer aerosol cleaners
- Toluene (Ch 9): "May damage fertility or the unborn child"
- Xylene (Ch 9): Up to 95% in some US home maintenance and car products
- White mineral oil and petroleum distillates (Ch 9): 284,085 US swallowings of hydrocarbons by under-20s, 34 deaths
- Tetrachloroethylene (perc) (Ch 9): US is banning it from all consumer products
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) (Ch 9): Known to cause kidney cancer in humans
- Sodium hydroxide (Ch 10): 4 Queensland child deaths in 20 years, reported to the regulator
- Potassium hydroxide (Ch 10): Burnt gullets can narrow years later
- Hydrochloric acid (Ch 10): 60 mL of strong acid killed a woman
โ Poison schedule (Australia) ยท โ Officially classed skin allergen ยท ๐ข Made from a hazardous chemical ยท ๐ง Contaminant risk